DATE: March 1, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Retroactive Agreement with California Department of Social Services for the Permanency Innovations Initiative
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Agreement with the California Department of Social Services for participation in the Permanency Innovations Initiative, effective September 30, 2015 through September 29, 2016 ($297,648).
Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to issue stipends of varying amounts to non-County employee community members for participation in the Permanency Innovations Initiative, effective September 30, 2015 through September 29, 2016.
REPORT
Approval of the first action will allow the Department to participate for an additional 12 months with California Department of Social Services (CDSS) in a Federal grant (Permanency Innovations Initiative) to reduce length of stays and increase permanency for African-American and Native American youth in foster care. The recommended Agreement is required by CDSS for the Department to receive remaining carryover grant funds ($297,648) which will support approved project activities. Approval of the second recommended action will allow stipends, an approved project activity, to be provided to youth, parents, caregivers and other community members for participation in the project, with no net County cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(s):
If the Board does not approve the recommended actions, the Department will not have spending authority to utilize CDSS allocated grant funds for activities to improve services to children and families.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended Agreement is retroactive as the Department received the recommended Agreement December 21, 2015 and required processing time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in net County cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the Agreement will allow the Department to continue participating in the Federal Permanency Innovations Initiative, for an additional 12 months and provide the authority to utilize unspent grant funds ($297,648) during this period. There is no minimum County contribution requirement associated with project participation. Sufficient appropriations and revenues are available in the FY 2015-16 Department of Social Services Organization 5610 and will be included in the FY 2016-17 requested budget.
DISCUSSION:
On September 29, 2010, your Board approved an agreement with CDSS to participate in a five-year $14.5 million dollar Federal grant to reduce length of stays and increase permanency for African-American and Native American youth in foster care. During the five-year project, the Department implemented the California Partners for Permanency (CAPP) Practice Model, a family-centered practice model aimed at enhancing family strengths and resources in order to minimize risk, improve safety and increase permanency. Although the five year grant concluded September 29, 2015, CDSS has agreed to allow the Department to enter into a one year grant agreement extension to access and utilize unspent Federal project funds.
The first recommended action allows the Department to access unspent funds ($297,648) to support grant approved activities for 12 months. Funds will continue to offset costs associated with project staff that includes one Program Manager and secretary salaries, in addition to several project related service contracts. The second recommended action will provide the Department continued authorization to issue stipends to parents, caregivers, youth, former foster youth and other community members for participation in project activities. Stipend amounts vary based on activity type from $25 dollars per two-hour meeting to $150 for a full day meeting.
Approval of the Agreement is necessary for continued project participation and to meet CDSS requirements for release of funds. The Agreement is not on County boilerplate, as it is drafted by CDSS and includes a mutual termination clause with thirty (30) days advance written notice. CDSS requires County approval first, upon which CDSS will sign; a copy of the executed Agreement will be sent to the Clerk to the Board.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #40, May 17, 2011
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with the Clerk - Agreement
CAO ANALYST:
Lance Tullis