To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
State Standard Agreement with the California Department of Social Services Regarding the Provision of Local Agency Adoption Services in Humboldt County
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Waive the requirements of the Humboldt County Nuclear-Free Ordinance with regard to the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services;
2. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services regarding the provision of local agency adoption services in Humboldt County in amount not to exceed Three Million Seventy-Three Thousand Four Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars ($3,073,475.00) for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026;
3. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to, and any other agreements, certifications, attestations and documents directly associated with, the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
4. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed original copy of the attached State Standard Agreement with the California Department of Social Services to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund (1160-508)
DISCUSSION:
In July of 2012, management and control of local agency adoption services was transferred to the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services (“DHHS - Child Welfare Services”) from the California Department of Social Services under the authority of California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 16130 and Sections 35127.1 through 35231 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
In September of 2021, DHHS - Child Welfare Services began receiving assistance from the California Department Social Services’ Arcata Regional Office with the provision of local agency adoption services in order to clear the backlog of agency adoption cases in Humboldt County. This collaboration was successful in reducing the number of the Agency Adoption cases.
The California Department of Social Services’ Arcata Regional office had overlap by already providing adoptions services in the region. This presented an opportunity for the California Department of Social Services to cover the County of Humboldt’s adoption service needs. DHHS - Child Welfare Services subsequently made the decision to transfer all local agency adoption services to the California Department of Social Services; this has helped to reduce overall caseload coverage needs and allowed for the reassigning of experienced staff to other essential positions within DHHS - Child Welfare Services.
As of August 2023, CWS is expecting to have all local agency adoption services transferred to the California Department of Social Services. DHHS - Child Welfare Services will continue to collaborate and coordinate with the California Department of Social Services on shared cases involving children and youth in need of adoption services.
The attached state standard agreement will allow the California Department of Social Services to provide needed local agency adoption services in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026. It should be noted that the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services comes to the Board after the start date thereof due to inadvertent delays that occurred during the contract development process.
Accordingly, DHHS - Child Welfare Services recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services regarding the provision of local agency adoption services in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026. It is also recommended that the Board authorize the DHHS - Child Welfare Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to, and any other agreements, certifications, attestations and documents directly associated with, the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in the provision of needed local agency adoption services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1160-508) |
FY 21-22/23-24 Adopted |
FY 24-25 Projected |
FY 25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$1,844,085.00 |
$614,695.00 |
$614,695.00 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$1,844,085.00 |
$614,695.00 |
$614,695.00 |
|
Funding Sources (1160-508) |
FY 21-22/23-24 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected* |
FY24-26 Projected* |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$1,844,085.00 |
$614,695.00 |
$614,695.00 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$1,844,085.00 |
$614,695.00 |
$614,695.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
The attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services has a maximum amount payable of Three Million Seventy-Three Thousand Four Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars ($3,073,475.00) for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026. In no event shall the maximum amount paid under the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services exceed Six Hundred Fourteen Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-Five Dollars ($614,695.00) per fiscal year for fiscal years 2021-2022 through 2025-2026. However, in the event that local, state or federal funding is reduced or eliminated, the County of Humboldt may reduce the above-referenced maximum amount payable or terminate the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services have been included in the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget for DHHS - Child Welfare Services budget unit 1160-508. Funding for the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services is available through state realignment revenues received by DHHS - Child Welfare Services. As a result, approval of the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Approval of the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services will allow for the reassignment of several DHHS - Child Welfare Services Adoptions staff positions, including, without limitation, one (1) Social Worker Supervisor II position, five (5) Social Worker IV positions and one (1) Senior Office Assistant position, to other essential positions within DHHS - Child Welfare Services.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors Strategic Framework by, protecting vulnerable populations, creating opportunities for improved safety and health and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached state standard agreement with the California Department of Social Services regarding the provision of local agency adoption services in Humboldt County. However, this alternative is not recommended as it will require DHHS - Child Welfare Services to provide any and all needed local agency adoption services without the assistance of the California Department of Social Services, which is not feasible at this time.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. State Standard Agreement No. 21-5079 with the California Department of Social Services Regarding the Provision of Local Agency Adoption Services in Humboldt County.
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A