To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Human Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nick Honey, 565-4343
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Request for Appropriations for New Funding, Contract Amendments, and Child Care Program Update.
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a resolution authorizing the Human Services Director to accept a total of $1.4 million in new funding for the Bringing Families Home Housing Project, and accept $55,350 in new funding for the Active Supportive Intervention Services for Transition (ASIST) program, from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). (4/5th Vote Required)
B) Adopt two resolutions - one authorizing the Human Services Director to accept $49,160 in new funding for the Housing Navigation Program for Transitional Age Foster Youth, and the second to accept $168,800 in new funding for the Transitional Housing Program for Transitional Age Foster Youth, from the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
C) Adopt a budget resolution adjusting the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 adopted budget to add necessary appropriations to receive and program new funding received from California Department of Social Services. (4/5th Vote Required)
D) Authorize the Human Services Director to approve a contract amendment with Interfaith Shelter Network for the Housing Assistance and Permanency Program for additional $200,000 for FY 2019-2020.
E) Authorize the Human Services Director to execute an amendment to the existing contract with Lilliput Family Services to augment funding by $14,666 for FY 2019/2020.
F) Accept updated information about the Alternative Payment Subsidized Child Care Program funded through the California Department of Education.
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Executive Summary:
The Sonoma County Human Services Department (HSD), Division of Family, Youth and Children requests Board approval of four funding augmentations and two contract modifications for existing services provided to families and youth involved with child welfare services. New funding has been received from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for housing for families with child welfare cases as well as from the California Department of Housing and Community Development for housing for transitional age foster youth. Notification of these allocations was received on February 7, 2020, and a Board resolution is required as quickly as possible in this fiscal year, in order for these funds to be encumbered by the State in FY 19-20.
CDSS has also provided new funding to recruit and support potential caregivers for high needs youth that do not have established permanent or long-term foster homes due to challenging behaviors. HSD is also seeking Board approval of amendments to two existing contracts for services provided to families involved with child welfare. Finally, HSD is providing an update on an expansion to the Alternative Payment Program, made possible through additional funding from the California Department of Education that was previously approved by the Board.
Discussion:
Requests for Appropriations
Housing for Families with Active Child Welfare Cases
The Human Services Department, Division of Family, Youth and Children (FYC), has recently been awarded new funding for the provision of specific services to families and youth involved with child welfare. The Department was awarded a total of $1.4 million in new funding for the period of July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2022, through the CDSS Bringing Families Home Project. HSD requests an additional appropriation of $200,000 in FY 2019-2020 in order to augment the contract with Interfaith Shelter Network to provide housing services to families with active Child Protective Services cases. The remaining revenue will be expended as part of the FY 2020-2021 and FY 2021-2022 budgets.
Housing for Transitional Age Foster Youth
The Human Services Department, Division of Family, Youth and Children is eligible to receive a total of nearly $220,000 for Housing Navigation and Transitional Housing Support services for transitional age foster youth (youth ages 16-24). FYC will be working with community partners and youth to design and implement services that can meet the needs of the foster youth population. $49,160 of the funding is earmarked specifically for Housing Navigation services - supporting youth to find and obtain housing in this difficult housing market. $168,800 is earmarked to support existing Transitional Housing Programs (THP) services. Transitional Housing Program Services provide long-term residence and life skills development and support to current and former foster youth. Currently, approximately 20 youth may be housed through the program at any time and there are approximately 30 youth on the waiting list so additional funding will be a welcomed support to offer housing to additional youth.
Transitional Housing Program Services are currently being procured for through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process; the new provider will be awarded a contract that will begin July 1, 2020 and include this new funding. Both allocations are time-limited and must be spent prior to June 30, 2022. Because of the significant community need, the Department plans on spending both allocations in FY 20-21.
Caregiver Recruitment and Support for Youth with High Needs
HSD was recently awarded $55,350 for FY 2019-2020 for the provision of supportive services to youth and caregivers through the Active Supportive Intervention Services for Transition (ASIST) program. HSD has executed a contract with Seneca Family of Agencies for the full amount of the appropriation, so that they may provide these intensive, specialized services to youth and caregiving families. Caregivers will be recruited and supported for the placement of two to four high needs foster youth currently residing at Valley of the Moon or a Short-Term Residential Treatment Program. Individualized supports, such as travel to meet relatives, physical updates to homes to address safety concerns, or programs that support youth wellness, will be provided.
Requests for Contract Modifications:
Lilliput Family Services
Since 2013, Lilliput Family Services has been the contracted provider for high quality supportive services to relative caregivers. A core component of the services is a drop-in family center, where relative caregivers may drop in to connect with staff, attend classes or support groups, or obtain resources, etc. In early 2019, HSD was notified that due to a significant increase in leasing costs, Lilliput was no longer able to afford their lease with the existing funding. The current location is close to the FYC offices, allowing for easy access for families to obtain resources and support while children are visiting their parents or before or after appointments with social workers. HSD agreed to increase the contracted funds by $14,666 in FY 2019-2020 in order to offset the increased rent.
Interfaith Shelter Network
Interfaith Shelter Network (IFSN) has been providing Housing First informed housing support services to families with active child welfare services cases since 2016. To date, 125 families have been housed through this program and 52 more families are currently active. Funding was awarded from CDSS through the Bringing Families Home Program to continue and expand this program. HSD would like to use $200,000 of the newly awarded funding to expand the existing contract with Interfaith Shelter Network from the current amount of $590,000 to $790,000 for this fiscal year. HSD anticipates that this will allow IFSN to permanently house up to 100 families this fiscal year.
Program Updates on the Alternative Payment Subsidized Child Care Program:
FYC operates an Alternative Payment child care program, which provides subsidized child care to families with child welfare involvement for up to twelve months. Funding for this program has increased by 300% over the last three years and now provides subsidies for approximately one hundred seventy-five families annually. All eligible families that need child care subsidy and are actively involved with child welfare receive this support. FYC has received additional state funding to expand the program this fiscal year; funding has already been approved by the Board. As a result, child care subsidies will be available to families involved in Emergency Response investigations within the next few months. These families have been reported by a mandated reporter and an investigation by a social worker is completed and child care is identified to be a necessary component of the family’s safety plan. This new critical support will be provided to approximately 25-30 families annually, and costs will be absorbed in the existing program budget.
Contractual requirements specify that a staff member must be designated as the authorized representative to review eligibility and approve client actions via a Notice of Action form. An Administrative Aide serves as the authorized representative for this task. This position provides high level administrative support to the child care program and supervises the Senior Office Assistant responsible for completing the Notices of Action. The Administrative Aide is a currently existing position, funded through Realignment funding. Separately, a request for an additional time-limited Senior Office Assistant position is moving through the approval process and will be funded through the California Department of Education Alternative Payment funding.
Prior Board Actions:
November 19, 2019: Board approved an increase to the contract for the Housing Assistance and Permanency Program contract with Interfaith Shelter Network for an additional $200,000 for a contract total of $590,000.
August 6, 2019: Board approved the existing contract with the California Department of Education for the Alternative Payment Child Care Program.
June 11, 2019: Board approved the Housing Assistance and Permanency Program contract with Interfaith Shelter Network for $390,000.
June 11, 2019: Board approved the Kinship Services Program contract with Lilliput for $330,000.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$920,000 |
$1,503,466 |
$1,334,666 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
270,016 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$1,190,016 |
$1,552,626 |
$1,334,666 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$1,190,016 |
$1,552,626 |
$1,334,666 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
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|
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Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
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Total Sources |
$1,190,016 |
$1,552,626 |
$1,334,666 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There are four separate programs consolidated on this Fiscal Summary Table. None of these programs require a match from county General Fund.
First, the smallest fiscal program is $55,350 in appropriations added to the current FY 2019-2020 budget from the California Department of Social Services for the Active Supportive Intervention Services for Transition (ASIST) program. This is a one-time augmentation that does not go beyond the current fiscal year.
Second, a $14,666 augmentation to the Lilliput contract is added to the current FY 2019-2020 budget of $330,000. The new annual base level of funding for this program of $344,666 will continue in FY 2020-2021 and beyond.
The third program is Bringing Families Home, which received an augmentation of $1.4 million over the upcoming 30 months, or 2.5 fiscal years. The first tranche of $200,000 will augment the FY 2019-2020 budget of $590,000 for a total of $790K this current Fiscal Year. The next two tranches split the remaining $1.2 million into $600K each to be allocated to FY 2020-2021 and FY 2021-2022, respectively.
The fourth program is Housing for Transitional Age Foster Youth. $49,160 in new funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development is specifically earmarked for Housing Navigation. Another $168,800 is an augmentation to support and expand the Transitional Housing Program (THP). Per state requirements, both allocations must be accepted in FY 19-20 but can be spent in FY 20-21 or the year after. Therefore, the funding from both of these allocations will be included in the budget for FY 20-21.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1. California Department of Social Services Funding Acceptance Resolution
2. California Department of Housing and Community Development Funding Acceptance Resolution - Transitional Housing Program
3. California Department of Housing and Community Development Funding Acceptance Resolution - Housing Navigation Program
4. Budget Resolution
5. Contract Amendment with Lilliput Services
6. Contract Amendment with Interfaith Shelter Network
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None