DATE: October 24, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: CalWORKs Outcomes and Accountability Review System Improvement Plan Report
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Receive the California CalWORKs Outcomes and Accountability Review (Cal-OAR) CalWORKs System Improvement Plan (Cal-SIP) Report to be submitted to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) describing how the Department of Social Services will improve the CalWORKs program.
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Cal-SIP signature page that will be submitted with the Cal-OAR report to CDSS.
REPORT
The recommended action is required to satisfy the guidelines set forth by Section 11523 of the Welfare and Institution (W&I) Code, which mandates counties identify performance indicators, complete self-assessments, and submit a System Improvement Plan (Cal-SIP) to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Social Services to submit the final copy of the Cal-SIP report to CDSS for final approval.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Should your Board choose to not receive this document, the Department will be out of compliance with Section 11523 of the W&I Code as stated above.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
DISCUSSION:
In 2021, the State of California authorized CalWORKs Outcome and Accountability Review (Cal-OAR) as a local, data-driven program management system to facilitate continued improvement of county CalWORKs programs by collecting, analyzing, and disseminating outcomes and best practice. Cal-OAR consists of three core components: performance indicators, a county CalWORKs Self-Assessment (Cal-CSA), and a CalWORKs System Improvement Plan (Cal-SIP).
Cal-OAR functions in a five-year cycle where each County Welfare Department (CWD) follows steps to evaluate the CalWORKs program and the areas where improvement is needed. Known as the Continuous Quality Improvement process, this cycle requires all CWDs to perform a County Self-Assessment which identifies the current standing of the program and areas which need to be improved. Based on this, CWDs select specific Cal-OAR performance measures to improve, detail the methods, strategies and activities for improvement, and report on Peer Review activities used to gain additional insight and technical assistance from other CWDs. All of which is compiled into the Cal-SIP report and submitted to CDSS.
CDSS grouped all counties into cohorts which determined the timelines in which the Cal-SIP report would be completed. Fresno County was included in Cohort 1, which required submission of the final draft of the Cal-SIP report to CDSS by August 25, 2023 for review and finalization. Following this finalization by CDSS, the Cal-SIP report must then be approved by the Board of Supervisors prior to December 2023. Once the Cal-SIP is approved by the Board, counties will submit the final approved copy of the report to CDSS and begin implementing the outlined strategies for program improvement. Counties in Cohort 1 will also be required to submit Cal-SIP Progress Reports on 12/06/2024 and 01/09/2026, which will outline updates on the status of each strategy detailed in the Cal-SIP, the successes and barriers in reaching the stated goals, and any adjustments that may be necessary.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with the Clerk - Cal-SIP report
On file with the Clerk - Cal-SIP report signature page
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander