To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
California Center for Rural Policy Assessment of the Humboldt County Child Welfare Services Office of the Ombudsperson
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive and file the Assessment of the Office of the Ombudsperson - Humboldt County Child Welfare Services (CWS) that was prepared by the California Center for Rural Policy (CCRP); and
2. Receive and file CWS' Implementation Plan in Response to CCRP Assessment of the Child Welfare Services Office of the Ombudsperson; and
3. Approve CWS' Implementation Plan in Response to CCRP Assessment of the CWS Office of the Ombudsperson Report.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board's Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Choose a topic.
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
On Sept. 12, 2023, Humboldt County's Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS)-CWS division contracted with the CCRP to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the CWS Office of the Ombudsperson. The contracted scope for CCRP's assessment included:
* Reviewing all existing data and reports collected by the Ombudsperson Program in order to categorize the types of complaints received to date and, if possible, determine the percentage of complaints that are related to system-level issues versus case-level issues;
* Comparing the desired intent and purpose of the Ombudsperson Program with the types of complaints received to assess effectiveness;
* Reviewing other Ombudsperson programs in California and compiling summary information to inform a review of alternative models/mechanisms public agencies use to provide a clear path for complaint resolution to community members;
* Discussing the intent and purpose of the Ombudsperson Program with DHHS-CWS staff and other key partners;
* Providing recommendations on mechani...
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