DATE: April 27, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Agreement with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools for Foster Youth Network Data Share
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools to continue participation in the Foster Youth Network, effective upon execution to June 30, 2024 ($0); and,
2. Approve and authorize Department of Social Services and Probation employees who require access to the Foster Youth Network to execute a Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program of Sacramento, Foster Focus Confidentiality Agreement with Sacramento County Office of Education.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions will allow authorized individuals within the Departments of Social Services and Probation to continue to exchange information pertaining to foster or probation youth with the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools (FCSS) and local school districts through the Foster Youth Network (FYN). Participation in the exchange of information with school districts is essential to improve educational outcomes and the well-being of youth in foster care, with no increase in Net County Cost. The item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board could choose to not approve the recommended actions, which may delay and/or reduce access to information needed to improve educational outcomes for foster youth.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended agreement requires no monetary exchange between FCSS and the County. The Departments of Social Services and Probation assign staff to monitor the educational progress of foster youth as a normal course of departmental functions. Salary and benefit costs associated with these functions will be included in the Departments of Social Services Org 5610 and Probation Org 3430 FY 2021-22 Recommended Budgets.
DISCUSSION:
Since January 2012, the County has maintained a Board-approved agreement with FCSS that allows the Departments of Social Services and Probation to participate in a web-based information sharing database known as Foster Youth Network (FYN). FYN is intended to improve collaboration and exchange of information across agencies serving foster youth to improve educational outcomes and child well-being. The information obtained through FYN is critical to the provision of timely and comprehensive services to these children.
On June 23, 2020, your Board approved an amendment to extend Agreement No. 17-244 by one year, to allow FCSS to develop a new data sharing agreement. The recommended agreement reflects FCSS’s new FYN, which now includes the option of direct linkage to the system for participating school districts. There is no change to the County’s access to FYN.
FYN allows access to: (1) academic, attendance, and disciplinary records; (2) contact information for significant individuals in the student's life; and (3) school placement history. The database also allows designated staff to document educational plans for foster youth. The exchange of data is permitted through a Fresno County Superior Court Order and the Welfare and Institutions Code sections 16001.9 and 16011. et. seq. The Departments of Social Services and Probation will ensure the sharing of specific information under the recommended agreement is allowable under applicable law.
Approval of the second recommended action will allow employees of the Departments of Social Services and Probation who require access to FYN to sign a confidentiality agreement with Sacramento County of Education, the entity that maintains the FYN data system, to ensure compliance with confidentiality provisions and to ensure access to records is solely for the purpose of providing supportive services to foster youth.
The recommended agreement will be effective upon execution and will expire June 30, 2024 unless either party submits prior written notice of termination. The recommended agreement varies from standard County template as it is drafted by FCSS. The recommended agreement includes a provision that provides FCSS the right to charge a fee in the future upon written notice. In the event that fees are requested, the Departments will bring an amendment before your Board for consideration.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #56, June 23, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with FCSS
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa