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 (CDSS) Regarding the Provision of Local Agency Adoption and Resource Family Approval Family Evaluation Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $4,591,235 for the Period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031end
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 CDSS; and
2. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached state standard agreement with the CDSS regarding the provision of local agency adoption and resource family approval family evaluation services in an amount not to exceed $4,591,235 for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031; and
3. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (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 CDSS, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
4. Direct the Cler of the Board to return one fully executed electronic copy of the attached state standard agreement with the CDSS to the DHHS - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
In July 2012, management and control of local agency adoption services was transferred to the Humboldt County DHHS - Child Welfare Services from the CDSS 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 2021, DHHS - Child Welfare Services began receiving assistance from the CDSS Arcata Regional Office with the provision of mandated local agency adoption services to clear the backlog of agency adoption cases in Humboldt County. California Welfare and Institutions Code § 16100 delineates the requirement for these services and the ability of counties to contract with CDSS for the provision of adoption services. This collaboration was successful in reducing the number of pending Agency Adoption cases. DHHS - Child Welfare Services subsequently made the decision to transfer all local agency adoption services to the CDSS; which 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.
In July 2024, DHHS - Child Welfare Services began receiving assistance from the CDSS Arcata Regional Office with the provision of mandated resource family approval family evaluation and home, health and safety assessment services to meet state standards for timely approvals. California Welfare and Institutions Code § 16519.5 and the Resource Family Approval Written Directives delineates the requirement for these services and the ability of counties to contract with CDSS for the provision of these resource family approval services. DHHS - Child Welfare Services has subsequently been able to fully resume conducting home, health and safety assessment services as required by the Resource Family Approval Program.
The attached state standard agreement will allow the CDSS to continue providing required local agency adoption and resource family approval family evaluation services in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. It should be noted that the attached standard agreement with the CDSS agreement may automatically renew for successive three-year periods unless either party notifies the other party at least 60 days prior to the end of the initial or renewed term that it does not wish to extend the agreement. Additionally, the attached state standard agreement with the CDSS 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 CDSS regarding the provision of local agency adoption and resource family approval family evaluation services in Humboldt County for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. 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 CDSS, 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 and resource family approval family evaluation services.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund (1160-508)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1160-508) |
FY 26-27 |
FY 27-28 Projected* |
FY 28-29 Projected* |
FY 29-30 Projected* |
FY 30-31 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
|
Funding Sources (1160-508) |
FY 26-27 |
FY 27-28 Projected* |
FY 28-29 Projected* |
FY 29-30 Projected* |
FY 30-31 Projected* |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
$918,247 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
The attached state standard agreement with the CDSS has a maximum amount payable of $4,591,235 for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. In no event shall the maximum amount paid under the attached state standard agreement with the CDSS exceed $918,247 per fiscal year (FY) for FYs 2026-27 through 2030-31. 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 CDSS in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached state standard agreement with the CDSS have been included in the proposed FY 2026-27 budget for DHHS - Child Welfare Services budget unit 1160-508. Funding for the attached state standard agreement with the CDSS is available through state realignment revenues received by DHHS - Child Welfare Services.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Approval of the attached state standard agreement with the CDSS will allow seven DHHS - Child Welfare Services staff members previously assigned to adoption services to support other essential understaffed positions within DHHS - Child Welfare Services, and for the Resource Family Approval Program to continue to meet required timelines for applicant assessment without delay due to the unfilled positions in DHHS - Child Welfare Services’ Resource Family Approval Unit.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached state standard agreement with the CDSS regarding the provision of local agency adoption and resource family approval family evaluation 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 and resource family approval family evaluation services without the assistance of the CDSS, which is not feasible at this time.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. State Standard Agreement with the CDSS Regarding the Provision of Local Agency Adoption and Resource Family Approval Family Evaluation Services
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 9/12/2023
File No.: 23-1204