HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06281994 - 2.4 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 5E T. o� Contra
FROM: Costa
Perfecto- Villarreal, Director , . 'r
Social Services Department County
�•. " `�
DATE: f�sri coU+
June 7, 1994
SUBJECT:
CAL LEARN PLAN FOR FY 1994/95 - A SUPPLEMENT TO THE GAIN PLAN
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMPENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I. RECOMMENDATIONS:
* APPROVE the Contra Costa County Plan for Cal Learn
implementation effective August 1, 1994 to June 30, 1995.
* AUTHORIZE the Social Service Department Director, or
designee, to ACCEPT funding from the California Department
of Social Services (CDSS) for the administration of the Cal
Learn Program for FY 1994/95 in the approximate amount of
$1, 969, 660.
* AUTHORIZE the Social Service Department Director, or
designee, to PREPARE and EXECUTE a Contract with the East
Bay Perinatal Council (as directed by 1993 State Statutes,
S.B. 35 and 1078, Chapters 69 and 1252) in the approximate
amount of $1, 939,991, to provide case management and
supportive services for the Cal Learn Program in Contra
Costa County for the period of August 1, 1994 through June
30, 1995.
II. FINANCIAL IMPACT:
CDSS will allocate approximately $1, 969, 660 in state funds
based upon an estimated caseload of 320 teens as reflected
in the program budget. These funds will cover the costs of
case management, administering supportive services, paying
for direct services (child care, transportation, ancillary
student expenses) , and for the additional. Social Service
Department Eligibility Worker time involved in Cal Learn
transactions.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: K YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMI EE.
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON June 28 , 1994 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X
The Board then APPROVED "thb recommendations as set forth above and as amended
to DIRECT the Social Service Director to correspond with the County's Legisla-
tive Delegation seeking resolution of the Board 's . concerns and providing the
County with some flexibility for the participation of more local agencies in
this program in the 1995-96 fiscal year; REQUESTED the Health Services Director
and Social Service Director to report on the potential for other social and
health related programs to be included in the context of the Cal Learn Program.
(Speaking on the Plan were Heather Estes of Planned Parenthood and Robert
F.. Hansen. of the Family Stress Center.)
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS 1S A TRUE
X 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.
cc: Contact: Janet Tompkins 313-1610 ATTESTED June 283, 1994
SOCIAL SERVICE (CONTRACTS UNIT) PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
AUDITOR-CONTROLLER
CONTRACTOR
BY DEPUTY
M382. (10/88)
II. FINANCIAL IMPACT (cont. )
Two thirds of the allocation for Administrative Costs
($57,591) will be passed on to the East Bay Perinatal
Council to cover costs of issuing supportive services
payments. The remaining one third of the supportive services
allocation ($29, 669) will cover costs of the additional
Eligibility Worker time processing bonuses/sanctions.
Some County costs may be incurred in the county's sharing of
the bonuses paid on AFDC payments. However, the State
expects that the costs may be neutral as the sanctions
(reductions in AFDC payments) may balance the bonuses.
III. BACKGROUND•
Cal Learn is a program specifically to benefit pregnant and
parenting teens who are on AFDC. Its purpose is to keep
these teens in school until they obtain a high school
diploma or its equivalent. The reason for establishing the
program can best be explained with this quote from the text
of SB 35:
"The Legislature finds and declares that the connection
between teenage parenting and long-term welfare dependency
has been well documented by. . . . .research. An estimated 60
percent of teenage parents who are currently receiving
welfare will have 10 or more years of dependency on aid.
Average time on aid for teenage parents is significantly
longer than for parents who begin families at an older
age. . . . if
The California Legislature established the Cal Learn program
with passage of Senate Bills 35 and 1078 (Chapters 69 and
1252 , Statutes of 1993) . The statute requires that each
county submit, as a supplement to its GAIN Plan, a plan to
implement Cal-Learn. (The Board approved the FY 1993/94
GAIN Plan on May 3, 1994) . The earliest date counties could
implement Cal Learn was April 1, 1994 and the latest
implementation date is April 1, 1995. While we were
desirous of implementing Cal Learn as soon as possible in
order to relieve pressure on our GAIN budget, because of a
delay in the State's issuance of the planning guidelines,
the earliest date we can implement is August 1, 1994.
The legislation directs counties to contract with the local
provider of Adolescent Family Life Program (AFLP) services
for Cal Learn case management. A competitive bid process is
not required. The local AFLP services provider, East Bay
Perinatal Council, has been meeting with representatives of
the County Social Services Department and the Health
Services Department throughout the planning process and has
agreed to contract with the County to provide Cal Learn case
management and supportive services.
CAL LEARN HIGHLIGHTS
PROGRAM:
Cal Learn is part of the "Work Pays" welfare reform package enacted
by the California Legislature in 1993. It is based upon a model
tested in Ohio called the LEAP program. The purpose of the Cal
Learn Program is to encourage teen parents to complete high school
and avoid long term dependence on public assistance. When
implemented, Cal Learn will take pregnant/parenting teens age 18
and under out of the GAIN Program and into the Cal Learn Program.
ELIGIBLE PERSONS:
To be participate in Cal Learn, the teen must be:
♦ Receiving AFDC
♦ Under age 19
♦ Pregnant or Parenting (in same household as their child)
♦ Not already have a High School diploma or GED
SERVICES:
While participating in Cal Learn, teens receive comprehensive case
management services and are reimbursed for any expenses incurred
while attending school such as child care, transportation, and
educational supplies.
BONUSES/SANCTIONS
Bonuses/Sanctions are applied to AFDC checks at the end of each
school semester or quarter. They are based upon grades or some
other measure of satisfactory performance. Teens must be in the
program for 90 days before they are eligible to earn a bonus.
♦ Grades C - A merits a $100 bonus
♦ Grade D - gets $0
♦ Grade F or dropout gets $100 sanction ( in $50 increments
over a 2 month period)
♦ High School graduation merits a $500 bonus
There are some good cause reasons for sanction avoidance (such as
learning disability, illness) based upon facts provided by the
counselor.
TRANSITION TO GAIN:
Teens who do not graduate by their 19th birthdays are transferred
to GAIN so that they may continue to receive supportive services
while completing their high school programs.
II♦PLE ENTATION
Counties have until April 1, 1995 to implement Cal Learn. Contra
Costa plans to start Cal Learn on August 1, 1994 in order to enroll
teens by the start of the fall semester.
e
CAL-LEARN COUNTY PLA FORMAT
STATE FISCAL YEAR 1994/95
COUNTY: CONTRA COSTA
Prepared by: Janet Tompkins, GAIN Division Manager
Address: 40 Douglas Drive, Martinez, CA 94553 phone.• (5t 0) 313-1610
Fax: 5. 0 3.13-1575
SECTION 1. IMPLEMENTATION / CASELOAD
The county expects to implement the Cal-Learn Program on: August 1 , 1994
.A . Provide an unduplicated count for the following:
The county estimates that a total of Sbo teens will be eligible for
Cal-Learn during SFY 94/95. (cumulative total)
The county estimates a total of 0 teens will be exempted from
Cal-Learn during SFY 94/95.
The county estimates a total of 28 teens will be deferred from
Cal-Learn during SFY 94/95. - based upon 5% deferral rate in GAIN.
Describe how the county will identify eligible teens:*
Eligibility Workers (EWs) reviewed their caseloads in March, 1994, and coded each teen parent
case with a "Special Characteristics" identifier. All teen parent cases granted subsequent
to that review were similarly coded. on June 1, an ad hoc systems printout provided a
listing of all teen parent cases active on that date. The printout was reviewed to eliminate
all those who would become 19 within three months of Cal Learn program startup. (Those cases
were referred to GAIN if they were not already active to GAIN). Also eliminated were those
on the list who were known to have already acquired their high school diplomas. The final
total of Cal Learn eligible teens is 320.
B. Identify the number of eligible teens the county will provide
Cal-Learn services to during the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 1994/95.
320 Initial Month
24 Number to be phased-in'each'subsequent month.
320
Total caseload as of June 30, 1995.
We anticipate exits will balance entries so that the total
caseload in June, 1995 will be about the same.
SECTION II. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
Using the Local Coordination matrix (Appendix A) each county needs to provide
a complete list of social services, supportive services (child care and transportation)
and health related services currently available in the county, both public and
privately funded, which would appropriately serve teen parents (MPP Section 42-
767.11). In developing this inventory the county needs to list the resources that
these agencies will make available to teen parents and the linkages that the CWD has
or plans to establish. An estimate must be provided as to the availability of services
including current capacity, current usage and vacancies. The assessment of services
must encompass all geographical areas within the county. This information may be
copied from the county's GAIN plan or AFLP network information where applicable.
(Attach additional information as needed.)
A . Based on the Local Coordination matrix (Appendix A) the county
certifies to the following:
X Sufficient child care services exist to provide necessary child care for the
Cal-Learn population, as indicated, to be served SFY 94/95 (MPP Section 42-765).
There are approximately 300 licensed Centers and 1400 licensed Day Care homes in the County.
There are no remote, unserved areas.
X Sufficient transportation resources exist to provide necessary
transportation for the Cal-Learn population, as indicated, to be served SFY 94/95
(MPP Section 42-765) Public transportation is available between residential centers
i
and school facilities n all parts of the county„
If supportive services are not sufficient to serve the estimated caseload, provide a
description of the situation and a plan for how -the county intends to secure the
needed services: (Attach additional information) we anticipate that sufficient
supportive services will be available providing no cap is later placed upon the
supportive services allocation.
B. Provide an estimate of the total costs for supportive services for SFY
94/95 in each of the following areas: Eistanted Caseload = 320 x 5% deferred=304
$1.,216,000. Child care. $400. case/mo. x 5% deferred x 10 months
121,600 Transportation. $ 4.0./case/mo. x 5% deferred x 10 months
60'9' 800 Ancillary expenses. $ `20./case/mo. x 5% deferred x 10 months
Subtotal: $1,398,400.
page 2 '
t
SECTION III. CAL-LEARN CASE MANAGEMENT
A. The county certifies that the following activities will be performed.:
X Adolescent Family Life Program (RFLP) case management activities as
defined by AFLP standards and scope of services.
The County intends to contract with East Bay Pernatl .Council, the AFLP
Contractor in this area.
B. The county certifies the following activities will be performed and
indicates who will be performing the additional Cal-Learn case
management activities beyond AFLP cast management (Name of Agency):
East Bay Perinatal Council will perforin all .cf the following activities:
X Arrangement and management of supportive services.
X The report card submittal schedule.
Recommendations and documentation for;
. X
Exemptions.
X Deferrals.
X Good Cause.
X Bonus and Sanctions.
NOTE: The determination of exemptions, deferrals, good cause, and bonus and
sanctions are to be performed by the CWD and are considered CWD-only
administrative activities.
Interagency communication forms have been drafted by which the AFLP
will recommend Eligibility Worker actions such as applying
bonuses/sanctions, exemptions/deferrals, and €inding good cause.
In turn, Eligibility Workers will notify AFLP staff when the
recommended actions are taken and when other events occur such as
the termination of AFDC eligibility. In general, the EW will
accept the AFLP Counselor's recommendation unless information is
incomplete, in which case the EW will request additional
information on the interagency communication form.
page 3
C. AFLP case management, activities (its certified above in
Section III, A) will be provided by:
AFLP Provider(s): East Bay Perinatal Council
(Agency)
or
No The county is contracting with a non-AFLP provider for all or part of
AFLP case management activities for the Cal-Learn program(Complete
Appendix Q.
and/or
No The county directly provides all or part of AFLP case management
activities for the Cal-Learn program (Complete Appendix Q.
If more than one agency provides AFLP case management, describe the role and
responsibilities of each agency including the role of the local health agency:
N/A
D. Coordination between AFLP and the CWD.
X The county certifies that the plan has been developed in conjunction with
an AFLP provider or the local health agency if no AFLP exists in the county (MPP
Section 42-766). See Attachment
Provide a description of the planning process for the development of the
program and the coordination between the CWD and the AFLP. If the county is not
contracting with an AFLP provide a description of the planning process for program
development in conjunction with the local health agency and include a description of
how the county and the local AFLP provider(s) will ensure that Cal-Learn participants
do not also receive case management services through the local AFLP contractor(s)
(Attach additional information as needed):
page 4
Section III-D
DESCRIPTION OF PLANNING PROCESS
Contra Costa County began its Cal Learn planning process in
January, 1994. The .planning partners were: Janet Tompkins, County
GAIN Coordinator; Denise Peebles, Director of the East Bay
Perinatal Council, (the local AFLP) ; and Mary Foran, Director for
Service Integration, County Health Services Department.
The first task in the planning process was to compile a list of
resource agencies currently providing services to the county's teen
parents so that they could be consulted in the planning.
The second action was to obtain a preliminary count of the AFDC
teen parent caseload using the methodology described in Section I-
A. Other characteristics of the Contra Costa teen parent
population were looked at such as the nature of their living
situations (independent households or "nested") , their
ethnic/language makeup, and their geographical distribution
throughout the County.
The preliminary caseload survey done in March revealed that the
SDSS expectation that 2% of the AFDC adults would be teen parents
was about right. The survey identified 331 pregnant/parenting teens
under age 19, 64% were living in independent households and 36%
were "nested. " Fifty five percent (55%) of the teen parents live in
the West County Richmond area, 12% live in the Central area, and
33% reside in East County. The majority of teen parents in West
County are African Americans. Twenty percent (20%) of the teens
are Hispanic, and seven percent (7%) are Laotian.
The next action of the planning group was to schedule a
networking/coordinating meeting with the county's teen parent
service providers.. Prior to the meeting, each agency was asked to
complete a questionnaire which elicited information about the
nature of their services, the numbers served, their bi-lingual
capability, and their geographical area of operations. The meeting
took place on March 31, 1994 and was well attended with
representatives of 23 local agencies present.
This group plans to meet quarterly with the AFLP after
implementation of Cal-Learn, in order to assure smooth operation
and ongoing coordination through the program's first year.
In recent months, the planners have met with the schools and with
various community groups to inform them about Cal Learn. We have
had meetings with the Adult Schools, High Schools, Alternative
Schools, and child care providers' organizations. In general, the
response to Cal Learn has been positive and the school personnel
Page 4a
have assured us of their cooperation with attendance monitoring and
progress reporting. The most positive reaction came from the teen
parents themselves. The GAIN Coordinator met with a group of 24
teen parents at the Richmond High School in April. The teens were
very excited at the prospect of being given the opportunity to earn
cash bonuses for academic performance. They thought the program
would work and several declared that they would put forth extra
effort so as to be able to graduate prior to their 19th birthdate.
Those who were graduating in June or who were over 18 were,
understandably, disappointed that they would not be included. They
suggested that the program regulations be changed to include
students through age 20. The teens even approved of the sanction
policy, feeling that students who didn't study deserved a penalty.
Only one out of the 24 objected to the sanctions.
As a result of these planning efforts,. Contra Costa County is fully
prepared to implement Cal Learn effective August 1, 1994. We plan
to phase in the entire caseload the first month of operations
through a group orientation process so as to be able to pay bonuses
to successful students by the end of the fall semester.
Page 4b
i'
E. Un-availability of case management services.
Lack of case management services will result in 0 deferrals for
SFY 94/95. Describe the situation and how the county intends to provide the needed
services in the future:
SECTION IV. JUSTIFICATION FOR NDN-RFLP CASE MANAGEMENT
The county is not contracting with an AFLP provider for all or part of AFLP case
management services as described in Section III, A of this plan because:
(MPP Section 42-766.133)
N/A AFLP services are not available.
or
N/A AFLP services are not cost-effective.
or
N/A The CWD has an existing GAIN Teen Parent program.
Provide an'explanation:
List the Non-AFLP provider(s):
(Agency)
page 5
}
SECTION V. REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS-
X Cal-Learn services matrix is attached (Appendix A).
X Cal-Learn budget proposal is attached (Appendix B).
X Board of Supervisors' approval of the Cal-Learn Plan addendum
is attached.
If the county is providing part or all-of AFLP case management services ( as
described in Section III, A) or is contracting with a non-AFLP provider the following
attachments are required (MPP Section 42-767'.121):
N/A Attached is a description of services pursuant to the California
Department of Health Services published guidelines on case management
protocols (Appendix C).
N/A Attached (included in Appendix C) is a description of agencies
organizing and participating in the Cal-Learn network; including network
meeting plans and purpose of the network meetings.
page 6
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CAL LEARN PLAN APPENDIX A
Page 1
&OF F Wmr
po
too
a �
a r"
Q
c
rA
� K
g i A
e
a
AppE11DIX A ,
page 2
C4131ATY CAL L�A� t�
NTgA COS2A � go
g►
CC �' A t
;p_ Q' e► '
It % Q
.�
t
0
' CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CAL LEARN PLAN APPENDIX A
Page 3
cl
o Cypr
on
C6 t
' c
mn
n � �
C6
PIC
a �
O
APPENDIX A
LEARN
PIAN page 4
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CAL
cn
tdtz
In
Bill
• owLod
b
r
m
a
v. CONTRA. COSTA COUNTY CAL LEARN PLAN APPENDIX A
Page 5
+ � �► meq : *ab ebb
ct
1
8
W a
S
� p ,g „
a
r
Appendix B r
FY 1994195 CAL-LEARN PROGRAM BUDGET PROPOSAL
County, CONTRA COSTA
Section I - County's plan for phasing Cal-Learn cases into the program:
Month #Cases brought #of Months Cumulative Caseload
Into program In Pro ram Casemonths
July 94 x 12= 0
Aug94 320 )c 11 =
Sept 94 24 x 10= 240
Oct 94 x 9= 216
Nov 94 24 x 8= 192
Dec 94 24 x 7= 168
Jan 95 24 x 6= 144
Feb 95 24 x 5= 12
Mare 95 24 x 4= 96
April 95 24 1 x 3 =• 72
Mjay 95 x 2= 48
June 95 24 x 1 = 24
Total#of Cases 560
------------
Cumulative Caseload 4830
Estimated#of Cases phased-out of program(casemonths) 1320
(Due to: exempt status. graduation/GED,aged out-cif-program,
discontinued from AFDC program, eta..) M
f-l( 1994195 Total Cumulative Caseload
Cumulative Caseload minus#of casesphased-out) 3520
Plan to orient existing caseload in first month of operations. Expect 24 new applicants
per month based. upon last 2 months intake statistics. Expect phase outs will balance
intakes with no net caseload growth.
Section 11 - Requested Allocation:
Case Management Costs:
Case Management costs are$1650 per participant for one year of service.
(Total Cumulative Caseload X$137.50/month
A. TOTAL CASE MANAGEMENT COSTS 1$ 484,000.
Administrative Costs:
Eligibility Worker Hourly Unit Cost Sal&Overhead $ 49.57
FY 1992/93 Actual Cost
County Administrative Activities:
EW hrly cost x .50/hr x Total Cumulative Caseload (24.79)
B. TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS $ 87.260
TOTAL REQUESTED CAL-LEARN ALLOCATION. 6 _571,260.
(A +B• )