COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

DATE:

November 19, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 1, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Beverly Beasley Johnson, J.D., Director, Human Services Agency

SUBJECT:

County Self Assessment Tri-Annual Report (CSA) as part of the California Child and Family Services Review (C-CFSR) for FY 2007-08 to FY 2009-10

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute the County Self Assessment Tri-Annual Report for the term of FY 2007-08 to FY 2009-10.

BACKGROUND:

The implementation of California State Assembly Bill 636 in January, 2004, heralded a new Child Welfare Services Outcome and Accountability System for California, known as the California Child and Family Services Review. The County Self Assessment Tri-Annual Report is one component of the C-CFSR. The other elements of the C-CFSR include Quarterly Data Reports, the Peer Quality Case Review (PQCR) and the System Improvement Plan.

The CSA is a focused analysis of child welfare data, and incorporates input from various child welfare constituents to review the full scope of child welfare and probation services provided within the county. The report includes a multi-disciplinary needs assessment to be conducted once every three years, and requires Board of Supervisor (BOS) approval.

DISCUSSION:

The CSA, completed as a collaborative effort between the Human Services Agency (HSA) and Juvenile Probation, includes documentation of the PQCR and the progress made by the County according to the following three priority service areas:

• Area One - Safety/Service Array – Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect.

• Area Two – Permanence and Stability – Children have permanence and stability in their living situations without increasing entry into foster care.

• Area Three – Permanence and Family Connections – The family relationships and connections of children will be preserved as appropriate.

Some highlights of the CSA include:

• Multiple system strengths were identified such as HSA’s strong collaborative partnerships with community service providers.

• CFS staff have become more professional, more culturally diverse and more keenly aware of issues facing child welfare and the community.

• CFS’s commitment to improving outcomes includes implementation of best practices such as Team Decision Making, Differential Response and Family Finding, specifically targeting areas for improvement.

• Several areas for improvement were identified such as helping families navigate complex County systems, and identification of service gaps

It is in the County’s best interest to approve the CSA Tri-Annual Report, so as to allow HSA to remain in compliance with the California Department of Social Services’ guidelines for adhering to the C-CFSR.

Approval of this Agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Prosperous Community by ensuring that through the comprehensive C-CFSR requirements, CFS is actively engaged in self-assessment practices. This process will enable CFS to ensure it is implementing best-practice models in working with vulnerable children and families.

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2008-09
Actual

FY 2009-10
Projected

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact as a result of this item.