To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with Richard England, LCSW, ICWA Expert Witness
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Professional Services Agreement with Richard England for professional service to provide ICWA Expert Witness Reports and testimony effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020;
2. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, or designee, to exercise the first and second options to extend the agreement for additional one-year terms from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 and January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 for a not to exceed amount of $147,000 over the potential three-year term; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to route the fully executed agreement to the DHHS-Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund
DISCUSSION:
Since 2013, Richard England has provided required services for the county in upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The services include the review of case records, police reports, case notes, Discovery and conducting interviews as necessary to complete an evaluation.
The expert witness opinion, as given in written reports, is to determine:
• Whether continued custody by the parent(s) or Indian custodian will likely result in serious physical or emotional harm to the child
• If placement preference has been followed in accordance with ICWA.
• If active efforts were met to prevent the breakup of an Indian family as required by ICWA
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The maximum cost payable under this Agreement for calendar year 2020 is $49,000. The county has the option of extending this Agreement under the same terms and conditions for a additional two (2) one-year calendar terms. The maximum cost payable under the life of this Agreement shall not exceed $147,000. Funds have been included in Fund 1160, budget unit 508-Child Welfare Services (CWS) for the fiscal year 2019-2020 budget cycle and will be included going forward should the county extend the Agreement. There is no specific funding source connected to this Agreement. All Social Service Branch programs will share the costs associated with this Agreement. Cost sharing is based on a percent to total by program formula which is established on a quarterly basis through the County Expense Claim (CEC) submitted to the California Department of Social Services.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by enforcing laws and regulations to protect residents and protecting vulnerable populations.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Local Tribes
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to approve the Agreement, which is not recommended as it would jeopardize meeting the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
ATTACHMENTS:
Professional Services Agreement with Richard England, LCSW, ICWA Expert Witness
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A