HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10151996 - D6 J
D. 6
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
DATE: October 15, 1996 MATTER OF- RECORD
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SUBJECT: PUBLIC COMMENT
The Reverend Curtis A. Timmons commented on information he
has requested and not yet received from the Social Service
Department relative to group home placements .
THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY
NO BOARD ACTION TAKEN
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- ---------- QFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
RECEIVED
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
i
LOCT15 1996 Administration Building
651 Pine Street, 11th Floor
,CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Martinez, CA 94553
CONTRA COSTA CO.
DATE: October 2, 1996
TO: John Cullen, Social Service Director
FROM: Claude L. Van Martej#g/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. 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.
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
. ` T
- 2 -
You
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-30-1996 15:4.i 1-HLPI �uC I HL- �cKv 1 L-c utr i : i u u,U L� f-L-1 :
CONTRA COSTA. COUNTY SocW- Servke Department
DATE: September 30, 1995
TO: Family & Human Services Committee
FROM: John Cullen, Ihrec
SUAJEC'T: RCL's and Utilizatiob
4
As per the request of the Family& Human Ser4ces Committee, we have developed the
attached grid which provides vacancy utilization on group homes in Camra Costa County
with RCVS 10-12. The information is separated into African-Ammican and Caucasian
owned facilities. Thi are eight(8)African-American owned group homes with 74 beds
and five (5) Caucagan owned group homes with 44 beds is Contra Costas County with
RCL's of 10-12. All of the group homes maintain a high utilization rate.
,staff called the listed group homes,and asked for their utilization rate for FY 95-96. In
some insbmc es,lite statistic was providad by the CaHforniaDqmtment of Social Services
when no responsc was given to our std by the group home.
As indicted, ft u i ization of Africwn-American group hones races from 85% to
100%. One group home with an 85% utilization rate charged ownership during the yaw,
and another one with 88% utilization rate transitioned their program from one that took
infants to one that takes older children. Five of de group homes had utilization rates
between 92% and. 100%, over theAvporting period.
The group homes ophibod by Caucasian owners ranged from 89.5% to 99%. ane of the
group homes with 99% of en a program for latencywage youngsters and has an on site
school. The other group hone with a 99% utilh adon rate-W= adolesce nt girls aW
receives pl wwrieitts primary from other counties.
As can be seen by these statistics, bigher RCVS in our-County are routinely fully.
However, I continue to believe dw the use of group homers wM destine as effort is made
to imAement Mental Health's System-of-Care grant and Probation's Safe Putures,as well
as continuing our own Speciali .Placement/roster Care Program.
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ABUCAN-AMMIC OW 2 -
#OF UTIMATION
j itm FACMM BEES 1995-1996•. '!'S'
14 Bq Areas Youth m Aotion 6 93% AMment boys. Opal
101211995,otats snarl 11195;
from 4196 to per,
xttilisation was 100%.
last P'eopla3 17 88 Iafsuts- 15'boys.
M —
Germm Rags Ootrftdt 6 100% Adoleaceut boys. ;Stam ate
for 2f96-8196.
c w.
11 wlege Haven 6 92% AdoIcasou t boys. _
Itrsani I 9 85% Adolesoot guts.
Imatd II 6 98.5%, Adopt ShU- 9
Wedwinrrll Addwcwt girls and boys.
Bre City Ate. • + vvvrs I4.
I'to rsuts 12 85% AMA numbers got Morbid,
by current director. d
Yee's Home of TLC 12 95% Addleaxut girls aad bays.
12 None _
CAIIC&EM OWMP
#OF U'i`ll iZa nom
RQ. FACUXrY BEDS 1995-1995 GENTS
to Youth H09ft Adobe gibs. -
L'Abri 6 $9:596 Short bgrte fadw.
Ba®a vista 7 91.% - Dong-tams t3'. -
11 Drain•Ham 20 99% AdcdesceiA gids,ftbation,
Merl rAdet aad Social
• Servine placam�oa�.
Crarlett nbumb 6 99%
12 IA Chaim 6 90% Boys 16.18;cmanrapatiian -
DxiA H*w OEM -
TOTAL P.03
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Social Service Department
DATE: September 9, 1996
TO: Family and Human Services Committee
FROM: John Cullen, Director c: Danna Fabella
SUBJECT: 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, 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 (i.e., the immediate removal of children.from parent's homes by
Child.Protective Service(CPS)workers. Because of staffing changes and problems with
their data system, the board no longer mem_' They are currently meeting to discuss
possibly reconvening this group.
As we have outlined in our reports dated February 16 and July 1, 1996, to the Family Human
Services Committee, placements of foster children are often complex and 4 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.
- T
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 home 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.
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Attachments .
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Social Service Department
�o John Cullen, Director
ST'4,COUtZ'�
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 Subiect
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
- - --- - - --- - - •._�: _ _ r%A - onGGZ_dnFst . Vninp. (510) 313-1500 . FAX (510) 313-1575
Reverend Curtis A. Timmons
July 18, 1996
Page 4
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
orls> iq is
w°
John Cullen, Director
August 29, 1996
Ms. Pamela R. Perls
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
2020 N. Broadway Street, Suite 203A
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Dear Ms. Perls:
QUESTIONS REGARDING FOSTER CARE
This letter is in response to your letter dated June 30, 1996, 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.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE: 40 Douglas Drive • Martinez • CA • 94553-4068 • Voice (510) 313-1500 • FAX (510) 313-1575
Ms. Pamela R. Perls
August 29, 1996
Page 2
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Job ETHNICITY
Class. TOTAL
Afr/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 (16.6%) 148 (72.2%) 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
Coum County Counly 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
'7D,
Ms. Pamela R. Perls
August 29, 1996
Page 3
Caucasian ,
`h
/Hispanic 4 6 4 14
African-
American/
Hispanic 0 1* 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 held 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 worker hiring tolhe California State University system's Title
ME graduates. These students are graduating from a MSW program which
focuses on child welfare practice,and 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. Perls
August 29, 1996
Page 4
6. Develop a better working relat!onship 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 drug-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.
8. Develop internships for students and train students to work with new foster
families to provide support and education.
Our Department has taken graduate students.from MSWprograms through the
years, and we in fact have plans 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.these 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,
0AUQA/_-N
John Cullen
Director
JC:ceb
,• C/r V
Contra Costa County Social Service Department
CRPU PLACEMENT REQUEST
SATE 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)
File: Service Case; lower fastener/3
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/Dating patterns:
9. Use of drugs? Alcohol ? Cigarettes?
10. Physical/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) p File: Service Case; lower fastener N 3
r. so' I�OA SUPERVISORS F&HS-03 4
RECEIVED
r. U Contra
> •.
F . A : D HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE . Costa
S
OCT 1 519% ��` County
DA E: Septe be r�9, 1996 °'rT�
CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
SuBJER;7NTRA C . S R�pORT ON THE GROUP HOME PLACEMENT PRACTICES OF
THE SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT
SPECIFICOguE5M QR$N( �II�f�T1QS)&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 September 1- , APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I 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-03
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.
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