COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

DATE:

November 18, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 3, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen D. Borland, Director, Human Services Agency

Stuart Oppenheim, Director, Northern Region

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Redwood City School District

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution authorizing execution of an Agreement between the County of San Mateo and Redwood City School District for the School District to reimburse the County partial payment of Salaries and Benefits for staff out posted at Family Resource Centers. The term of this Agreement is July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2005.

Background

In 1998, the County and Redwood City School District agreed to support the Redwood City Family Centers (formerly the Healthy Start Network) at Taft, Fair Oaks and Hoover schools. The Family Resource Centers provide human services, health services, and educational support and community development activities to a community of 2,000 residents. For the past four years, the County of San Mateo, through the Human Services Agency employs and posts Psychiatric Social Workers (PSW's) who provide counseling services at these sites. Redwood City School District is the fiscal agent for the collaborative, which oversees these sites and reimburses the County for part of the Salaries and Benefits of these positions.

Last Fiscal Year 2001-02, a new Center was opened at John F. Kennedy Middle School, which received a Healthy Start Grant for three years beginning this year. Services are also being expanded to the pre school population of the entire school district with the Early Intervention Program, which will be housed at Hoover School. The City of Redwood City, the County and The Redwood City School District contribute financial support to the Redwood City Family Centers.

Discussion

The goals and objectives of the Redwood City Family Centers are aligned with those of the Human Services Agency (HSA). These include improving the educational success of children through impacting social skills and behavior and increasing family involvement in their child's education. The academic scores of the children and the schools served have increased every year. This year by mutual agreement, there was a decrease in the total number of PSW's out posted in Redwood City's Family Resource Centers from six to five. As in previous years, the collaborative plans to reimburse the County for 25% of the Salaries and Benefits for two positions, 50% of Salaries and Benefits for two positions and 100% for the fifth position.

This Agreement was delayed due to further negotiation on the number of percentages for reimbursement for the five Psychiatric Social Workers out posted at the various Family Resource Centers with the School District.

Vision Alignment

The contract with the Redwood City School District keeps the commitment of: Providing equal access to educational opportunity and goal number 3: All children ages 0-5 years have access to childcare/early learning opportunities that contribute to their entering kindergarten ready to succeed. It also provides for goal number 6: All children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods. The contract contributes to this commitment and goal since Redwood City School District through their Redwood City Family Centers provides counseling to children and their families and kindergarten readiness programs.

Fiscal Impact

The term of this Agreement is July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2005. This Agreement is a Revenue Agreement for the School District to reimburse San Mateo County in the amount of $207,586 for Salaries and Benefits for five positions during FY 2002-03. Funding for future FY's 2003-05 reimbursement will be in the form of an amendment to the Agreement.