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COUNTY OF SAN MATEOInter-Departmental Correspondence |
Department of Child Support Services |
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DATE: |
April 9, 2004 |
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BOARD MEETING DATE: |
May 4, 2004 |
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TO: |
Honorable Board of Supervisors |
FROM: |
Peggy Jensen, Director, Department of Child Support Services |
SUBJECT: |
Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) for the Agreement with the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC) |
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RECOMMENDATION: |
Approve an ATR in the amount of $78,083, from Salary Savings to Other Professional Contract Services, to provide appropriation from which to pay the agreement with PCRC for mediation services provided to child support clients. |
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BACKGROUND: |
Since 2002, the Department of Child Support Services has contracted with PCRC, on an annual basis, to provide mediation services for child support clients. Another annual agreement, in the amount of $78,083, for the period from June 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005 was finalized in April. This ATR appropriates the funds from which to pay PCRC from salary savings this fiscal year. |
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DISCUSSION: |
The Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center will provide the Department with case development and mediation services to child support clients requesting assistance with custody and visitation matters. PCRC recruits and trains volunteer mediators to work on the referrals from the Department of Child Support Services. PCRC and the Department jointly manage the process for referring families for mediation services. A team of two mediators conducts the mediations and documents the result. The result may be an agreement, in whole or in part, for custody and visitation matters or in some instances the agreement may consist of a parenting plan to address family concerns.
The Department of Child Support Services takes a holistic approach in ensuring compliance with court orders for child support. Part of the mission of the Department is to remove the barriers to parental responsibility. The ability to refer clients to PCRC provides another avenue for child support staff to work with parents and address concerns that may keep them from paying their child support. This payment for these important services is independent from the amounts owed to the County by PCRC arising from their participation in the Board's loan program to non-profit organizations. Discussions on that issue are on-going. |
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VISION ALIGNMENT: |
The approval of the ATR for payment of the contract with PCRC keeps the commitment of ensuring that children in the County grow up in financially supportive homes (Goal 6) and is an example of how the County works collaboratively with other County agencies and community partners to better serve its customers (Goal 22). Finally, a child support obligation is a legal, moral, and financial responsibility. The contract with PCRC helps child support clients better understand, accept and meet the financial responsibility that contributes to the quality of life of the County as a whole (Goal 24). |
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FISCAL IMPACT: |
The Department of Child Support Services is fully funded by state and federal subventions. There is no net County cost impact. |