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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12072004 - U1 t , TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTA FROM: Federal Glover, Chair ;, COUNTY h•., DATE: December 7, 2004 SUBJECT: Review of Head Start Program SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION(S): 1. DETERMINE that the Board of Supervisors, in response to concerns expressed by Congressman George Miller, shall immediately order a comprehensive and independent review of the management and operational practices of the Community Services Department and its Head Start Program. 2. DIRECT, the consulting firm of Human Resource Practioners to report directly to the Beard of Supervisors in order to assure full control of this independent review. BACKGROUNDIREASON(S)FOR RECOMMENDATION(S): Congressman George Miller has recently expressed to the Board of Supervisors his deep concern that reported incidents of child neglect, abuse and lack of staff supervision at two of the County's Head Start sites require an immediate independent review of the management of Contra Costa's Head Start Program. Rather than establish an ad hoc subcommittee to provide guidance and oversight, I highly recommend that the Board of Supervisors, itself, assume full control and complete responsibility for the scope and direction of the review of the management and operational practices of the Community Services Department and its Head Start Program. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMM DATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER s 26e4Speaker:Roland Katz, 5034 Blum Road, (PEU Local 1), Martinez VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS(ABSENT NONE ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: ATTESTED cc: CAO JO E€"TE N, IoE#tK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS te-�ND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR � DEPUTY BACKGROUND/REASON(S) FOR RECOMMENDATIONS (cont.d); Human Resource Practioners, an independent consulting firm with extensive experience in management and personnel matters, is available to conduct this comprehensive review and provide reports directly to the Board of Supervisors. i know the entire Board shares the concerns of Congressman Miller regarding the care and safety of children under County supervision. Due to the importance of this issue, I am recommending that the Board of Supervisors consider this report and its recommendations as an urgency item on our agenda of December 7, 2004, so that the Board of Supervisors can take action and assume control of this review at the earliest possible time. ADDENDUM TO SD.3 DECEMBER 7, 2004 In response to concerns expressed by Congressman George Miller,the Chair, Supervisor Federal D. Glover, considered ordering a comprehensive and independent review of the management and operational practices of the Community Services Department and its Head Start Program, and requested that this review be directed by the Board and that all information and reporting of incidents come directly to the Board of Supervisors. The Chair invited the public to comment and the following person spoke. Roland Katz, 5034 Blum.load, (P.E.U. Local 1), Martinez In an effort to monitor the situation, supervisor Mark DeSaulnier requested a meeting with the independent audit firm(Human Resource Practitioners)and the Board next week, to discontinue any filtering between the Board and the independent reviewer. Supervisor John Gioia commented on this review being a structural review of every single aspect in Community Services Department. He said that the subject violations were inexcusable and that some terminations and disciplinary action had already been taken in response to them.. He noted that in the last six months,there had been no additional incidents. Supervisor Gioia also stated that the Board of Supervisors should be notified immediately of any future violations. Supervisor Glover assured the residents of Contra Costa County that their children would be safe in the facilities that were being operated by the Contra Costa County and that the Board of Supervisors would monitor this situation vigilantly. After further discussions, Supervisor DeSaulnier made a motion to approve the following recommendations:- DETERMINED that the Board of Supervisors, in response to concerns expressed by Congressman George Miller, shall immediately order a comprehensive and independent review of the management and operational practices o,f"the Community Services Department and its.Head Start Program; DIRECTED the consulting firm ofHuman Human Resource Practitioners to report directly to the Board of f'Supervisors in order to assure full control of this independent review, NOTIFY the Board of Supervisors immediately o,f any violations in the future, as they occur, and without the delay of interdepartmental communications. The motion passed by unanimous vote with all Supervisors present.