To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Memorandum of Understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education Regarding the Continued Operation and Administration of an Education-Based Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program in Humboldt County
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education regarding the continued operation and administration of an education-based foster youth services coordinating program in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed original copy of the attached memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Office of Education currently receives state grant funding to operate an education-based foster youth services coordinating program which provides educational support for foster youth residing in Humboldt County in order to ensure coordinated and nonduplicative service delivery and minimize changes in school placement. Pursuant to Section 42925 of the California Education Code, such funding must be used to leverage funds received pursuant to Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act, and any other local, state and federal funds, that may be used to specifically address the education needs of foster youth.
The attached memorandum of understanding sets forth the rights and responsibilities of the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services (“DHHS - Child Welfare Services”), the Humboldt County Probation Department and the Humboldt County Office of Education with regard to the expenditure of Title IV-E funds for the purpose of addressing the educational needs of foster youth residing in Humboldt County, which include, without limitation, sharing educational status and progress information required for inclusion in court reports by Section 16010 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, responding to information requests from the juvenile court and referring foster youth to mentoring, counseling, transitional, emancipation, tutoring, vocational training and other services designed to enhance the educational prospects of pupils in foster care, as required by Section 42925 of the California Education Code. It should be noted that the attached memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education 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 memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education regarding the continued operation and administration of an education-based foster youth services coordinating program in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023. 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 the attached memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary interruptions in the operation and administration of an education-based foster youth services coordinating program in Humboldt County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The maximum amount payable for any and all costs and expenses incurred pursuant to the terms and conditions of the attached memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education shall not exceed the actual federal share of allowable costs for Title IV-E activities. The County of Humboldt will compensate the Humboldt County Office of Education for any and all costs incurred pursuant to the terms and conditions of the attached memorandum of understanding at the quarterly federal Title IV-E discount rate for Humboldt County. The federal Title IV-E discount rate will be based on the total number of federally eligible foster youth served by the education-based foster youth services coordinating program operated and administered by the Humboldt County Office of Education during each calendar quarter. The Humboldt County Office of Education will be responsible for providing matching funds for any and all non-federal costs and expenses incurred pursuant to the terms and conditions of the attached memorandum of understanding.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education have been included in the approved fiscal year 2021-2022 budget for DHHS - Social Services budget unit 1160-508. Funding for the attached memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education is available through federal Title IV-E revenues received by DHHS - Child Welfare Services. As a result, approval of the attached memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s 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 memorandum of understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education regarding the continued operation and administration of an education-based foster youth services coordinating program in Humboldt County. However, this alternative is not recommended since it will severely impact the level of educational support services provided to foster youth residing in Humboldt County.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Memorandum of Understanding with the Humboldt County Office of Education Regarding the Continued Operation and Administration of an Education-Based Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program in Humboldt County
2. Certificate of Coverage
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-19
Meeting of: 8/20/2019
File No.: 19-1103