To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with the Yurok Tribe Regarding the Provision of Case Management, Social Work and Housing Navigation Services to Eligible Children and Families as Part of the Bringing Families Home Program
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with the Yurok Tribe regarding the provision of case management, social work and housing navigation services to eligible children and families as part of the Bringing Families Home Program in an amount not to exceed $224,519.33 for the period of June 15, 2021 through June 30, 2022;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with the Yurok Tribe, 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 fully executed original copy of the attached professional services agreement with the Yurok Tribe to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund 1160
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services (DHHS - Social Services) and the Yurok Department of Health and Human Services (YHHS) jointly applied for, and were awarded, $700,000 in Bringing Families Home Program funding from the California Department of Social Services. The purpose of the Bringing Families Home Program is to reduce the number of families in the child welfare system who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness, increase family reunification and prevent foster care placement. Many of the families, including Yurok families, referred to DHHS - Child Welfare Services experience housing instability which affects their ability to reunify or stay together safely.
Since the summer of 2020, DHHS - Social Services and YHHS have been coordinating to refer eligible families to, and provide services through, the Bringing Families Home Program. DHHS - Social Services has been using Bringing Families Home Program funding to house eligible families, including Yurok families, throughout Humboldt County. As of April of this year, 28 eligible families, including five Yurok families, have been referred to the Bringing Families Home Program and 12 families, including three Yurok families, have obtained permanent housing.
The Bringing Families Home grant application submitted by DHHS - Social Services and YHHS requested a full-time housing navigator position for DHHS - Social Services and half-time social worker and housing navigator positions for YHHS, with any remaining funds to be used for rental assistance and emergency housing. The attached professional services agreement will enable YHHS to hire a half-time social worker and a half-time housing navigator to provide additional case management, social work and housing navigation services that are designed to assist eligible Yurok families with successfully obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. Approval of the attached professional services agreement with the Yurok Tribe will reflect a milestone in county-Yurok relations and collaborative efforts to better serve children and families.
Accordingly, DHHS - Social Services recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with the Yurok Tribe regarding the provision of case management, social work and housing navigation services to eligible children and families as part of the Bringing Families Home Program for the period of June 15, 2021 through June 30, 2022. It is also recommended that the Board authorize the DHHS - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with the Yurok Tribe, 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 case management, social work and housing navigation services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached professional services agreement with the Yurok Tribe has a maximum amount payable of $224,519.33 for the period of June 15, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Funds have been allocated through California Department of Social Services to support Bringing Families Home activities. The expenditures related to this agreement have been included in the fiscal year (FY) 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 in county budget for fund 1160, budget unit 508 Child Welfare Services. In the event 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 professional services agreement with the Yurok Tribe in its entirety. As the agreement is supported through state and federal funds there is no impact to the General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations, improving the health and safety of local communities, providing community-appropriate levels of services and building interjurisdictional and regional cooperation.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Department of Social Services
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached professional services agreement with the Yurok Tribe regarding the provision of case management, social work and housing navigation services to eligible children and families as part of the Bringing Families Home Program. However, this alternative is not recommended, as it will not allow for the provision of additional case management, social work and housing navigation services that are designed to assist eligible Yurok families with successfully obtaining and maintaining permanent housing.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with the Yurok Tribe Regarding the Provision of Case Management, Social Work and Housing Navigation Services to Eligible Children and Families as Part of the Bringing Families Home Program
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-12
Meeting of: March 17, 2020
File No.: 20-256