COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Manager’s Office

DATE:

January 17, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 24, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

John Maltbie, County Manager

SUBJECT:

County Manager’ Report #2

A.

Resolution to amend the 2005-2006 Legislative Session Program to include a legislative proposal for a Foster Family Regional Rate Pilot

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution to amend the 2005-2006 Legislative Session Program to include a legislative proposal for a Foster Family Regional Rate Pilot.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all

Goal(s): Goal 6—Children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods.

BACKGROUND:

The recruitment of foster homes is critical to keeping foster children in their communities. Studies show that in terms of reunification, it is critical that parents and children establish a regular and consistent pattern of visitation during the first six months after removal. While there are many factors in a family’s decision to become a foster family, the San Mateo County Foster Parents Association asserts that foster parents point to low financial assistance as a critical factor that influences whether or not they continue fostering children. The Human Services Agency’s Foster Parent Recruiter often finds that families who express strong interest in fostering are immediately dissuaded upon disclosure of the amount of financial assistance (commonly referred to as the reimbursement rate and/or rate).

The Foster Family Regional Rate Pilot would provide a 35% increase to the Foster Family Home (FFH) rates for three counties, a large (Santa Clara), medium (San Mateo) and small (Marin), that have among the highest 2006 Fair Market Rents (FMR) in California. The pilot would last five years to study whether a rate increase can better support current and prospective foster parents in high FMR counties.

With a few minor exceptions the current payment rate for out-of-home placements is the same throughout California’s counties. The average payment rate of $505 (range $425-597 for children ages 0-4 through 15-19, respectively) helps cover half or more of the FMR in 74% of California counties; whereas, in San Mateo County, $505 helps cover only 34% of the FMR (assuming a two-bedroom apartment). Staff believes that high costs of living consume excessive amounts of FFH funds and can negatively impact prospective and current foster parents’ decision to be foster parents.

DISCUSSION:

The current rate structure for out-of-home placements is disadvantageous to counties with a high cost of living as well as to those with a lower cost of living. Foster children from high-cost counties are forced to live outside of their community. At the same time, foster children consume placements in lower cost counties with more available FFHs. By facilitating the recruitment and retention of FFHs in high cost counties, a regional rate structure would benefit both high cost and low cost counties. High cost counties, in some cases the counties with the largest numbers of youths in need of stable placements, are faced with an inadequate number of placement opportunities for youths.

Staff believes an incentive payment for high cost regions in addition to the standard board and care rate will facilitate the recruitment and retention of FFHs in high cost counties. Increasing the number of FFHs enables counties to better match the interest and needs of foster families and foster youth. In addition, more FFHs can better ensure that, when appropriate, San Mateo County children and adolescents can receive stable living situations in our community. Increasing the number of in-County foster homes for youths will facilitate their connections to important family and other adults; in turn, allowing for a more successful transition into adulthood.

Approximately 320 San Mateo youths are currently placed in the County. County staff estimates that 80% (n=256) of children and youths are placed in County foster homes or with relatives, whom would benefit from the FFH rate increase.

The Legislative Committee initially considered this proposal as a Legislative Concept. The Committee asked that the proposal be refined and returned to the Committee for further consideration.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The fiscal impact for San Mateo County would be approximately $330,060 for each year of the pilot project.

B.

Resolution approving San Mateo County’s Federal Earmark requests for Federal Fiscal Year 2007

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution approving San Mateo County’s Federal Earmark requests for Federal Fiscal Year 2007.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government

Goal(s): Goal 20—Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

BACKGROUND:

Each year San Mateo County works with its Congressional delegation to secure federal funding (commonly referred to as earmarks) for specific projects. Last year, San Mateo County advanced five earmark requests. Only one of the five received funding—the Youth Services Center Girls Ranch.

DISCUSSION:

This year, County staff identified ten possible projects. Based on conversations between MARC Associates and County staff, four projects were selected considering criteria including level of readiness, predicted interest, project alignment with current appropriation categories and diversity of the requests. The four recommended earmarks are summarized below.

San Mateo County Preschool for All Funding

Department: CMO/HSA, 2005 (carried over from last year)

Background: PFA is a collaborative of early childhood education stakeholders including providers, the County, First 5 San Mateo County, the San Mateo County Office of Education, the San Mateo County Community College District, the Peninsula Community Foundation, and Head Start. PFA’s mission is to ensure that all children have access to a high quality preschool experience for at least one year prior to kindergarten entry. Preschool for All San Mateo County will utilize and build on the existing early childhood education infrastructure to improve teacher qualification standards and expanding services to more families regardless of income. PFA has initiated its efforts in the Redwood City and Ravenswood School Districts, two of the County’s most challenging school districts. The school districts combined represent more than 10% of the preschool population in the County, and include the majority of schools with low API scores and highest percentage of English language learners. To support its efforts, PFA seeks $535,000 within the Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Education account to assist with three key areas: Enhancement of Program Quality Standards for Preschool Programs; Training Support for Early Childhood Educators; Assistance to Children with Special Needs.

San Mateo Medical Center Emergency Department Workflow Redesign

Department: SMMC, 2005 (carried over from last year)

Background: The San Mateo Medical Center has experienced a 30% increase in emergency room visits over the past two years. Current volume is approximately 30,000 visits each year. The San Mateo Medical Center plans to address this increased demand through workflow and process redesign. The goal is not only to improve patient throughput but also patient and staff satisfaction and quality of care delivered. Interventions include: 1) Implementing a rapid medical evaluation process; 2) Construction of a larger triage area to allow for provider evaluation as soon as a patient enters the emergency department; and 3) Implementation of an electronic medical record to increase staff awareness of patient flow, improve documentation, and improve patient safety.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Interpretive Center

Department: ESA

Background: The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is a popular destination for people seeking tide pool experiences, hiking, scenic views, and rare opportunities for solitude in the crowded Bay Area. Increasingly, however, visitor impacts are taking their toll on this unique and irreplaceable site. Visitation has a direct influence on the Reserve’s marine life forms in the form of inadvertent trampling, illegal collecting, in appropriate handling, and disturbance of marine mammals. Visitors are watershed residents also inadvertently contribute to erosion processes that affect upland and tide pool ecology. The 2002 Fitzgerald Reserve Master Plan, identified visitor education as a priority in a wider plan for overall protection of sensitive resources found at the Reserve. As part of that vision, this plan defines the needs for an Interpretive Center, interpretive exhibits, and outdoor interpretive amenities. It also explored options for enhanced education programming. In April 2005 the County Board of Supervisors approved the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Master Plan, and certified the Environmental Impact Report. This was the first Master Plan ever prepared for the Reserve since the County acquired it in 1969. In December 2004 a Conceptual Plan for an Interpretive Center was developed, which recommended a 3,000 square foot Interpretive Center be built in addition to other interpretive amenities located throughout the Reserve.

Emancipated Foster Youth Housing

Department: HSA

Background: Like other communities San Mateo County works hard to ensure that emancipated foster youth succeed in life. With the nation’s highest Fair Market Rents, San Mateo County’s housing costs are a major challenge for newly independent foster youth. In response, San Mateo County’s Board of Supervisors has used local funds to provide housing assistance. The Board’s allocation will provide up to two years of rental assistance for youth in educational and vocational plans of 30 hours per week. Youth receive 100% of their rent the first six months, 75% the second, 50% the third, and 25% the fourth six months as long as they are performing well in work and school. This will serve approximately 15 youth at a maximum of $1000 per month rent. The Board’s support replaces the vacuum created by the elimination of Section 8 vouchers dedicated for this purpose. In those vouchers youth received nearly 100% of their rent for two years. The value of the vouchers was $600,000 per year/$1.2 million for two years based on the 25 allotted vouchers for two years post emancipation. Unfortunately, funding from the Board is rapidly being utilized. Currently, fourteen youth have signed up with an average rental cost of $700 per month. It is anticipated that an additional eight youth will be signed up by early 2006 at which time the program will be fully allocated. To address this problem, San Mateo County seeks funding to construct, rehabilitate or acquire a small apartment complex that can be dedicated as permanent affordable housing for special needs populations in the County with a priority for emancipated foster youth. While no specific complex has been identified, criteria include 4-6 units, proximity to public transit, and ability to house on-site services (such as a resident counselor).

FISCAL IMPACT:

Unknown. Potentially positive.

C.

Resolution in support of SB 486 (Migden), Local government finance

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution in Support of SB 486 (Migden), Local government finance.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government

Goal(s): Goal 20—Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relieve or immediate gain.

BACKGROUND:

In the 1990s the state Legislature shifted property taxes dedicated to local governments to an Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) for each county. By dedicating local ERAF money to schools, the Legislature has been able to reduce the state’s obligation to pay for educational programs.

In a few counties, including San Mateo and Marin counties, there is more money in ERAF than is needed to pay for education purposes. When that happens, the county auditors return the excess ERAF money to the county government, the cities, and the special districts. However, the State Department of Education (DoE) and the State Department of Finance (DoF) believe that state law requires ERAF money to pay for licensed care institutions that provide private residential programs for children with developmental, behavioral and learning disabilities—regardless of the children’s county of origin. With the view of DoE and DoF, counties like San Mateo County and Marin would be required to pay for the licensed care institution services for children from other counties that have been placed in San Mateo and Marin counties respectively.

Senate Bill 486 states that money from ERAF for special education programs shall not be counted as an offset for the state aid for Licensed Care Institutions. SB 486 declares that its provisions are clarifications of existing law.

DISCUSSION:

Should DoE and DoF’s position regarding the use of “excess” ERAF prevail, counties like San Mateo and Marin and their associated cities and special districts will receive less property tax dollars. While local governments believe the ERAF mechanism as a whole is an unfair use of local property tax revenues for a state obligation, the application of ERAF money for license care institutions appears well to exceed a reasonable interpretation of the use of ERAF funds to relieve the state of its General Fund obligations.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Unknown. If enacted as drafted, likely positive.

D.

Resolution in support of SB 258 (Chesbro), Mental health client rights

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution in support of SB 258 (Chesbro), Mental health client rights

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government

Goal(s): Goal 20—Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relieve or immediate gain.

BACKGROUND:

SB 258 would require the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to establish a working group to develop recommendations for improvements to the quality of residential care facilities providing board, care, and supervision for adults with mental illness.

The working group would be, in part, composed of mental health clients, family members, a representative from a county mental health department, a county patient rights advocate and a residential care facility operator. The group would be required to report to the Governor and Legislature by February 15, 2007. Recommendations will focus on: training, nutritional standards, reporting requirements, public access to facility reports, standardizing resident rights and responsibilities, licensing oversight improvements and ways to improve resident socialization skills.

SB 258 is currently in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

DISCUSSION:

According to San Mateo County’s Mental Health Board, “The quality of care in community residential care facilities (board and care homes) has been an ongoing concern of mental health consumers, family members and advocates. While this legislation would not have an immediate direct impact on services to mentally ill adults in San Mateo County, residential care facilities provide care and housing for many adult and older adult mentally ill presidents. The Mental health Board strongly endorses a process to identify quality of care concerns and recommend potential solutions to what is recognized as a statewide concern.”

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact.

D.

Preliminary Impact Analysis of the Governor’s Proposed 2006-07 State Budget