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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05231995 - 2.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SE L �� n.. Contra FROM: Robert Hofmann, Acting Director f j Costa Social Service Department ^' s w-° County May 10 1995 �Ty DATE: Y r 'JWJ4 =-J4 SUBJECT: FAMILY & CHILDREN' S TRUST COMMITTEE REPORT OF 1995/96 FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDED ACTION: I . ACCEPT; 1. This funding report in response to Request for Proposal #1038 from the Family and Children's Trust Committee (FACT) , which provides recommendations to the Board on the allocation of funds from AB 1733 (OLAP child abuse prevention funds) , AB 2994 (birth certificate funds) , and the Family and Children' s Trust Fund in Memory of Ann Adler (voluntary contributions) ; 2 . The recommendation of the FACT Committee that one or more technical assistance contracts be let, up to the amount of $10, 000, for the purpose of enhancement of contract agency internal fiscal policies and procedures, and program evaluation methods and instruments; 3 . The recommendation of the FACT Committee that an annual amount equal to 10% of the prior year' s revenue from Birth Certificates be allocated to a contract with the Child Abuse Prevention Council, as provided for under AB 2994 , for the purpose of coordinating child abuse prevention efforts and dissemination of .child abuse prevention information in Contra Costa County; and II. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Acting Social Service Director, or his designee, to enter into contracts resulting from RFP #1038 for the period of July 1, 1995 through June, 1996 as follows: CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON May 23,1995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the issue of funding runaway shelters and runaway services is REFERRED._to the Family and Human Services Committee for inclusion in the Homeless Review. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED BY THE BOARD that the pre-audit conditions are REFERRED to the Finance Committee for review. (Note: Supervisor Bishop ABSTAINED on the $50,000 contract with Pittsburg Pre-School Coordinating Council for the Therapeutic Infant Care Program. ) VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ---------- ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: See Note Above OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: D. Fabella 3-1583 cc: Social Service Dept. Contracts Unit ATTESTED May 23, 1995 County Administrator PHIL OR,CLERK OF THE BOAR Auditor-Controller PERVI S AND COU MINIS TOR Mary Kay Miller, Social Service Dept. Contractors (8) Family & Human Service Committee B EPUTY M382,,1 (10/B) Finance Committee DATE: REQUEST To SPEAK FORM (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board r� NAME: Z � PHONE: ADDRESS: r �f �� �y �tG("� CrIY: V �' I am speaking for myself OR organization: lolk �. 1 Check one: CXX �- r, I wish to speak on Agenda Item # _ • My comments will be: general for against I wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider. D,11-: a3 12 REQUEST To SPEAK FoRm (THREE (3) MINUTE Limrr) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. NAME: Ree.6e,, fh,D. pHONE(4-1o) 7, --3/00 ADDRM:,YdS' fJ 1 fired A10,b e,1 Dr. ,S41-- Crry: . I-A--ra4-,Je-s I am speaking formyself OR organization: F-amill (NAME OF ORGANIZATION) Check one.- V/ I wish to speak on Agenda Item # My comments will be: general for V/ against I wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider. DATE:-5d2 3 A,- REQUEST To SPEAK FORM (THREE (3) mwum umrr) Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. NAME: PHONE: "7;ft 310-e - I)e: ADDRESS: Atfvb� Lot3lrz- -c—Iv F Crry: I am speaking formyself OR organization:-F SLI (NAME OF ORGAN17.kTtON) Ch one: I wish to speak on Agenda item # :2, My comments will be: general for against I wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider. RECEIVED MAY 2 3 1995 CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTRA COSTA CO. 1995-97 FACT NEEDS ASSESSMENT The FACT Committee would like you to complete the following survey. Please consider the questions from the county-wide perspective rather than advocating programs of your own agency. 1. The services on the next page are often included in comprehensive child abuse/neglect and family support systems. In columns (a) through (c), please indicate: (a) check the services your agency currently provides (if not a service provider, skip column (a)); (b) check the services currently available through other service providers in your geographic area; (c) rank (with #1 being most important) the 5 services (from among all the services listed) you believe most necessary to fill the current gaps in the Contra Costa County system. In this column also indicate which geographic areas you believe are most in need of the ranked services, i.e. A=all areas, E=East County, W=West County, C=Central County. If there are unmentioned services you think are important, please add them in the "other" lines and continue filling out (a) through (c). Services Other Services Most Necessary Agencies In My To Develop(Rank Order Services My Agency Geographic Area /l1-5, Include "A," "C•," Provides Provide "W," "C," Dcsienation) Child Abuse/Neglect and Family Support Services (a) (b) (c) EDUCATION 1. Parent Education Classes 1. 2. Classroom Education for Children 2. 3. Community Education (e.g. Speakers Bureau) 3. 4. Child Development Education for New/Tecn Parents 4. 5. Other teaching/demonstration 5. 6. Other 6. INTERVENTION SERVICES 7. Intake/Assessment 7. X 8. Crisis Intervention 8. X 9. Hot Line 9. X 10. Parent Aides (in-home) 10. X 11. Adult Counscling/Therapy 11. X 12. Child Counscling/Therapy 12. X 4 13. Family Therapy 13. X 5 14. Group Therapy 14. 15. Play Therapy for Children 15. X 16. Child Dcvclopment/Therapeutic Day Care 16. not for runaways 17. Respite Care 17. 18. Child Care 18. X 19. Peer Counseling 19. 20. Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counseling 20. X. 21. Family Preservation Services 21. X X 22. Other 22. SUPPORT SERVICES 23. Case Management 23. 24. Information and Referral 24. X 25. Transportation u• After 1/95 3 26. Shelter 26. After 1/95 1 27. Medical Services 27. 28. Legal Services 28. 29. Advocacy 29. 30. Training/Tcchnical Assistance for Other Professionals 30. X 31. Service Directory Compilation 31. X 32. Other 32. 2. If monies were available to fund only two programs/projects in each area of the county, what do you believe these should be (types of services)? 4 Crisis foster shelter Domes and transportation East County West County 4 Crisis Foster shelter homes and transportation Central County 6 Crisis foster shelter..-.homes and transportation 3. In your opinion, which of the following areas is the most pressing family-related problem currently faced by the county? child abuse (physical and emotional), X child neglect (physical and emotional), child sexual abuse. Services are now available for sexual abuse, but no services are available for neglected runaways : to get them off the streets . 4. What additional activities need to take place in the county (besides direct services) in order to promote a more comprehensive, properly functioning, child-focused service delivery system that may include, but not be limited to, child abuse/neglect? We need voluntary placement capacity (with crisis foster parents ) where there has not yet been a need to involve the courts . 5ucli 'facilities can provide a cooling off place for kids and reduce the need for the more expensive invlovement of Protective Services , the Criminal Justice System, and Health Department. Such facilities can reduce the liklihood of an escalated family conflict which becomes abusive. In doing so, it reduces the need for institutional placement. 5. If your agency/program has recently completed a Needs Assessment (since September 1993), please attach a summary. If you know of other relevant surveys recently completed in Contra Costa County, please indicate who might be contacted by the FACT Committee to obtain copies, or submit a copy when you return this survey. Our needs assessment is attached. 6. The FACT Committee is interested in knowing the magnitude of the reduction in County- wide services as a result of the current budget reductions. If you are a direct service provider, please provide us with your best estimate of the service reductions in your agency below. $ Reduction from # Families # Children Type of Service 1993-94 to 1994-95 Affected Affected Runaway Placement $460, 000# 450 - 600* 500*- 4 , 000+ County wide # The total Budget for Runaway_SFrvices_ in 1992 * Juvenile Justice Master Plan Services for Runaways 1992 + Federal Register estimation of the total number of runaway and homeless youths nation wide is 0 .54% of the total population. In Contra Costa, this approximates over 4 , 000 each year. 7. Please provide any additional comments you believe will assist the FACT Committee in delineating priority service areas for funding. What area of children's services would you like to see FACT monies allocated for and why? Runaway Services . These services can be replaced at less than half of their original cost and with only partial assistance from the FACT Committee. In getting this population off the streets , we will .reduce the liklihood of abuse, neglect, disease, and criminal involvement of children. FACT funds can provide a critical ' local ' match which is unrestrictediunlike ®ther potential funding sources . The central feature of this request is foster placement for runaways . We sincerely thank you for helping us in our efforts. Your Name Thomas Fulton Agency You Represent Youth Crisis Consortium and N.C.F.C. Address 2244 Pacheco Blvd. Martinez , CA 94553-1968 Phone ( 510 ) 370-1990 Return by November 4, 1994, to: Mary Kay Miller, FACT Staff Social Service Department 40 Douglas Drive, Martinez, CA 94553 NEED FOR RUNAWAY SERVICES IN CONTRA COSTA, 1994-5 The 1990 Census documents the following conditions for Contra Costa: The total population is approximately 803 , 732 persons, an increase of about 320 in the last ten years. 58 , 672 people (7. 30) live in poverty. 201 ,430 people (25.060) are youths under 18 years of age. 76. 1% of the population are White. 9 . 2% are African American. 9 .6% are Asian or Pacific Islander. 11 . 23% are Hispanic. Based on the May 12th, 1994 Federal Register Report that there are 1 . 3 million runaway and homeless youth (0.54% of the general population) , we estimate that there are 4,553 homeless youths in Contra Costa. According to- the Contra Costa Counry Comprehensive Affordability Strategy Report 1992-1996, about 70% or 3 ,500 are AFDC recipients and (by deduction) about 1 ,500 are runaways. However, according to the 1992, Juvenile Justice Master Plan description of services, the target population of runaways (unserved by Social Services, Probation, etc. ) , that will accept service, is between 350 and 550 youths in the County. Currently, our Crisis Hotline for runaways reports the following characteristics of callers: 25% are runaways 20% are homeless 13% report abuse at initial phone contact 21% are looking for information about services 38% have serious parent/child relationships 6% are suicidal Frequently runaways come from homes in which the family dynamics work by placing responsibility (and blame) on someone else. This 'externalization' of personal problems is often learned from the parents and is used as a way to avoid responsi- bility by everyone in. the family. The therapist, clergyman, policeman, probation officer, etc. is often seen as merely another resource in the community who's job is to 'fix the kid' : like a piece of furniture. Defining responsibility as a family problem, becomes a critical role of anyone who intervenes . There are several dynamics which lead to a child being out of control (demonstrated by running, drug use, promiscuity, etc. ) , but the basic problem frequently arises from the relation- ship between the child and the parent(s) . These dynamics are often what control the outcome with the individual child. Unfortunately, with physical abuse and sexual abuse, the rela- tionship is usually over. According to national research by the Federal Runaway and Homeless Youth programs of the Administration for Children Youth and Families, 63% of runaways experience neglect, and abuse. As many as 49% have a poor self image, and 43% experience depres- 1 NEED FOR SERVICES CONTINUED sion. Without proper screening, and appropriate family interven- tion, they are likely to be increasingly out of control , homeless and the target for victimization. In Contra Costa from 1986 to 1993 , abuse and neglect reports increased from 7,822 (Social Service Dept. figures) to 17, 158 (Child Abuse Prevention Council figures) by 119%. Suicide rates for youth (Crisis & Suicide Intervention) have tripled since 1960 , while the rate for the overall population has remained con-. stant. Weapons possession in schools and drug use has increased. Drop out rates are as high as 25% over four years in some high schools. Correspondingly, the service delivery system has declined by about $140 , 000,000 from 1992-4. In 1992-3 , the County experi- enced a 15% across the board reduction in its services. In 1993- 4 , this reduction resulted in 25% of county services being eliminated. Social Services only accepts children for abuse, if they have observable bruising or broken bones. Placement for youths over 16 years is very unlikely, because of a lack of resources. Since the closure of county funded services to runaways which were operated at Sherman House by the Childrens' Home Society (CHS) in August 1992, only those runaway minors who have been adjudicated as wards of the court are placed in permanent foster homes or into group home facilities. Since this closure and CHS's loss of federal funding, the only services which are organized specifically for runaway and homeless youth are those provided by the Northern California Family Center and the Youth Crisis Consortium. According to the Childrens'Home Society staff, approximately 95% of these cases were of sufficient severity to require and receive additional help, such as outpa- tient services, hospitalization, drug treatment, foster and group homes, etc. It is presently illegal for minors who are not in the company of a parent to be received at traditional homeless shelters, so these youths will be turned away from resources which are available to adults. The consequences of not providing these services are serious: it is highly likely that out of a population of 1 ,500 , over four hundred fifty (450) youths, who would otherwise accept services, will be left out on the street to fend for themselves. Without an attempt to reconcile with the family or extended family, some of these youths will sustain their dysfunctions by: becoming pregnant and dependent on the welfare system; selling drugs and becoming involved in other serious criminal behavior; or progressing from acute running to becoming chronic runners to become disconnected from basic 2 NEED FOR SERVICES CONTINUED educational and social development. Some learn how to avoid their limitations by becoming adult homeless. 3