To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Memorandum of Understanding by and between the Humboldt County Office of Education, Humboldt County School Districts, and County of Humboldt through its Probation Department and Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services Division regarding the Humboldt County Foster Youth Education Transportation Coordination Program
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Director of the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services Division, or a designee thereof, to execute the attached Memorandum of Understanding by and between the Humboldt County Office of Education, Humboldt County School Districts, and County of Humboldt through its Probation Department and Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services Division;
2. Approve, and ratify the signature of the Humboldt County Chief Probation Officer for the attached Memorandum of Understanding by and between the Humboldt County Office of Education, Humboldt County School Districts, and County of Humboldt through its Probation Department and Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services Division; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return the fully executed attached Memorandum of Understanding to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund
DISCUSSION:
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on Dec. 10, 2015. The purpose of this act was to replace and update the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) which was signed into law in 2002. The purpose of ESSA is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.
New provisions of the ESSA specific to students in foster care are designed to support school districts in their efforts to serve foster youth effectively. This includes the assurance that foster youth be enrolled or remain in their school of origin, unless there is a determination that it is not in their best interest to do so.
The purpose of the Humboldt County Foster Youth Education Transportation Coordination Program Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to set forth each party’s responsibilities to collaborate to allow foster students to remain in their school of origin, if that is deemed in their best interest, by providing transportation to the foster students. The MOU will be in effect for the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 and may be renewed and/or amended as detailed in the agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no specific dollar amount associated with this MOU. Dependent upon the placing agency, either the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services Division (DHHS-CWS) or Humboldt County Probation Department shall share 50% of any additional transportation costs with District of Attendance within the county on a case-by-case basis, related to transporting foster youth to remain at their school of origin under ESSA guidelines. Funds under this MOU will be primarily funded through Federal Title IV-E and 2011 Realignment on the DHHS-CWS side in Fund 1160, Budget Unit 508-Child Welfare Services and on the Probation side primarily through Title IV-E and their fiscal year 2019-20 approved County General Fund allocation in Fund 1100, Budget Unit 235-Probation. There is no further anticipated impact to the county General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Humboldt County Office of Education
Humboldt County School Districts
County of Humboldt Probation Department
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to approve the attached MOU regarding transportation of foster youth to their school of origin. However, this alternative is not recommended since it will negatively impact the educational continuity and long-term well-being of foster youth in Humboldt County.
ATTACHMENTS:
Humboldt County Foster Youth Education Transportation Coordination Program Memorandum of Understanding.
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: TBD