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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 06161998 - C76 FHS#17 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS �;� r .. CONTRA COSTA FROM: FAMILY&HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE A,� n Ct7UNTY DATE: June 'I6, 1998 SUBJECT: Status Report on the Adoptions Improvement Program SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)& BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDA330N(Sl• ACCEPT the attached report from the Social Service Director regarding the status of the Adoptions Improvement Program. BACKGROUNWRF ASON(S) FOSE M DAM N.SI• On June 8, 1998, the Family and Human Services Committee met with Assistant Social Service Director, Danna Fabella. Ms. Fabella reviewed the attached report with the committee. The report addressed the issues of organizational structure, the Fost-Adopt Program, Home Study, Training, Caregiver/Agency Relationships and the Juvenile Court. Overall, the committee was very pleased with progress on the adoption program. Also discussed was the issue of the relationship between Juvenile Court and the Social Service Department. Joyce Baird, representing SEIU, stated that the courts can be very stressful to workers and that not all workers feel that they are treated with respect in the courtroom. Danna Fabella noted that she has received similar feedback on some, but not all, juvenile courts. All agreed that the presiding Juvenile Court judge needs to be alerted to this concern and that there needs to be a cooperative effort in determining how best to address it. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: —YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR—RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE —APPROVE —OTHER SIGNATURE(S): Donn4Ger Mark DeSaulnier ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUS(ABSENT y I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ASEN ABBSENNOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED T:_ _ - - ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact:Sara H011h n,331E-1090 ATTESTEDO PH"� TCH[;: CLERK OF�. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS cc:: C AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Donna t7 Fath,SWIM�y DSwvlosDept K �,��DEPUTY'' SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT Contra Costa Count TO Family and Human Services Committee GATE June 2, 1998 FROM John Cullen, Director ' S U SJ ADOPTIONS IMPROVEMENT REPORT The Social Service Department in following up on the Board of Supervisor's order of January 13, 1998, and subsequent to the last report on this topic to the Family and Human Services Committee dated December 15, 1997, submits the following report. This report covers the Department's Adoption Improvement Project in the following areas: Organizational Structure;Fost-Adopt Program;Horne Study; Training; Caregiver/Agency Relationships; and, the Juvenile Court. Organizational Structure Since our last report to this Committee, the provisions of AB 1544 became',law. As a result concurrent planning is now mandated for all counties as a primary service-delivery principle. Currently we are analyzing the impact of AB 1544 and are awaiting state regulations. However,we have now moved concurrent planning out of pilot phase and into the mainstream. To that end we are continuing to make organizational changes that support concurrent planning. We would highlight the following changes: • Weekly concurrent-planning case reviews to staff cases where children are either in emergency placement or where a decision regarding permanency is scheduled before the Juvenile Court. These case reviews include the Division Manager for Countywide Services, the Concurrent Planning Coordinator and the three Supervisors responsible for Adoptions and Homefinding. • Development of a specialized assignment of Adoption Court Worker. A job description was developed, competitive interviewing completed and three workers were selected to carry full responsibility for cases when reunification is no longer appropriate and a .26 hearing to terminate parental rights has been scheduled. • To assist in making better initial assessments for concurrent planning: • Contract negotiations were completed to allow the opening of the West County Receiving Center in mid to late June, 1998. • Negotiations with Health Services were completed to arrange for public-health nursing services at the two receiving centers with a target for implementation of late summer or early fall. Family and Human Services Committee June 2, 1998 Page 2 While concurrent planning is now supported by legislation, funding at the state and federal level remains uncertain. The state recently convened a work group to consider how adoption money will be allocated once the three-year Governor's Initiativeconcludes. As reported in December, 1997, we continue to work on strategies to identify additional resources to fund concurrent-planning related activities. Fost-Adopt Prvgracm Developing successful concurrent plans for children is dependent upon having a pool of families trained and supported to both support reunification and to be prepared to adopt if reunification efforts fail. This pool must be constantly replenished as placements are made. Recruitment and training, therefore, are critical and ongoing activities. In the past we have reported on the Kicks Like Maria campaign and the Family Connection project. These efforts have continued over the last six months. In addition we have focused on retention and support activities in the last few months. The following highlights our activities in Fost-Adopt. • Hired and assigned two adoption workers to begin support,groups for concurrent- planning families. Support groups will be held in Martinez and Richmond on a monthly basis beginning in July. Please see attached invitations. • Specialized the assignment of the Adoption Assistance Program(AAP)to two workers so that families can have prompt assistance when they have questions or recertifications. • Initiated monthly meetings of all staff who have assignments related to recruitment and retention. Participants include the Assistant Director of Services, the Division Manager for Countywide Services, the Concurrent Planning Coordinator, the two Homefinding Unit Supervisors and the three statf who have recruitment and support assignments. The.Department's Public Information Officer has also participated as needed. • Created a new format for presenting children needing adoptive families that includes color pictures and positive presentation of their needs and issues. • Expanded our participation in regional adoption exchanges to include the Valley Region Adoption Supervisors monthly meeting. • Met with the presiding Juvenile Court Judge to determine if we could expand the use of photographs and descriptions of children to include concurrent-planning children(as well as those legally freed). Family and Human Services Committee June 2, 1998 Page 3 • Continue to make use of Brian's Kids as a vehicle to get regional publicity on children needing families. • Drafted a questionnaire to all Department staff asking for volunteers to assist in getting a Recruitment Speakers' Bureau developed. This questionnaire is to be distributed in June. • Sent a memo to the members of the Family and Human Services Committee inquiring about their interest in becoming spokespersons for the recruitment effort. • Honored Gwen and Jody Daniels for their many years of service as emergency-foster parents at the Board of Supervisors' session when May was declared Faster Parent Appreciation Month. Home Study Effective March, 1998,the staff who formerly did foster-home licensing were reclassified to the same classification as staff who formerly exclusively did adoption home studies. These two units now have blended caseloads and do the same job. We continue to use a combined application. One worker completes the home-study process. When completed the family has a license to do foster care and has an approved adoptive home study. Since our last report to this Committee, we have done the following: • Reviewed our orientation curriculum and made revisions to focus more on children and their needs rather than the process. • Developed a streamlined application for relatives and foster parents with children with specific children identified for possible adoption. • Filled two positions that had been vacant for several months with social workers to do homefinding. Tratinin� Our Department continues to support social-worker training. Our Department is active on the Advisory Committee for the Bay Area Training Academy. John Cullen, Director, serves as chair of the Committee, and our Staff Development Specialist, Judith SorkoRam, is active on the Committee. Additionally,we have a training database to help us track staff who have attended training and to track training needs. We have just completed an in-depth training-needs assessment that went to all Managers, Supervisors and a random selection of line staff. We are in the process of analyzing this assessment. Family and Human Services Committee June 2, 1998 Page 4 Our Department has offered the following training since our last Family and Human Services report of December, 1997: • Risk Assessment • Medical Aspects of Child Abuse • Supervisors Workshop • Coping With Stress • Communication Strategies • Children's Mission Statement Revisited • Medically-Fragile Child • Substance Abuse • Domestic Violence and Abuse Car iver/AEe Relationships Our Department has continued working on the issues that surfaced from the"Enhancing Partnerships"Forum held in December, 1997. We have sent to all our licensed foster parents a copy of the Caregiver Resource Manual which provides information on resources in the County as well as what to expect from child-welfare services. The Assistant Director's quarterly staff meeting in April focused on foster-parent retention issues which addressed what district offices could do to enhance these foster-parent relationships. We are in the process of implementing these ideas, such as holding quarterly meetings with district social workers and caregivers in that district. Attached is the foster parent newsletter which outlines some of the issues. The newsletter, "Foster Family Forum,"is sent out quarterly to all of our 430 licensed foster parents. The Department's Social Worker/Caregiver Committee continues to meet to review Department policies that impact caregivers and to recommend training needs. Juvenile Court The Department continues to meet monthly with the Juvenile Court Judges, Referee and Counsel to discuss issues that arise. We co-chair the Social Work/Attorney Committee which also meets on a monthly basis to work specifically on operational issues. For example, our County is expanding the use of mediation. It was necessary to meet and reach agreement on types of cases for mediation and training needs around this issue. We also participate on the Court Improvement Committee which continues to focus on the areas for improvement as identified at the Beyond the Bench Conference. Family and Human Services Committee June 2, 1998 Page 5 Interaction with the Court continues to be a major issue for staff. Statistics provided by our County Counsel's office indicate that despite efforts to do more mediation and focus on court improvement,contests and litigation have increased. Services requested by counsel on behalf of thein clients and ordered by the Court often feel excessive and create major workload for social workers. Our County has advocated for a budget yardstick study by the California Department of Social Services to look specifically at these issues since it is clear that the allocation we receive for caseload activity does not cover the increased expectation of our Court. The County Welfare Directors Association(CWDA)recently issued a position document that outlined the increase in workload which needs to be addressed in the funding of child welfare. Increased court requirements is among those activities not sufficiently funded. However, even with<additional resources from the state, much of our increased work is likely to be considered a local issue. We will continue to work with CWDA to obtain additional federal and state funds in order to reduce caseloads that have court activity involved. SUMMARY The Department continues to make progress in all the areas originally outlined in the Child Welfare Research Center's review of our adoption program. This past year we have also had to focus on the implementation of CWS/CMS which has gone reasonably well. Additionally,we will be developing procedures and training for staff on legislation that was passed last year that impacts child-welfare practice. This is an incredibly dynamic field which requires the constant development of policies and practices to keep current with the legal mandates. Our Department is recognized by the California Department of Social Services as one with strong programs and leadership. We provide staff for various advisory groups on policy and program development. We appreciate the Family and Human Services Committee's support of our programs which has assisted us in making improvements. JC:ceb Attachments cadophWho Msk 9 ....... •MAY-26-1998 16:19 CCC SOCIAL SERVICES 925 646 2789 P.05 �A q MCLRRENT .a i7W1LES OF A SUPPQRT6ROUP )UNE 2,1998 7:00-9.*00P.M. ATCONTRACOSTACOUNTY-DEPT.OF SO(-IAL SERVICES 40 DOUGLAS DRIVE MARTINEZ,CA.94553 ROOMIOI-102 � 1 E FOR 5UPPORTAND DISCUSSION, PRESS tl aN AT6.45 P.M, ANDWILLCLOSE [�. ► � I RECTIONS TO FOL Yi Imx " ' , NTH . 1 t I�A AA W;�is r OY ONEAb �U . . .. .....tit '... MRL' N SCRUTCiINS .MS . Fc c MoiFORMA N i CAL 510.4 -7 Aff .... ..... T MAY-26-2995 36.20 CCC SOCIAL SERVICES 925 646 2789 P.06 i.T� Y�J•" rti4 i .yA y��(f�y\Y�I�U�'l'7�jN`ly� io ./� CON CQNTRACOSTA,COUNTY IN CWMAL AND WEST C1.1AJot ASUPPORT6ROUP J //J��yyI/J��-NE1 ,, /6 /1M�998 AT FAST BAY PERINATALCOUNCIL 186 BROADWAY RICHMON D,CA 94804 E FOR SUPPORTAND DISCUSSION, PRESS ; S N ATb•45 P.M. AND WILL.CLOSE � I RECTIONS TO FOLIO .a LLL BE ONC j w STH Y.. :VY`•� .r�,t.i#r y _ i:a t.:�,... s a � 'v � [ °ACFltMOTH >t C `d 1 'tf 4 .. ;. :V .. r A c�8 77 FIMMz I� S�1MEN ' t �H F_ TOTAL P.06 MAY 2 D 1998 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES DE"AltfVETrT ne Foster a if Foru may 1998 TIANNA FABELLA Assistant Director FOSTERMEDI-CAL FOR PARENT 40� CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE RECRUITMENT By rionuaa EiawrtiauRgit ANDForster Caere Supervisor RETENTION CHILDHEVS. A little information INTERVIEW sometimes goes a long; long It seems only appropriate � that the topic for my most way. :Children in Foster Care CE�TEI� receiving Medi-Cal are not, at recent quarterly District OPENS thin time, involved in the Meeting with staff was foster State's Managed Care parent recruitment and By viCid RW and Carol Frey program. That means that retention since this month our Can you imagine being a they DO NOT have to choose Board of Supervisor's passed child who has been sexually between the County Health a resolution recognizing May assaulted and after the assault Plan and Foundation Health as Poster Parent Recognition has been discovered, you are in Contra Costa County. month. For these of you not forced to describe the assault, They may still see-a regular familiar with my background, in detail, to several different physician who accepts Medi- I have been working in Child adults from, different Cal. If a child is enrolled in Welfare for 18 years, of that agencies? Until the the. County Health Plan aka approximately 10 years Children's Interview Center "CCI " and the need is for a working quite closely with began interviewing victims of private physician, the Social foster Parents: I strongly reported sexual assault, that's Worker MUST di -enroll the believe that foster parents are exactly what happened. child from the County Health our greatest resource and Children were expected to Plan. ...cant. on only through the development ...Continued on pg. 3 Children's center... -.CouL pg.a Recruitment and x on... Inside This Issue FASTER PARENT RECOGNMON MONTH F tvOR "E 1f2ECIF'ES (WESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2 The Foster Family Forum .-Reendbnent•"a'Reten on continued... Discuss the therapy plans, Whether you are a new Of positive working visitation, educational, foster parent or one that has relationships between agency and health needs of the been with:us for many years, I staff and foster parents can miner and how the foster hope you will continue to we meet the needs of our parent can assist in the work with our children and foster children. service plan. work with us to make our Of great interest to me, and • If a child is placed in an foster care system a positive I believe to you, is some of emergency faster home, experience for those children the discussion and ideas that the social worker should who require out of home staff`brought up as areas we call the next day to see placement. Your are our should focus on in order to how the child did during greatest resource for these develop strong working the night. children. We need more of relationships between social you for particular target • If the case is to be populations such as sibling workers and foster parents. I transferred to a neve groups, teens, and children in will mention a few of these ideas with the hopesthat you worker, give the foster need of permanent adaptive . parent some link back to homes. 'tie encourage you to -will recognize these behaviors the agency so they know talk to your friends who may. from the. social' workers who who to call prior to the. have been considering. visit the child or children icase being reassigned- in fostering but have not quite your home. If yourt experience is different, you case of an emergency. made the commitment. should talk with the worker • Make sure all, the I liked the concept that the about your concerns. necessary paperwork is reporter in the Contra Costa Some of the filled out so that the Times used when she recommendations for so j foster parent can receive described the work of our workers are: their reimbursement for Child Protective Service the care of the child and worker as"saving one child at • Return phone calls to more importantly, ensure a tune." That is what you do foster parents as quickly that medi-cal paperwork as faster parents. It can be as possible. Even if you is completed so that faster frustrating at times, however, do not have all the children can get their we are looking for more of answers the foster parent health care needs you to "save one child at a will appreciate your rapid addressed. tune" by offering a loving, response and that you are safe home environment. searching fair answers. • Keep foster parents informed of what is. • Remember common happening in court. CAREGIVER/SOCI:AI; courtesies with foster . ,Have district foster "WORKER COMMITTEE parents, address them as MEETINGS Mr. or Mrs. unless they parent meetings so that social' workers and foster 9:00- 11:00 give you permission to address by first name. parents will have open 40 Douglas Drive forum for dialogue: Martinez, CA • Include foster parents in May zg the planning for the • Treat foster parents as Y child' placed with diem. part of the team. June 25 3 The Foster Family Forum ...Medi-Cal continued-. —Children's Center Continued— Court to schedule an If a Medi-Cal card is lost or verbally,repeat the details of interview. Most interviews misplaced and the Eligibility the assault in a consistent are scheduled within 24 to 48 Worker issues a new card, the manner aver and over again. hours. The interviewers are In January 1998, we began. original card becomes invalid. trained to remain neutral in If the first card is found, it the interview and to ask non- needs to be destroyed. If the interviewing children, up to the age of 13, who were leading and non-threatening first card is used in error, the questions. The goal is to be reported to have been victims child will show ineligible to of sexual assault. As of Mayable to allow the child `°a safe Medi-Cal when the doctor's 1998. 75 children had been place and person" to talk to. office"swipes"the card. The Law Enforcement interviewed. There is a Detective and the District Helpful Hint. Slip a small specially trained Forensic Attorney are present to piece of paper your wallet Interview Specialist, who is determine if a crime has been with the child(ren)'s names, observed and assisted by a and the number shown on the multidisciplinary interview enocommitted evidence if there is front of the Med-Cal card. I team consisting of the char gel evidence to Elle you forget the Medi-Cal cards assigned Law Enforcement charges against the identified the doctor's office can use the Detective, the assigned CPS perpetrator. The CPS Social he c number to confirm eligibility. Social Worker (if there is the child i i present to assure one) a District Attorney, and the chs protected and to Reminder- When a child offer services and referrals to leaves one home To go to a Victim Advocate from Rape the child and the family. The another home or placement, IterCrisis. Only the child and the Victim Advocate assures the the child's Medi-Cal card. Interview Specialist are in elle"child friendly„ interview protection of the child's rights . needs to go with thein.: room set up with a one way during the interview, assists Giving the card to the Social the child and family with Worker will help alleviate any terror/window, and audio/video recorders. Although referrals to counseling and problems for the receiving other appropriate services, home/placement if an the child is told about the and provides basic support. recordings and the observers, emergency arises. the child speaks only to the interviewer. The team is able to observe, minimizing the YtW YVX CAKE need for further interviews 1 box yellow cake mixedto and allowing for a more directions on box. Bake in jelly objective determination of the roil pan for 15 minutes at 350 truth. If a second' interview is Cool. REMINDER truth. we make every Soften 8 oz.. cream cheese. Take the child's Medicaleffort to assure that the same prepare 1 sm. box vanilla Consent form or the Foster interviewer and same team instant pudding with 1 C milk. Parent Agreement with you Set aside. Crain lg. can Y members are present. crushed pineapple. Blend crm. to all medical and hospital cheese &pineapple. Fold in The reported victim must visits. You may want to keep pudding. Fold in 9 oz. cool be referred by Lain whip, Spread a copy with you at all times: p. ; p cad on cake. 7'0p Enforcement, CPS, or by the with coconut'and walnuts. 4 The .Foster Family Forum SOCIAL SERVICES POSTER PARENT MANAGEMENT RECOGNITION Danna Fabella,Assistant MONTH ASK MEI' Director 313-1583 The Board of Supervisors Question When can we District Division Managers issued a Resolution declaring expect to receive the new East County - Carolyn May Foster Parent foster care rate? Dexter Recognition month at their Answer: you should see meeting on May 12th. an increase in the August 706-4580 Retiring Emergency Foster check. Remember, Foster Parents Gwen and Jodie Central County -Debi boss Care reimbursements are Daniels were recognized for .paid the month after care. 313-7703 18 years of service with West County Ray Merritt commendations from Senator .Rainey, Congressman Miller, 262-5109' and Retired General Colin County Wide Children's Powell. A reception for all Services Horne Finding, Emergency Foster Parents in ContHbutions and ideas for the Specialized Placement, the Board Conference Room newsletter may be sent to. Adoptions-Linda Canan followed the ceremony. EsmeraMda Okendo Thank you Gwen and Jodie30 Muir Rend 313-7706 Martinre4 CA 945S3 for your dedication. We'll 313-7788 or fax 313-1998 mss you? Centra Costa County Social' y; F Services ar% Home Finding Unit 30 Muir Road' Martinez, CA 94553 DANNA FAHEI_..LA 40 DDUGLAS DRIVE MART I NE ,CA 94553