COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

 

DATE:

February 11, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

February 23, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

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

SUBJECT:

Children and Family Services/Juvenile Probation Joint System Improvement Plan (SIP), including Children’s Collaborative Action Team (CCAT) designation as Children’s Trust Fund Commission and Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council, and designation of CCAT Steering Committee as Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) Collaborative.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution authorizing the President of the Board to (1) execute the System Improvement Plan (SIP); (2) designate Children’s Collaborative Action Team (CCAT) as the County’s Children’s Trust Fund Commission and Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council; and, (3) designate the CCAT Steering Committee as the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) Collaborative for FY 2010-11 through FY 2012-13.

 

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 (C-CFSR). The System Improvement Plan 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 County Self Assessment (CSA).

The triennial SIP is part of a collaborative effort between the Human Services Agency (HSA) and Juvenile Probation, and serves as the operational Agreement between the County and State on how the County will work toward improving outcomes for children, youth and families. The SIP is a commitment by the County to address specific, measurable improvements in performance outcomes to be achieved within a designated timeframe, and must be approved by the Board of Supervisors and California Department of Social Services (CDSS). In FY 2007-08, the County’s three year combined Child Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment (CAPIT), Community-based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP), and Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) SIP was approved. This SIP will fulfill the County’s obligation of ensuring the SIP is updated every three years.

In addition to approving the SIP, the County is responsible for designating an entity to serve as the Children’s Trust Fund Commission and Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council, as well as the PSSF Collaborative. The CCAT Committee was approved by the Board of Supervisors to fill this capacity in FY 2010-11, and must be reappointed to extend its term to FY 2012-13.

 

DISCUSSION:

For FY 2010-11 through FY 2012-13 term CDSS has required that Counties merge both the SIP and Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP) three year plans to a single SIP. This combined SIP has been approved by all participating parties, and addresses the County’s plan to improve upon several C-CFSR measures within the three priority areas:

    Safety

    o No recurrence of maltreatment

    Permanence

    o Re-entry following reunification

    o Exits to permanency

    o Placement stability

    Well Being

    o Rate of timely health & dental exams

As required of the C-CFSR process, San Mateo County is also responsible for appointing the entity that will serve as the Children’s Trust Fund Commission and Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council. This Resolution will extend CCAT’s designation as the Children’s Trust Fund Commission an additional year through 2012-13, to coincide with the end term of the SIP. Finally, this Resolution designates the CCAT Steering Committee as the PSSF Collaborative.

It is in the County’s best interest to approve this Resolution so as to maintain compliance with the CDSS mandated C-CFSR triennial review process. County Counsel has approved this plan and Resolution as to form.

 

 This SIP Plan contributes to Shared Vision 2025 of a prosperous community by outlining a detailed strategy of self-review and continuous improvement for HSA with respect to providing services for some of our county’s most vulnerable residents. The System Improvement Plan and committee designations contained in this item present a coordinated plan and support network for families involved in child welfare services, and for those at risk for engagement.

Performance Measures:

 

Performance Measure

FY 2009-10

Actual

FY 2010-11

Target

FY 2011-12

Target

FY 2012-13

Target

Percent of all children in foster care for 24 months or longer who are discharged to a permanent home will increase by more than 6% by the end of the SIP term.

19%

22%

23.5%

25.8%

Percent of all children in foster care for at least 24 months who experience two or fewer placements will increase by 6% by the end of the SIP term.

32%

34.7%

36.4%

39%

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The approval of the System Improvement Plan (SIP) and the appointment of CCAT to oversee the Children's Trust Fund, Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council and the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Collaborative do not have a financial impact.  The approval of the SIP Plan and the appointment of CCAT for the purposes outlined in this Resolution however is mandated by the state in order to receive funding for each fiscal year for the term of the plan, FY 2010 through 2013, for various state and federal funding sources.