HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08122003 - D.14 D.14
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS F&HS-01 Contra
FRDM. FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ;� }s Costa
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DATE: November 25, 1996 °°_>- -'
County
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SUBJECT:
GROUP HOME PLACEMENT PRACTICES OF THE
SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)8 BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1 . CONSIDER directing the Social Service Director to recommend to the Board
of Supervisors by mid-January, 1997 the name of an organization which can
review the Social Service Department's group home placement practices to
determine whether there are any indications of racial discrimination toward
foster children in the selection of their group home placements during the past
twelve months.
2. DECLARE the intent of the Board of Supervisors, if it decides to pursue the
contract idea in Recommendation#1 and following receipt of the above report
from the Social Service Director, to authorize the Social Service Director to
contract with the organization which is selected in the amount approved by the
Board of Supervisors for the period of time specified in the contract and
REQUEST the organization conducting the study to report their conclusions
and recommendations to the 1997 Family and Human Services Committee
and for this purpose REFER this subject matter to the 1997 Family and
Human Services Committee.
3. DIRECT the County Administrator to request that the State Department of
Social Services do a review of this County's group placement practices to
determine whether there are any indications of racial discrimination toward
foster children in the selection of their group home placements.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _YES SIGNATURE:
_RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _RECOMMENDATION OF B RD C
_APPROVE _OTHER
�/
�'71G1t�
SIGNATURES
ACTION OF BOARD ON nPnPmhP-r 17 1996 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X
The Board further DIRECTED that developing technology and database knowledge be
used to provide tracking and information on the placement of African/American children
in African/American group homes in Contra Costa County,
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
%UNANIMOUSABSENT I
( AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC. County Administrator ATTESTED December 17, 1996
Social Service Director
Count Counsel PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Y SUPERVIS RS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
rA� 0 a
M382 (10/88) BY ,DEPUTY
F&HS-01
4. REMOVE this subject as a referral to the 1996 Family and Human Services
Committee.
BACKGROUND:
On September 17, 1996, the Board of Supervisors approved a report from our
Committee which included the following recommendation, among others:
2. DIRECT the Social Service Director to determine the average census of group
homes with Rate Classification Levels (RCL's) of 10 or 11 located in Contra
Costa County in order to determine whether there are any differences in
average census between group homes which are owned by African Americans
and group homes with non-African American ownership and forward that
information to the Family and Human Services Committee as soon as
reasonably possible.
Our Committee has had this subject on referral for the past year. We have met
repeatedly with representatives from AMARCH and more recently with The Rev.
Curtis Timmons in an effort to determine whether there is any evidence of racial
discrimination in the placement of African-American children in group homes by the
Contra Costa County Social Service Department. We have obtained data from the
Social Service Director, in response to the above direction from the Board of
Supervisors, documenting the utilization level of the Rate Classification Level (RCL)
ten and above group homes in the County, which suggests that high-level group
homes, African-American owned as well as non-African American owned, are full
most of the time and average somewhere between 85% and 100% utilization at all
times. This data suggests that there is seldom a vacancy in a group home in this
County (whether African-American owned or not) and may well not be a vacancy at
the time the group home placement specialist in the Department needs to place a
particular child in a group home that can meet the particular needs of that child. In
addition, we note that the primary concern of the Department, and the Board of
Supervisors, has to be the welfare of the child and not necessarily the financial
health of one or another group home.
Extensive data has been provided on the numbers of children in all types of care--
relative, foster and group homes. Placement locations have also been provided.
The Rev. Curtis Timmons has recently requested data on the number of children who
are placed by the Social Service Department in African-American owned group
homes in this County over the past year. The Social Service Director has responded
that this data is not available in computerized form as it is in some counties.
However, a point in time review of placements in African-American owned group
homes with RCLs above ten in this County indicates that 40% of the children are
being paid for by this County. It is not clear to our Committee that providing the data
requested by The Rev. Mr. Timmons would accomplish anything additional in terms
of documenting whether there is any racial discrimination against the children for
whom we are responsible. The requested data would appear to only serve to
document the extent to which the Social Service Department is using group homes
in this County. This does not address the question of whether a particular vacancy
is appropriate for a specific child or whether a vacancy even exists at the time a child
needs a placement.
The Social Service Director has indicated that the future of middle-level group
homes is problematic at best because other alternatives are increasingly being used
which are judged to be more appropriate for the child's long-term future, including
placement with relatives.
- 2 -
F&HS-01
Our Committee has reached a point where we appear to be faced with seemingly
irreconcilable differences between the Social Service Department staff and those
group home advocates who are accusing the Department of racial discrimination in
its placement practices. Our Committee is very concerned about these accusations
to the extent that they involve the well being of and most appropriate placement for
the children for whom we are responsible. We are less concerned about the
financial viability of any specific group home since we do not believe it is
government's responsibility to assure the viability of any particular group home, apart
from what is judged to be the least restrictive and most appropriate placement which
can meet the needs of a given child, particulary in view of the likelihood that group
homes will be used less and less in the future.
We are, therefore, recommending that the Board consider directing the Social
Service Director to return to the Board of Supervisors in January with the name of
one or more organizations that would be capable of providing an independent, third-
party review of group home placements by the Social Service Department to
determine whether there are any indications of racial discrimination toward foster
children in the selection of their group home placements during the past twelve
months. Once the Board approves a contract with the chosen organization, the
results of the review should be provided to the Family and Human Services
Committee for its review and subsequent report to the Board of Supervisors.
- 3 -
.l CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
' Social Service Department
Bks
John Cullen, Director
November 19, 1996
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
RECEIVED
Reverend Curtis A. Timmons NOV 2 0 1996
301 West 10th Street, Suite 6
Antioch, CA 94509 OFFICE
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Dear Reverend Timmons:
This is a response to your request to the Board of Supervisors dated October 28,
1996, that the Contra Costa County Social Service Department provide information to
you that you perceive was the directive of the Family and Human Services Committee
at their meeting on September 9, 1996. You received a copy of the Department's
response dated September 30, 1996, which you feel does not adequately respond to
your request. As you'll remember, this action was agreed upon as a means to
confirm our view that African-American owned homes with RCLs 10-12 were routinely
used and in short supply. Material submitted clearly documents that available
resources are at capacity.
At the September 9, 1996, meeting and at previous meetings before the Family and
Human Services Committee and individually with you, I have stated that we do not
keep data in the manner you have requested. Specifically, we do not have a report
that identifies children placed over time in homes owned by African Americans.
Additionally, reports do not exist which correlate the timing of vacancies in African-
American owned homes (or any other homes) with the availability of a child from
Contra Costa County needing placement.
I know how frustrating this must be for you, but let me restate some of our actual data
which hopefully satisfies you that we are not somehow being discriminatory in our
placement of African-American children.
• There are approximately 2,200 children in out-of-home care from Contra Costa
County; 58% are African American, 33% are Caucasian, 7% are Hispanic and 2%
are of other ethnicity.
• Of all African-American children in out-of-home care, 8% are in group homes, 34%
are in foster homes, 7% are in guardianship and 51% are placed with relatives.
This compares to Caucasian children in out-of-home care where 9% are in group
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE: 40 Douglas Drive • Martinez • CA - 94553-4068 - Voice (510) 313-1500 • FAX (510) 313-1575
Reverend Curtis A. Timmons
November 19, 1996
Page 2
homes, 46% are in foster homes, 6% are in guardianship and 39% are placed with
relatives.
• African-American children in out-of-home care are typically placed with a caretaker
of the same ethnicity. Recent information shared with you and the Family and
Human Services Committee showed that 93% of African-American children in
relative or foster home placement are with a same-race caretaker, and 47% of all
African-American children In group homes are placed In an African-American
owned home. Additionally, we know of other African-American children in group
homes not owned by African Americans where African Americans are employed as
the caretakers.
• Current federal and state law does not allow us to place solely on the basis of
race. Ethnicity is but one factor to be considered in deciding the best interests of
the child. Additionally, ethnicity of group home ownership is not a placement
consideration or criteria.
• The rate of group home placements for dependent children continues to decline
as foster care and kinship care are the preferred/least restrictive environments for
children. We have provided documentation of these trends in our earlier reports.
• Group home resources for more disturbed children, RCLs 10-14, are limited and
regularly at capacity. Our recent information shows these facilities to have 90%+
utilization rates. Few RCLs at these levels are owned by African Americans.
In response to your question regarding training of County social workers to help them
to make decisions in the placement of foster children, we believe that having staff with
academic preparation is a primary means to ensure good social work practice. As
you may know, most of our staff do have Masters-level training, and all of our
supervisors who provide direct supervision to line staff are Master level. Social Work
degree programs all Include education in cultural diversity and competency.
Additionally, we contract with the University of California, Davis, and also send staff to
training sponsored by Fresno State University. Both of these training institutions
include programs on diversity for practicing Child Welfare workers which many of our
staff have attended. As you may also know, we have a Training Coordinator for Child
Welfare who has been leading both our new-worker training and ongoing training for
experienced staff. One of our training subjects is cultural diversity. We've held
trainings for staff on cultural diversity over the years; the most recent one was this
past August. This all-day forum preceded plans to do district training focused on
cultural competency. Our Training Coordinator is currently developing these trainings.
Spec to the placement of children into group homes, our Department has a
Placement Specialist responsible for assessing the information provided by social
workers along with supporting documentation and to match the child/children into
Reverend Curds A. Timmons
November 19, 1996
Page 3
placements which can best meet the child's therapeutic needs. These placements are
overseen by a supervisor, and an interagency committee reviews children requiring
high-level (RCLs 13 and 14) placements. We have attached a list of training
completed by Beatrice Hili, Placement Specialist, and Myra Emanuel, Supervisor. Both
Ms. Hill and Ms. Emanuel are experienced social workers in the area of Child Welfare.
Hopefully the information above answers your questions. Please be aware that as we
continue our success in serving children in less intensive environments, the need for
group homes in mid-level RCLs will further decline. Additionally, we will continue
efforts to ensure our staff are ethnically representative and that they consider race as
but one factor in making placement decisions. Finally, the reviews that we have
undertaken over the past year to examine our out-of-home care practices have
increased our sensitivity and attention. Following these reviews, I do not find any
information that supports the belief expressed by some that the Department is
somehow preventing African-American children from getting the care they need, or
that we are withholding placements from African-American owned homes. If the
information in this and previous reports does not convince you of this, I would
encourage you to contact the California Department of Social Services, Foster Care
Bureau, 744 P Street, Sacramento, or the State Civil Rights Bureau, P. O. Box 944243,
Sacramento, for their independent assessments.
Sincerely,
� J�►� L
John Cullen
Director
JC:ceb
Attachments
cc: Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier, Family and Human Services Committee Member
Supervisor Jeff Smith, Family and Human Services Committee Member
bcc : Claude Van Marter
NUV-91-1996 15:0q CCC SOC SRU STAFF MEL 510 313 1970 P.02
REGISTRAR Standard sport page 1
Transcript 11-01-96
name: ,BEATRTCB
Pon-
Function:
phone number: 3 1884
supervisor name:
employee Vambeit 7124
CLASSES
10-2496 5=9210 LEGAL ASPECTS OF HSNm ILLNESS B 10-15-96
05-02-96 STS9800 WINDOWSPORD TRNG-i3FFICE A11ZMTION (6) F 07-02-96
04-16.96 C986100 ROLE OF FOSTER PARENTS - SRSSION A F 04-17.96
01-03-96 GINIC13 MANAGING THE STRESS OF CW=I #B F 01-04-96
10-30-95 CN59141 PZFDL% tCY PT PO TO PEMB[ABENCY ACTION 1 10-19-95
10.30-95 CWS9203 CONCURRSIiT BLANN"M WORKSHOP F 06-06-96
10.11-98 CWS9201 SB 1125 F 03-05-96
05-03-95 CWS4140 ',PLACING THE HARD-TO-MCS CRIED F 06-06-95
09-01-94 EL43300 PAPM TO PLASTIC-= I.D. CARD #16 F 09-02-94
07-27-94 CWS7211 SSI APPLICATION TRAINING SESSION B F 08-05-94
04-18-94 GEN3209 SENSITIVITY TO DIVP.•RSITR 888SION B F 04-19-94
10-13-93 CWS9341 WRITING COURT REPORTS F 10-14-93
09-28-93 CWS4301 AB 3632 PROGRM F 04-14-94
06-24-92 CW97320 CULTURAL AWAIMMS-INbSAN CRM WELF ACT E 07-09-92
06-24-92 CWS7320 INDIAN CHILD 9PWARE ACT E 07-09-92
04-01-92 SYS8301 SSRS TpAZNING F 05-19-92
01-01-92 SY84101 USIC CAS ON-LINE =DBX F 05-19-92
11-20-91 GMM201 CULTURAL AWARENESS TRAINING F 01-03-92
10-08-91 CW67931 STATE TRAINING-CN BASIC CDRRYCULDX F 02-20-92
04-03-91 GEN2103 RISK MGMT.DE-ESCAL OF POT VIOLENT B=AVI F 05-o3-91
Ar-eo MUM L:LL n"AHL SON. TO 40 DOUGLAS f:DM P.03
NOV-01-1956 15+83 OCC SOC SW STAFF REVEL 510 313 17M , P.01
REGISTRAR Stand Report gage 1
Transaript 11-07.96
names OPJM,.KYU
Pen: 0
functions
phone number: -i8T4
supervisor names CANAN
employee numbers 20,876
CLASSES
10-24-96 SER9210 LEGAL ASPECT8 OF MENTAL ILLNESS E 10-15-96
09-23-96 MS7210 DIVERSITY IN TRE 14ORKMACS & FIRM E 08-20-96
05-22-96 SYS9900 WINDOWS/WORD TM-OMC8 AUTOMaxION (9) E 07-02-96
05-16-96 XGT9103 0IIF8RVIam, WORRf3HOP F 05-22-96
04-16-96 CW86100 ROLE OF F084'RR PARENT'S - SESSION 8 F 05-10-96
02-02-96 CWS9206 KINSHIP CARE PORUM F 06-06-96
01-04-96 GIN1013 MANAGING THE STRESS 01+ CHANGE OC F 01-05-96
12-06-95 CKS9203 GRIZY AND IHSS F 06-05-96
11-14-95. CWS9110 MUTUAL D=91ON-MMI0 SESSION D F 11-27-95
10-30-95 CWS9141 PERMANENCY PLANNING TO PERMANENCY ACTION E 10-19-95
10-30-95 CWS9205 CONCDEREIiT PLMWMG WORKSHOP € 06-06-96
10-26-95 MOT1001 SERVICE EXCELLENCE - MODULE 1 (87) F 10-31-95
10-04-95 CWS9201 S$ 1125 F 03-OB-96
09-13-95 MGT10O1 SERVICE EXCELLENCE - MODULE 1 (E6) F 09-15-95
07-19-95 MGTIO01 SMMCZ EXCELLENCE - MODULE 1 (E5), F 09-05-95
05-10-95 MGT1001 SERVICE BXCUJAVCE - MODULE 1 (C4) F 05-12-95
05-04-95 NOT9103 SVPERVISORSI WORKSHOP F 06-12-95
05-03-95 CW64140 PLACING TIM RARD-TO-PLACE CHILD F 06-06-95
03-14-95 MGT1001 SMWICR IXCSLLENCS - MODULE 1 (C3) F 04-03-95
03-07-95 cw$7140 ADVAN= ASSESSMENT SKILLS #A F 03-16-95
01-12-95 MGT1001 SERVICE EXCELLENCE - MODULE 1 Na) F 03-31-.95
11-09-94 MGT1001 SERVICE EXC$L ma - MODULE 1 (C1) F 11-14-94
09-01-94 EL03300 PAPER TO PLUTIC-ISD I.D. CARD ff16 F 09-02-94
07-27-94 CW87211 881 APPLICATION TRAINING SESSION 5 F 08-05-94
03-09•-94 NOT4100 DIVERSITY T14 WORKPLACE FOR MANAGERS F 03-10-94
12-20-93 CW07934 MTB TR IG - SS 1125 8 01-21-94
10-28-93 M{3T9103 SUPERVISORS' WORCMW - FALL 193 F 10-29-93
10-20-93 GER9202 ETHICS ZR THE WORKPLACE #8 _ F 10-21-93
10-13-93 C"9341 WRITING COIIRT REPOR`PS E 10-06-93
09-28-93 CW84301 AB 3632 PR06RAM F 04-14--94
07-01-93 GH,N33.28 FINANCIAL PLANNING WORKSHOP F 01-13-94
06-30-92 CW83310 DIFFICULTY OF CARE APPROVAL PROCESS F 07-0992
04-22-92 NOT9103 SUPERVISORS' WORKSHOP F 04-28-92
12-10-91 SYS11101 83" TRAINING F 05-19-92
09-01-91 SYS4101 'BASIC CDS ON-LINE INDEX F 05-19-92
04-30-91 CE92103 RISK MwatDE-=CAL OF POT VSOTXXT 888AVI F 05-03-91
04-24-91 NOT9103 SUPERVISORSWORKSHOP F 04-25-91
TOTAL P.03
•gran :- FEV. C.R. TIMMONS,Ba.TH.D. PHONE No. : 510 7531MO Oct. 17 19% 12:29AM P01
THE MULTI. OULIURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, II4CORPORATED
THE REVEREND CURTIS A. TIMMONS, B.A. ,TH.D. , EXEOUI'IVE DIRECTOR
301—WEST TENTH STREET, SUITE SIX
AN11OCH, CALIFORIA 94509 URGENT(510) 753-1830
OCTOBER 17, 1990 QUICK REPLY REQUESTED!
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
651-PINE STREET
MARTINC2, CALIFORNIA 94553
ATTENTION: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ,
JOHN CULLEN. DIRECTOR
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
FAMILY & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTaF_
1996-97 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY
AMARCH, ALFRED SIMMONS, VICE-PRESIDENT
THE PITTSBURG AND RICHMOND NAACP BRA14CIIES
RE: REQUEST FOR DATA FROM THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES
DEPARTMENT
SIGNATURE:-
THE REV. CURTIS A. TIMMONS,BA. ,TH.D. , EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DEAR CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,
MCDA, INC. THROUGH ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE REVEREND CURTIS A.
TIMMONS HAVW ON NUMEROUS REPEATED OCCASIONS REQUESTED THE CUNINA
COSTA COUI4TY SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE AND FORWARD TO
THE ABOVE OFFICE AS SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE BOTH FACTUAL AND
COMPLETE DATA OLEARLY OUTLINING OVER THE PAST TWELVE MUNIHS 111E
NUMBER OF FOSTER CHILDREN FROM THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SOCIAL
SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF ALL ETHNICITIES THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED 114
ALL AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED GROUP HOMES AND NON-AFRICA14 AMERICAN
OWNED GROUP HOMES IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WITH AN RCL RATING OF
TEN OR ABOVE.
FINALLY WE REQUEST DOCUMENTATION OF THE TYPE OF SPECIALIZED
TRAINING SOCIAL WORKERS ARE uIvEN PREPARING THEM TO MAKE PROPER
DECISIONS IN THE PLACEMENT OF POSTER CHILDREN IN GROUP HOMES. WE
ARE NOT SIMPLY REQUESTING TO BE PROVIDED INFORMATION OF I'H6
ACADEMIC DEGREES HELD BY SOCIAL WORKERS. WE ARE MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT KNOWING WHAT SPECIAL CULTURAL AND ETHNIC SENSIIIVIIY
TRAINING THE WORKERS HAVE RECEIVED. HOW AWARE ARE SOCIAL. WORKERS
OF THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING AND HONORING THE VARIOUS CULIUtAL
AND ETI4NIC TRADITIONS AND SPECIAL NEEDS OF MINORITY FOSTER
CHILDREN THEY SERVE?
From REV. C.A. TIMMONS,Ba.TH.D. PHONE No. : 510 7531830 Oct. 17 19% 12:30W P02
PAGL 1WO
I RECEIVED ON BEHALF OF TIIE FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTCC A
COPY OF THE DIRECTIVES DATED OCTOBER 2, 1990 FROM CLAUDE L. VAN
MAR1'ER, ASSISTANT COU14TY ADMINISTRATOR WHICII DIRECTED THE -OCIAL
SERVICE DIRECTOR TO DETERMINE THE AVERAGE CCNGUG OF GROUP (IOMCS
WITH RATE CLASSIFICATION LEVELS OF 10 OR 11 LOCATED IN CONTRA
COS1A COUNTY IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WIIC111LR THERE ARE ANY
DIFFERENCED IN AVERAGE CENSUS BETWEEN GROUPHOMES WIIICII ARE OWNED
BY AFRICAN--AMERICANS AND GROUP HOMES WITH NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN
OWNERSHIP AND FORWARD TIIAT INFORMATION TO THE FAMILY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE AS SOON AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE.
THE DIRECTIVES SENT TO YOU FROM CLAUDE L. VAN HARTER AS THEY ARE
STATED ABOVE DO NOT CLEARLY STATE WHAT I PERCEIVE TO HAVE BEEN
THE DIRECTIVES COMING FROM THE FAMILY AND HUMA14 SERVICES
COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN SUPERVISOR JIM ROGERS OFFICE IN
RICHMOND ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1990.
ON PAGE TWO IN THE SIX PARAGRAPH OF F&HS--03 REPORT DATED
SEPTEMBER 9, 1990 IT STATES THAT THE REV. CURTIS TIMMONS
INDICATED THAT HE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE
DEPARTMENT, BUT NEEDS TO HAVE SOLID EDIDENCE THAT THERE: 13 NOT
DISCRIMINATION IN THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN AFRICAN--AMERICAN
OWNED GROUP HOMES. HE ASKED FOR DATA WHICI4 SHOWED THE NUMBER OP
CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN PLACED BY THE C014TRA COSTA COUNTY SOCIAL
SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED GROUP HOIaES OVER A
PERIOD OF A YEAR VERSUS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN PLACED BY THE
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN NON-AFRICAN-
AMERICAN OWNED HOMES. IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH ON PAGL TWO ENDING
ON PAGE THREE, MR. JOHN CULLEN AGREED THAT HIS STAFF COULD OBTAIN
THIS INFORMATION FROM BOTH AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED AND NON-AFRICAN
AMERICAN OWNED GROUP HOMES WITH RCL'S OF 10, 11 OR ABOVE W17H TIME
COOPERATION OF THE GROUP HOMES AND PROVIDE THE. INFORMATION REV.
TIMMONS IS REQUESTING.
THE REASON WHY THE SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS REQUESTED TO
PROVIDE THIS ADDITIONAL DATA WAS BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT STATED
THAT THE REASON FOR SOCIAL SERVICES NOT MAKING MORE PLACEMENTS IN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED GROUP HOMES WAS BECAUSE MOST OF THE
COUNTY'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED GROUP HOMES HAD AN RCL RATING OF'
9 OR BELOW AND MOST OF TIIE FOSTER CHILDREN IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
NEEDING PLACE14ENT IN GROUP HOMES NEEDED TO BE PLACED IN GROUP
HOMES WIT14 RCL RATINGS OF 10 OR ABOVE.
REV. TIMMONS STATED, IF HE WERE PROVIDED THE COMPLETE AND FACTUAL
DATA HE REQUESTED, I1 COULD RESOLVE FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL TIIL
CONCERNS OF THE AFRICAN•-AMERICAN COMMUNITY CONCERNING THE
ALLEGATION THAT THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTME14T
WAS DISCRIMINATING AGAINST AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED GROUP HOIiE
PROVIDERS IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BY REGULARLY MAKING PREF'ERI'_NTIAL
LARGER PLACEMENTS IN NON-AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNhD GROUP HOMES IN
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
Fram REV. C.R. TIMMONS.Ba.TH.D. PHONE No. : 510 7531830 Oct. 17 1996 12:31AM P03
PAGE THREE
THE DATA PROVIDED BY JOHN CULLCN TO THE FAMILY A14D HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 1890, SUDJCCT: RCL'£ AIJD
UTILIZATION DO NOT BY ANY MEANS PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RLQUCOTLD
DATA AS REQUESTED BY THE REV. CURTIS A. TIMMONS AND TILL
DIRECTIVES OF THE FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTCC FOR JOHN
CULLEN TO PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE AS SOON AS RE-ASONADLY POSSIBLE
THE DATA REQUESTED BY THE REV. TIMMONS.
MCDA,INC. REQUEST THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO
ISSUE A CLEAR DIRECTIVE TO MR. JOHN CULLCN TO PROVIDE Ti4[ FAMILY
AIJD HUMA14 SERVICES COMMITTEE BEFORE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 199r,
THE COMPLETE AND FACTUAL DATA AS REQUESTEDBY MCDA, INC. THROUGH
ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE REV. CURTIS A. IIMMONS.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND CO-OPERATION.
Is'p p 1 l u y..*..,
s i
F �
�. V" ••,,...•• ,.•
r TO.', BOARD OF SUPERVISORS F&HS-03 �O
Contra
FROM: FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Costa
a.
DATE: September 9, 1996 ' r 6 County
>� x
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT ON THE GROUP HOME PLACEMENT PRACTICES OF
THE SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT
SPECIFICz[ff6f,,5M pMN(I(i741F�1�/\TjQ S)d BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
1. ACCEPT this report from the Family and Human Services Committee on the
status of the group home placement practices of the Social Service
Department.
2. DIRECT the Social Service Director to determine the average vacancy rate
of group homes with Rate Classification Levels (RCL's) of 10 or 11 located in
Contra Costa County in order to determine whether there are any differences
in average census between group homes which are owned by African-
Americans and group homes with non-African-American ownership and
forward that information to the Family and Human Services Committee as
soon as reasonably possible.
BACKGROUND:
On July 8, 1996, our Committee received a report from the Social Service Director
dated July 1, 1996. In response to complaints from Mr. Alfred. Simmons that he had
not received all of the relevant reports from the Department, our Committee directed
that all of the relevant reports to the Family and Human Services Committee be
furnished to Mr. Simmons and others and that this matter be scheduled for
discussion again in September in West County. In addition, the Department was
asked to respond to a number of questions raised by the Human Relations
Commission.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _YES SIGNATURE:
_RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR —RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
_APPROVE _OTHER
SIGNATURE(S): MARK DeSAULNIER JEFF SMITH
ACTION OF BOARD ON sep�17, V
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED _ OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT- AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ATTESTED
Contact: County Administrator PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
cc: Social Service Director SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY DEPUTY
F&HS-03
On September 9, 1996, our Committee met in West County with the Social Service
Director, John Cullen; the Assistant Director, Danna Fabella; Mr. Simmons; Ms.
Faye Crosley; members of the Grand Jury and other interested individuals.
Mr. Cullen provided the attached report to our Committee and those present. It
responds to the requests we had made in July and includes the letters sent to Mr.
Simmons and others and the response made to the questions raised by the Human
Relations Commission.
Mr. Simmons reiterated his concern that despite all of the reports that have been
prepared, African-American-owned group homes are still not getting African-
American children. Danna Fabella again reviewed the data on the relatively small
number of African-American children who are in group homes. Ms. Crosley
complained about the lack of cultural sensitivity of the staff who are making
placement decisions and noted that unless you are African-American you should not
be placing African-American children in group homes. She called for the formation
of a board which would include African-American ministers to review and participate
in making placement decisions.
There was considerable additional frustration expressed at the lack of children being
placed in African-American-owned group homes. Mr. Cullen tried to explain that the
number of children in group homes overall is going down and that more and more
children are being placed with relatives or in foster care. He suggested that some
group homes are going to go out of business. Unless we come to grips with the
reality that the number of children needing group homes, particularly those with
lower RCL's, is being reduced dramatically, we will never be able to resolve this
dispute.
Danna Fabella noted that the Department's policy is to do a thorough assessment
of the child's needs and then place the child in a home which has a program that can
best meet the needs of that child, regardless of the ethnicity of the operator or owner
of the home.
The Rev. Curtis Timmons indicated that he wanted to be able to be supportive of the
Department, but needs to have solid evidence that there Is not discrimination in the
placement of children in African-American-owned group homes. He asked for data
which showed the number of children who have been placed in African-American-
owned group homes over a period of perhaps a year versus the number of children
placed in non-African-American-owned homes. He indicated that if this data were
to show that similar numbers of children are being placed in both groups of homes
he would be the first to come to the Department's defense.
Mr. Cullen indicated that the Department does not have historical data which shows
the number of children placed in a particular group home. To get this information it
would be necessary to review every placement record for every child to see where
they had been placed.
However, it would be possible to contact the group homes themselves and get
average vacancy rate information from them which shows the number of beds for
which the facility is licensed, what level of RCL the facility can accept, and the
average number of vacancies the facility had over a period of a year. Mr. Cullen
agreed that his staff could obtain this information from both African-American-owned
and non-African-American-owned group homes with RCL's of 10 or 11 and, with the
-2-
F&HS-a3
cooperation of the group homes themselves, provide the information Rev. Timmons
is requesting. We have asked Mr. Cullen to advise the Board on September 17,
1996 how long it will take to obtain this information and provide it to our Committee.
We will review this information and then make a further report to the Board of
Supervisors.
-3-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Social Service Department
DATE: September 9, 1996
TO: Family and Human Services Committee
FROM: John Cullen, Director c: Danna Fabella
SUJA=T: Follow-up Report from July 8, 1996, Family and Human Services
Committee on Group Home Placement Practices
1) Copies of all reports made to the Family and Human Services Committee were provided
to Mr.'Simmons, Ms, Crossley, Rev. Timmons, and Ms. Perls on July 18,s 1996.
2) Attached is a copy of the Department's August 29, 1996, response to the letter from Ms.
Perls from the Human Relations Commission,
3) Per Alameda County Program Manager, Carol Collins, Alameda County Social Services
Agency does not have a placement review:board. last year, they did have a placement
review board that consisted of staff: Program Manager, Licensing Supervisor, Shelter
Care Supervisor, placement Specialist, and the social worker carrying the case. The
board focused on children in emergency foster placements with the goal of finding
regular foster care placements for these children. The specific issue that their placement
review board was trying to address was the lack of movement of children from the
emergency foster care system to regular foster care placements. When children do not .
move, the emergency system, does not have the capacity to care,for children in
emergency situations (ie., the immediate removal of children from pareat's homes by
Child.Protective Service(CPS)workers. Because of staffing changes and problems with
their data system, the-board no longer meets.' They are currently meeting to discuss
possibly reconvening this group.
As we have outlined in reports dated Febmaty 16 and July 1, 1996, to the Family Human
Services Committee, placements of foster children are often complex and,must:take into
considerations many factors. .The selection begins with an assessment of the child and his/her
family situation. Relatives are considered prior to other placements. We consider whether the .
family can meet the needs of a particular child: transporting for therapy, handling behavioral
problems, visitation requirements, sibling arrangements, etc.
The need for a group home is generally identified in one of two ways. The most common is
when a child has been in a family-type home(either relative or foster home) and can no longer
safely be maintained in the home due to behaviors that are disruptive. The second way is when
the child is referred from a mental health profession or a parent is unwilling to care for their
child because of the child's emotional problems.
Memo to: Family & Human Services Committee September 9, 1996
Subject: Follow-up Report ... Group Home Placement Practices Page 2
When a child is assessed as needing group home care due to the above reasons, a referral is
made to our Children's Residential Placement Unit (CRPU). A referral packet consisting of
court reports, placement history, psychological, school information and other pertinent
information is sent to the CRPU (see attachments CRPU 6 and CRPU 6A).
The Placement Specialist is responsible for keeping abreast of group home resources. The
Placement Specialist assesses the child's needs and reviews the availability of group homes with
RCLs that can meet the child's needs. All group home placements of children under the age of
ten (10) and all children in placements where costs exceed $4,000 are reviewed by the Division
Manager.
Packets with all information on the child are'sent to group horng ,placements for their
consideration. The Placement Specialist arranges for the interview for the.child at the group
home to assist in determining whether both the group home, the child,•and the social worker
believe there is a match.
All children being placed by Social Service,Probation or Mental Health systems(who are being
considered for a placement in a facility with an RCL 13 or RCL 14) must be staffed by the
Interagency Placement Committee (IPC). The IPC is made up of representatives from Social
Service, Mental Health and Education.
A":
JBCIDF:sjb
Attachments.
r t
- CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
'• Social Service Department
John Cullen, Director
cdsra`covci`�t
July 18, 1996
Ms. Faye Myrette-Crosley
2919 Mullens Drive
Richmond, CA 94806
Dear Ms. Myrette-Crosley:
Per your request at the July 8, 1996, Family and Human Services Committee meeting,
enclosed please find a copy of the following reports:
Date Subject
December 6, 1994 Report to Internal Operations Committee Regarding
Implementation Plan and Timetable for Adoptions
Recommendations from the Family Welfare Research Group
February 9, 1995 Follow Up to the Report to the Family and Human Services
Committee of the Board of Supervisors on the Adoption
Program
March 23, 1995 Follow Up to the February 9, 1995, Report to the Family and
Human Services Committee on the Adoption Program
July 5, 1995 Follow Up to the April 11, 1995, Report to the Family and
Human Services Committee on the Adoptions Program
October 5, 1995 Status Report on the Review of the Adoptions Program in the
County
December 11, 1995 Children's Services and Adoptions Program Follow Ups
February 16, 1996 Children's Services—Out-of-Home Care
March 6, 1996 Status Report on the Adoptions Improvement Project
Ms. Faye Myrette-Crosley
July 18, 1996 _
Page 2
July 1, 1996 Report Regarding Out-of-Home Care and Placement Practices
Sincerely,
John Cullen
Social Service Director
JC:ceb
Enclosures
J `
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Socia! Service Department
o¢sra John Cullen, Director
0
July 18,• 1996
Reverend Curtis A. Timmons
P.O. Box 8213
Pittsburg, CA 94565
Dear Reverend Timmons:
Per your request at the July 8, 1996, Family and Human Services Committee meeting,
enclosed please find a copy of the following reports:
Date Suble
December 6, 1994 Report to Internal Operations Committee Regarding
Implementation Plan and Timetable for Adoptions
Recommendations from the Family Welfare Research Group
February 9, 1995 Follow Up to the Report to the Family and Human Services
Committee of the Board of Supervisors on the Adoption
Program
-March 23, 1995 Follow.Up to the February 9, 1995, Report to the Family and
Human Services Committee on the Adoption Program
July 5, 1995 Follow Up to the:April 11, 1995, Report to the Family and
Human Services Committee on the Adoptions Program
October 5, 1995 Status Report on the Review of the Adoptions Program in the
County.
December 11, 1995 Children's Services and Adaptions Program Follow Ups
February 16, 1996 Children's Services—Out-of-Home Care
March 6, 1996 Status Report on the Adoptions Improvement Project
Reverend Curtis A. Timmons
July 18, 1986 _..
Page 4
July 1, 1996 Report Regarding Out-of-Nome Care and Placement Practices
Sincerely,
OtA( \
John Cullen
Social Service Director
JC:oeb
Enclosures
.,.,.r .M,.W .. .. ..- ... cuara:ea .., ueaxa�w' ..:,.nllBii(� �� �. ;... , ,.—__� ..r :w• ....�u.�u���::
: - CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Social Service Department
John Cullen, Director
�dsra coiiir�
July 18'.1996
Mr. Alfred C. Simmons
2936 Linden Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705
Dear Mr. Simmons:
Per your request at the July 8, 1996, Family and Human Services Committee meeting,
enclosed please find a copy of the following reports:
Date Subject
December 6, 1994 Report to Internal Operations Committee Regarding
Implementation Plan and Timetable for Adoptions
Recommendations from the Family Welfare Research Group
February 9, 1995 Follow Up to the Report to the Family and Human Services
Committee of the Board of Supervisors on the Adoption
Program
March 23, 1995 Follow Up to the February 9, 1995, Report to the Family and
Human Services Committee on the Adoption Program
July 5, 1995 Follow Up to the April 11, 1995, Report to .the Family and
Human Services Committee on the Adoptions Program
October 5, 1995 Status Report on the Review of the Adoptions Program in the
County
December 11, 1995 Children's Services and Adoptions Program Follow Ups
February 16, 1996 Children's Services—Out-of-Home Care
March 6, 1996 Status Report on the Adoptions Improvement Project
Mr. Alfred C. Simmons
July 18, 1996
Page 6
July 1, 1996 Report Regarding Out-of-Home Care and Placement Practices
Sin rely,
John Cullen
Social Service Director
JC:ceb
Enclosures
_ CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
�' �• Social Service Department
I
+ 4° John Cullen, Director
�sr.. cutin.
July 18, 1996
Ms. Pamela Paris
P. O. Box 1392
Lafayette, CA 94549
Dear Ms. Paris:
Per your request at the July 8, 1996, Family and Human Services Committee meeting,
enclosed please find a copy of the following reports:
Date Sublect
December 6, 1994 Report to Internal Operations Committee Regarding
Implementation Plan and Timetable for Adoptions
Recommendations from the Family Welfare Research Group
February 9, 1995 Follow Up to the Report to the Family and Human Services
Committee of the Board of Supervisors on the Adoption
Program
March 23, 1995 Follow Up to the February 9, 1995,.Report to the Family and
Human Services Committee on the Adoption Program
July 5, 1995 Follow Up to the April 11, 1995, Report to the Family and
Human Services Committee on the Adoptions Program
October 5, 1995 Status Report on the Review of the Adoptions Program in the
County
December 11, 1995 Children's Services and Adoptions Program Follow Ups
February 16, 1996 Children's Services—Out-of-Home Care
March 6, 1996 Status Report on the Adoptions Improvement Project
W'd� 4vvLLUL:v.uvr.:i. risWi..v[wvrWWMlt.irnrvuWt)JJW{iviuv{.JJ WJ{u)1{GI.JYW uvru•.uuuJLv
Ms. Pamela Perls
July 18, 1996
Page 8
July 1, 1996 Report Regarding Out-of-Home Care and Placement Practices
Sincerely,
John Cullen
Social Service Director
JC:ceb
Enclosures
,. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Social Service Department
ar
cs John Cullen, Director
August 29, 1996
Ms. Pamela R. Paris
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
2020 N. Broadway Street, Suite 203A
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Dear Ms. Paris:
QUESTIONS REGARDING FOSTER CARE
This letter is in response to your letter dated June 30, 19%, regarding the placement
of African-American children in foster homes and group homes.
First, we would like to start by stating our Department has followed both law and
regulation which requires the placement of children in the most home-like setting in
this order: relative, foster home, group home. Since we place approximately 52
percent of the children with their relatives, we can assume these children are ethnically
matched.
Our.Department put In place an Interracial placement policy which predated the Gwen
Moore AB 548 legislation which required'ethnic matching as a placement priority. You
may be aware that this legislation.was replaced by the Metzenbaum bill which places_
ethnicity as only one of the factors which one considers when making placement.
Newer federal law has been passed which further weakens the ability of public
adoption agencies to consider ethnicity as a factor in placements. However, pending
any federal/state directions to the contrary, our social work staff still considers the
ethnicity of a child as,a priority, especially for older children where schools and
friendships occur as a part of their placement.
In response to your specific questions:
1. Provide statistics regarding ethnic, national and cultural background of
social workers and their supervisors.
Following is a chart showing the ethnicity of the Department's social work staff.
We do not have data that quantifies staff's nationality or cultural background.
Ms. Pamela R. Perls
August 29, 1996
Page 2
Job ETHNICITY
Class. TOTAL
Aft/Amer Cauc Hisp Other
SCS II 16 102 6 5 129
SCSI 0 8 0 1 9
Sw 17 38 4 7 66
Liaison Spec 1 — — — 1
TOTAL 34 (1&6%) 148 (722%) 10 (4.9%) 13 (6.3%) 205
2. Expand the pool of minority foster families in all geographic areas of the
County such that children may have the opportunity to be placed with a
foster family of similar ethnic, national and cultural background.
The following table shows the ethnic background of foster homes in our County
by district. We wish to remind you that over 52 percent of our African-American
children are placed with their relatives. However, we continue to recruit foster
homes in order to have foster families who are reflective of the children In foster
care.
West East Central
County County County Totals
African-.
American 103 71 9 •183
Asian 2„ 0' 1 3
Caucasian 28 94 73 195
Hispanic 1 12 3 16
African
American/
Caucasian 1 2 0 3
Caucasian
/Asian 1 5 0 6
Ms. Pamela R. Perls
August 29, 1996
Page 3
Caucasian y,
/Hispanic 4 6 4 14
African-
American/
Hispanic 0 T 0 1
Native
American 0 0 1 1
Totals 140 191 91 422
3. Encourage social workers to-place children with foster families which
reflect the diversity of the County's foster child population.
As stated earlier our workers do consider ethnicity as a factor in the placement of
foster children, however they are instructed that must be only one of the
considerations per federal law.
4. Plan and execute outreach to locate and train new social workers and
foster parents of diverse ethnic, national and cultural background.
Recently we field a forum on cultural diversity and invited foster parents and
social workers to attend. We plan to expand this by providing district training to
continue to focus on and discuss cultural differences and how to use these
differences when assessing placements and determining services for our families.
We outreach social workor'hiring to'the California State University system's Title
IV-E graduates. These students are.graduating from a MSW program which
focuses on child weifard practios end recruits many minority candidates.
Additionally, we routinely recruit through major minority professional
organizations.
5. Provide opportunities for social workers to become familiar with new foster
families.
Our Department has a Social Worker/Caregiver Committee which consists of
foster parents, relative caregivers and social workers. This Committee focuses
on working with any difficult relationships, makes recommendations for training
and reviews policies and procedures which impact our caregivers. Additionally,
we recognize our foster parents at an annual luncheon, and we now provide a
quarterly newsletter for our caregivers which provides an avenue for both social
workers and foster parents to express concerns and to know what is happening
within the Department.
Ms. Pamela R. Paris
August 29, 1996
Page 4
6. Develop a better working relatlpnshlp between your Department and Afro-
American.foster.families in Contra costa County by providing adequate
support for the families and children placed with them.
Contra Costa County receives funding for recruitment, training and respite of
- foster parents who take care of drag-exposed Infants. This program, which is
called the Heritage Project, was designed to recruit and.train primarily African-
Americans and other minority homes since these homes are reflective of the
children coming Into our system. Social workers are also assigned to work with
and support foster parents and children placed in these homes.
7.. Reduce social worker caseload and expansion of the number of social
workers.
As you may know, the Department receives federal and state funding, which is
matched by County funds, to employ social workers to work on child welfare
cases. Our County operates close to our funding yardstick, and decreasing
workload by adding social workers would require a substantial amount of County
funding. Our County has in fact increased funding for child welfare services,
primarily in the adoption program to provide much-needed support in order to
help finalize adoption plans for our foster,children.
B. Developinternships for students and train students to work with new foster
families to provide support and education.
Our Department has taken graduate students from MSW programs through the
years, and we in fact have pians to put together a more comprehensive graduate
program as time permits. Other current training priorities are the development of
both on-going and:new-worker training and Foster Pride/Adopt Pride training for
caregivers:
I hope these answers adequately address your questions. The Department would be
very willing to discuss hese,items in greater detail with the Commission or its,
members. Please do not hesitate to call me, or Assistant Social Service Director,
Danna Fabella, at 313-1583, should you wish to meet
Sincerely,
John Cullen
Director
JC:ceb
Contra Costa County Social Service Department
CRPU PLACEMENT REQUEST
DATE WORKER PHONE
A. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
❑ MALE
CHILD ❑ FEMALE RACE
BIRTHDATE DATE OF INITIAL DEPENDENCY FR/PP
MOTHER ADDRESS PHONE
FATHER ADDRESS PHONE
PRESENT CARETAKER ADDRESS
PHONE RELATIONSHIP TO CHILD DATE PLACED
B. REASON FOR RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT
C. FAMILY
1. What are family problems?
2. What is attitude of parents toward child?
3. What is attitude of parents toward placement?
C. THE CHILD
1. School:
a. Last Public School attended(other than Lion's Gate/County Day):
b. Address
c. Current grade
d. Type of school program needed:
1. Regular
2. Special Ed. : SED LH (I.E.P.needed)
e. Actual grade levels(If available) 1. Math 2.Reading
f. IQ (if available)
C.*THE CHILD(continued)
2. Date of last psychological testing: (Copy needed)
3. Name of child's therapist: (Report needed)
4. Child's attitude toward placement:
5. Appearance of child:
6. Child's actual behavior toward:
a. Parents:
b. Siblings/Peers:
c. Other adults:
7. Child's interests,abilities:
8. Sexual t Dating patterns:
9. Use of drugs? Alcohol? Cigarettes?
10. Physical t Helath limitations:
11. Medications:
D. TYPE OF FACILITY NEEDED .
1. Type of therapy needed
2. Ideal type of facility:
3. Estimated length of placement:
4. After plan:
E. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Contra Costa County Social Service Department
MATERIALS TO BE SUBMITTED WITH CRPU REFERRAL
(IN DUPLICATE)
❑ CRPU Placement Request Form (CRPU 1)
❑ Court Reports:
❑ Initial court report
❑ Latest court Report
❑ Any showing significant changes
❑ Placement History Sheet.
❑
Psychological(s) if available.
❑ Date scheduled
❑ School Information:..
❑ I.E.P.(Individual Education Plan)
❑ Information from school showing grade level
❑ Immunization Record.
❑ Other material if available:
❑ Report from Lion's Gate,
or
❑ Interim group home
CRPU 6A(New 7/88) a File: Service Case; Lower fastener N3
OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Administration Building
651 Pine Street, 11th Floor
Martinez, CA 94553
DATE: October 2, 1996
TO: John Cullen, Social Sievice Director
FROM: Claude L. Van Marie , istant County Administrator
SUBJECT: REPORT TO THE FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ON
THE RESULTS OF YOUR SURVEY OF GROUP HOMES
REGARDING THEIR AVERAGE OCCUPANCY
Attached is a copy of a report from the Family and Human Services Committee on
this subject which the Board of Supervisors approved on September 17, 1996.
Please note that one of the recommendations will require some additional work on
your part or that of your staff, as follows:
2. DIRECTthe Social Service Directorto determine the average census of group
homes with Rate Classification Levels (RCL's) of 10 or 11 located in Contra
Costa County In order to determine whether there are any differences in
average census between group homes which are owned by African Americans
and group homes with non-African American ownership and forward that
Information to the Family and Human Services Committee as soon as
reasonably possible.
We had initially scheduled your report on this subject for Monday, October 14, 1996.
You noted that both you and Danna Fabella would be out of town on County
business all that week. We have, therefore, rescheduled your report to be
considered by the Committee as follows:
Monday, November 25, 1996
10:00 A.M.
Private Industry Council Conference Rooms
2425 Bisso Lane, Concord
MLbecnw.uutlu]8M(besebeeaSefOGd .'._...__ �....___._. MX1 bF YYWa..ww:.r .,...:..LbblliNtwkwWb.fbvY4altiw.�.:...5.4�-..,.aue..v.. ..
t
- 2 -
You have already provided a report on this subject, which I am forwarding to those
listed as copies on this memo. Please forward an original and eight copies of your
report on this subject to this office by Wednesday, November 20, 1996 so we can
include it in the Committee's packet for their November 25, 1996 meeting.
CLVM:amb
Van10-4.96
Attachment
cc: Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier
Supervisor Jeff Smith
Danna Fabella, Assistant County Welfare Director
The Rev. Curtis Timmons, Member, 1996-97 Grand Jury
Alfred Simmons, AMARCH
2936 Linden Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705
Faye Crosley,.AMARCH
2919 Mullens Drive
Richmond, CA 94804
Pam Perls, Executive Director
Human Relations Commission
3378 Springhill Road
Lafayette, CA 94549
SEP-30-1496 15:43 FROM SIAL SERVICE DEPT. TO CAO 21 FLR. P.o-P
CONTRA COSTA COUN'T'Y Social Service Department
DATE- September 30, 1996
TO. Family &Human Serrvices Committee
FRONT: John Cullen, Dimada
SUBJECT; RCL's and Uttlizatioh
k
As per the request of the Family &Human Services Committee, we have developed the
attached grid which provides vacancy utttimflon on group homes in Contra.Costs County
with RCL's 14-12. The information is separated into African-American and Caucasian
owned facilities. Thera are eight(8)African-American owned group homes with 74 beds
and five (5) Caucasian owned group homes with 44 beds in Contra Costa County with
RCL.'s of IOU-12. All of the group homes maintain a high utilization rata.
Staff called the listed group homes and asked for their utilliAtion rate for FY 95-96. in
some instances,the statistic was prdvl&d by the CaliforniaDopartment of Social Services
when no response was given to our staff by the group home.
As indicated, ft utilization of .African-Amedcatn group homes ranges from 85% to
104%. One group home with an 85% utdi=Oon mte dmVed ownership during the year,
and another one with 88% utilization rate transitioned their program from one that took
infants to one that titres older ediildmn. (rive of the group homes had utilization rates
between 92% aW 100% over thamporting period.
The group homes operated by Caucasian owners ranged from 89.5% to 99%. One of lbs
group homes with 99% offers a plrogram for latency-age youngsters and has an on-site
schooL The other group home with a 99% utilization rate'talm adolescent girls and
receives placements primarlly from other counties.
As can be seen by these statistics, bighcr RCL's in our County are routinely fully.
However, l continue to believe that the use of group homes will decline as effort is made
to implement Mental Health's System-of-Care grant and Probadotes Safe Futures, as well
as continuing our own Specialized Placementmoster Care Program.
FBC:sjb
RQrVt1L9*
SEP-30-1996 15:43 FROM SOCIAL SERVICE DEPT. TO CPO 11 FLR. P.03
AFRICAN-AM$MCAN OWNBD
A OF UTIMATION
RC1. FACQITY RSDS 19951496 CO10021s
10 Bay Ates Youth is.Action 6 93% AMwem boys. Opened
10121195,sesta atsrt 11195;
from 4196 to present,
utilin onwas 100%.
lad People 17 68% '. ' k&*-age 15 boys.
Getman Roes Ouf:aidt 6 100% Adolmat boys. Steffi are
for 719646196.
11 CoAege Haven 6 92% Adolescent boyo,
Imani I 9 85% Adolasoent gids.
11old H 6 98.5% Adolescent ShU.
Watwbd! Adolaaccut Fids sad bays.
BMOUMA Comut®ity Apprmc. • Chugged owam 9/96,
pm9ram 12 85% Acted numbaca not lepra
eatitooee by cmxaet dimctor.
Vees Home of TLC 12 95% Addaceast gals and boys.
12 Now
CAi7CAW 0�1�TED
A OF UTiLii;ATiON
RQ. FAC11= BEDS 1995-1995' C0MMEM
10 Youth Homes Addlwwd"and gids.
I:Abfi 6 ass Sbatt-tKm bd ty,
BaenaVhta 7 91.% Iong-tamgty.
11 Dnlm Haan 20 99% Adolesepit gW;,Probation,
Mantel Res1at and Socid
. . Service pisrnmeats.
Clnckett House 6 99% Latptcy,h1wadva,
ou-groacsls sobloal
12 IA Chaim 6 96% Bays 16-18;emancipation
NOW How pcvgcam
TOTAL P.03