HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02262002 - C112 C.112
THE 'BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on February 26, 2002, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Uilkema, Gerber, DeSaulnier, Glover and Gioia
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
The Board ACCEPTED the Grand Jury Report No. 0202, entitled: "Health
and Safety in Children's Group Homes", and requested staff to report back
within two weeks.
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:February 26,2002
John Sweeten,Clerk of the Board
of Supervisors and County Administrator
By: C) /u .
Deputy Clerk
A
A REPORT BY
THE 2041-02 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY
725 Court Street
Martinez, California 94553
Report No. 0202
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN CHILDREN'S GROUP HOMES
APPROVED BY THE!GRAND JURY:
Date: JC2 d 0
ROBERT COWAN
GRAND JURY FOREMAN
ACCEPTED FOR.FILING:
Date:>
MICHAEL R. COLEMAN
JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY REPORT NO.. 0202
Health and Safety in Children's Group Homes
BACKGROUND
On June 19, 2€101, the Contra Costa County Grand Jury of 2000-2001 issued Report #0108 titled
Group Homes. The subject of that report was the Contra Costa County Employment and Human
Services Department. Subsequent to that report, the 2001-2002 Grand Jury became aware of
ether issues about the living conditions in Children's Group Homes. Further inquiry indicated a
passible lack of coordination of efforts among the Contra Costa County Employment and Human
Services Department, other county agencies and the State of California Department of Social
Services, Community Care Licensing(CCL)Division as it relates to the health and safety issues
of our Children's group Homes. Health and safety issues include pest control, pollution,
sanitation, fire protection, food handling, and building standards.
FINDINGS
1. The California State Code of Regulations defines a Group Home as any facility of
any capacity, which provides 24-hour care and supervision to children in a
structured environment. (California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 6,
Chapter 5, Section 8001).
2. As of 1.0/l/2001 there were 48 Group Homes in Contra Costa County licensed by
the State of California Department of Social Services,Community Care Licensing
Division (CCL).
3. The requirements of California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 6,Chapter
5 of the State Department of Social Services are minimum standards. A county
may set health and safety standards that exceed Title 22 and include them in a
contract with a Group Home.
4. Currently there are no written contracts for service between any Group Homes
and the Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department.
5. There have been several safety violations documented including: inoperable
smoke alarms, sealed windows, security bars which cannot be opened, and fire
extinguishers which have not been inspected for two or more years.
6. Fire inspections are made of Group Homes as a requirement for the initial
licensing by CCL. (California Code of Regulations,Title 22, Division 6,Chapter
1, Section 80020).
T Fire inspections are not made after the initial inspection unless a complaint is
filed with CCL.
8. There is no State or County ordinance that requires an annual fire inspection of a
Group Home with six beds or less.
9, There is no county ordinance, policy or protocol for Public Health and Fire Safety
inspections of Group Homes_
l0. 'Unlike a private residence, Community Care Licensing considers a Group Home
as a residential facility and subject to fire and safety inspections.
11. Regular and unannounced fire inspections are made of all commercial
and multi-residential facilities. Group Homes are not considered multi-residential
facilities, i,e_, apartments.
12. Contra Costa County has multiple fire protection agencies. They are San Ramon
Valley Fire Protection District, Moraga/Orinda Fire Protection District, Contra
Costa County Fire Protection District Bethel Island Fire Protection District,
Knightsen Fire Protection District, and the fire departments of the cities of
Richmond, El Cerrito, Pinole,Hercules, and Crockett.
13. An annual inspection by a fire protection agency of a Group Home housing up to
six residents would take approximately one hour of staff time to conduct per
home. Follow-up to assure compliance would require additional time.
14. Each fire protection district and city fire department may now set its own
schedule for inspecting(croup Homes according to the staffing availability for
their area.
15. Fire Responders do not have a method of identifying which Group Homes house
non-ambulatory residents.
16. Contra Costa County Public Health Nurses currently make in home health
assessments of residents of Group Hames.
17. There is no policy for the Contra Costa County Public Health Nurses to report
facility health violations or issues pertaining to the Group Hoche to CCL.
Currently these violations or issues are only reported verbally to the Social
Workers responsible for the child.
CONCLUSIONS
Other than the minimum standard set by California Code of Regulations, Title 22,Division 6,
Chapter 5, Group Homes there are no requirements to maintain health and safety standards in
Group Homes in Contra Costa County.
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The Contra Costa County Grand Jury is concerned about the health and safety of all children in
Group Homes in this county. Strengthening the current standards, outlining the path of
communication, and defining individual responsibility will better protect the children.
RMOMMENDATIONS
The 2001-2002 Contra Costa County Grand Jury recommends that the Contra Costa County
Board of Supervisors implement the following:
1. Require each City Fire Department and/or Fire Protection District conduct annual
fire and safety inspections of Group Homes. These inspections should be of the
same scope as a commercial or multi-residential facility.
2. Reports of Group Home Fire Inspections go both to the Contra Costa County
Employment and Human Services Department and to CCL for disposition and
remediation.
3. Contra Costa County Public Health Nurses conduct annual inspections and file
written reports of health;violations and issues with both the Contra Costa County
Employment and Human Services Department and to CCL for disposition and
remediation.
4. All resident and general,public complaints about a Group Home received by the
Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department be
documented and forwarded directly to CCL for filing and disposition.
5. A liaison between Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services
Department, Contra Costa County Health Services Department and the Fire
Protection Agencies be established to coordinate all reports and complaints.
6. There be written contracts for service between Contra Costa County Employment
and Human Services Department and the Children's Group Home operators.
7. Contracts for service between ContraCosta County Employment and Human
Services Department and the Children's Group Home operator be written with
health and safety'standards,which exceed California Code of Regulations, Title
22, Division 6, Chapter'5 minimums. These standards should include, but not be
limited to, pest control, pollution, sanitation, fire protection, abatement of weeds
and rubbish, food handling, and building standards,
8. Contracts for service between Contra Costa County Employment and Human
Services Department and the Group Home operators be written to allow
inspections by the appropriate City Fire Department or Fire Protection District,
and Contra Costa County Public Health Nurses_
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