HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07282015 - C.74RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE the response to Grand Jury Report No. 1509, "The Benefits of the California Connections to Success Act
to Contra Costa County" and DIRECT the Clerk of the Board to forward the response to the Superior Court no later
than September 6, 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact, this is an informational report.
BACKGROUND:
On June 8, 2015, the County received 2014-15 Civil Grand Jury Report No. 1509 entitled, "The Benefits of the
California Connections to Success Act to Contra Costa County". The report was received by the Board of
Supervisors and subsequently referred to the Employment and Human Services Department on the July 7, 2015
Board of Supervisors agenda (Item No. C.182) who prepared the attached response that specifies:
Whether the respondent agrees or disagrees wholly or partially with each finding;
If the respondent disagrees with a finding, a statement explaining the portion of the finding that is disputed and
the reasons for the disagreement;
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 07/28/2015 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
ABSENT:Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Dorothy Sansoe,
925-335-1009
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors
on the date shown.
ATTESTED: July 28, 2015
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: Stephanie L. Mello, Deputy
cc:
C. 74
To:Board of Supervisors
From:David Twa, County Administrator
Date:July 28, 2015
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Response to Grand Jury Report No.1509 "The Benefits of the California Connections to Success Act"
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
Whether each recommendation has been implemented, has not been implemented, or requires further analysis;
and
If the recommendation requires further analysis, a statement explaining the scope and parameters of the analysis
or study, and a time frame, not to exceed six months, for the matter to be prepared for discussion.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
In order to comply with statutory requirements, the Board of Supervisors must provide a response to the Superior
Court no later than September 6, 2015 (90 days after receipt). The Board must take action no later than the
August 25, 2015 meeting in order to comply with the statutory deadline.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not Applicable
ATTACHMENTS
Response to Grand Jury Report No. 1509
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RESPONSE TO
GRAND JURY REPORT NO. 1509:
THE BENEFITS OF THE CALIFORNIA CONNECTIONS TO SUCCESS ACT TO CONTRA
COSTA COUNTY
FINDINGS
1. Participation in foster care after age 18 under AB 12 is voluntary and youth may opt-out of the
program before they turn 21.
Response: Respondent agrees with this finding.
2. Youth who opt out of foster care after age 18 can re-enter before they turn 21 if they re-enter
within six months after opting out of the program.
Response: Respondent does not agree with this finding. Once a youth has left Extended Foster
Care (EFC), for example, no longer in an eligible facility and the case has been vacated and
dismissed, the court will retain general jurisdiction. The youth may re-enter at any age prior to
age 21. The SOC 163 (voluntary re-entry) form used for re-entry is valid for 180 days as the
legal authority. Prior to the 180 days a court order should be in place.
From All County Letter 12-12 Re-entry Into EFC
The Court will retain jurisdiction over Non-Minor Dependents (NMDs) or foster youth who
have reached age 18 and do not elect to remain in EFC, the Juvenile Court shall retain general
jurisdiction over the NMD per Welfare and Institutions Code Section 303(b). This will allow the
NMD to file a petition per W&IC section 388(e) for the court to resume or assume transition
jurisdiction or resume dependency at a later date for youth who are still under the maximum age
of EFC (W&IC section 303(b)).
3. Contra Costa County informs foster youth about AB 12 and works with governmental agencies
and other organizations to offer programs and information about how the system works to this
populations.
Response: Respondent agrees with this finding.
4. Extension of foster care to emancipated or aged out youth (ages 18-21) benefits society because
foster youth receiving extended services are less likely to rely on public resources and more
likely to become self-sufficient adults.
Response: Respondent agrees with this finding.
5. Emancipated youth who face housing instability and employment difficulties are frequently
financially insecure and often have health and mental health issues.
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Response: Respondent agrees with this finding.
6. Emancipated youth often need strong supplemental supports into adulthood.
Response: Respondent agrees with this finding.
7. ILSP Programs help improve the lives of at-risk foster care youth by helping them secure
housing, employment, educational opportunities, healthcare and community support, among
other necessities.
Response: Respondent agrees with this finding.
8. The County has established a databased called Gold Mine to track the progress of foster youth
served by the County programs.
Response: Respondent agrees with this finding.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Contra Costa County Children and Family Services should continue to pro-actively inform
foster care youth about AB 12’s programs.
Response: Respondent agrees with this recommendation and will continue to engage staff and
partners in ensuring that foster youth are informed and educated about the AB12 program and
its supports. ILSP has an extensive Website of supports and information. The EHSD Website
contains a link to that Website. ILSP staff are regular participants in statewide meetings to
establish strategies to reach youth.
2. Contra Costa County Children and Family Services Program should consider establishing more
local housing options for aging out and emancipated youth, and identify funds to do so.
Response: Respondent agrees with this recommendation. Children & Family Services will
solicit support from current partners to discuss expansion to the extent that funding is available.
We have a partnership with County Homeless Program and will continue to foster that and other
partnerships in relationship to housing options.
3. Contra Costa County Children and Family Services Program should continue to provide
scholarship opportunities for youth so that they can have financial support while being trained
or educated.
Response: Respondent agrees with this recommendation and will continue to offer this as long
as the funding is stable and provided by the state and federal government.
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4. The County should continue to support the dedicated and professional skills offered by the ILSP
service providers.
Response: Respondent agrees with this recommendation and plans to do so as the need is
important and the benefit is great.
5. The County should maintain the Gold Mine database to monitor the progress and outcomes for
County foster youth served by the County programs in order to help make future funding
decisions about support services for foster youth.
Response: Respondent agrees with this recommendation. The database will continue to be a
high priority and regular data reports will continue to be refined and updated.
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