HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06062006 - C.81 s _ L
TO:_ BOARD OF SUPERVISORS '� - °� Contra
FROM: JOHN CULLEN, County Administrator
Costa
DATE: MAY 24, 2006 ~ County
SUBJECT: RECEIVE GRAND JURY REPORT NO. 0604
CONCERNING THE COUNTY FOSTER CARE PROGRAM
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION
RECEIVE Grand Jury Report No. 0604 entitled "Caulk the Cracks that Foster Children Fall
Through", and refer it to the County Administrator and Interim Employment and Human Services
Director for response.
BACKGROUND
Penal Code section 933 provides for final grand jury reports at any time during the grand jury's
term and requires the governing body of any agency whose operations are the subject of a report
to comment on the grand jury's findings and recommendations to the presiding judge of the
superior court within 90 days from the date the governing body receives the report.
Report No. 0604 was received on May 24, 2006 and requires a response by the Board no later
than August 23, 2006. It is recommended that the Board refer the report to the County
Administrator and the Interim Employment and Human Services Director for preparation of a draft
response to be returned to the Board for adoption.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: 2--Y-ES SIGNATURE:
Q10ECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ❑ RECOMM N ATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
[ APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S): - A"_—,
ACTION OF BO ON O(OZO(a Z 2-0 0�P
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER ❑
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
_)I UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
AYES: NOES: SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED: JUNE 6,2006
Contact: JULIE ENEA (925)335-1077 JOHN CULL RK OF THE BOARD OF
PERVIRS ANDS OUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc: COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR(ENEA) SU
EMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN SERVICES ,
DIRECTOR By: Deputy
Grand Jury Contra 725 Court Street
P.O. Box 911
Costa Martinez, CA 94553-0091
County
6 _ L
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ST'S COi1N'�
May 24, 2006
Contra Costa County Children and Family Services
Attn: Linda Canan
40 Douglas Drive
Martinez, CA 94553
Dear Ms. Canan:
Attached is a copy of Grand Jury Report No. 0604, "Caulk the Cracks That Foster Children Fall
Through!"prepared by the 2005-2006 Contra Costa County Grand Jury.
Section 933.05 of the California Government Code requires that the responding person or entity
shall respond to each finding and each recommendation in the report. The attached summary
describes the required responses.
In accordance with California Penal Code Section 933.05, this report is being provided to you at
least two working days before it is released publicly. Section 933.05 also specifies that no
officer, agency, department or governing body of a public agency shall disclose any contents of
the report prior to its public release.
Please insure that your response to the above noted Grand Jury report includes the mandated
items. In addition to a written response, email an electronic version of the response to
agard@contracosta.courts.ca.us. We will expect your response, using the form described by the
quoted Government Code, no later than August 23, 2006.
A
, 2006 Contra Costa County Grand Jury
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
RECENED
/Cc: John Cullen, County Administrator
MAY 2 4 2006
OFFICE OF
COUNTY ADM N STRATOR
REQUIRED RESPONSES TO A GRAND JURY REPORT
Findings
Section 933.05(a) of the California Government Code requires that the responding person or
entity shall report one of the following actions in respect to each finding:
1. The respondent agrrees with the finding.
2. The respondent disagrees with the finding. The respondent shall specify the portion of
the finding that is disputed, and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefore.
3. The respondent partially disagrees with the finding. The respondent shall specify the
portion of the finding that is disputed, and shall include an explanation of the reasons
therefore.
Recommendations
Section 933.05(b) requires that the respondent reply to each recommendation by stating one of
the following actions:
1. The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary describing the implemented
action.
2. The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the
future, with a time frame for implementation.
3. The recommendation requires further analysis. This response should explain the scope
and parameters of the analysis or study, and a time frame for the matter to be prepared for
discussion. This time frame shall not exceed six months from the date of the publication
of the Grand Jury Report.
4. The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not
reasonable, with an explanation thereof.
A REPORT BY
THE 2005-2006 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY
725 Court Street
Martinez, California 94553
REPORT 0604
CAULK THE CRACKS THAT FOSTER CHILDREN FALL
THROUGH!
For the Sake of the Children
MAY 18, 2006
APPROVED BY THE GRAND JURY:
Date:
ROffERT W.
GRAND JURY FO PERSON
ACCEPTED FOR FILING:
Date:
TEREIiCE L. BRUINIERS
JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
Grand Jury Contra
725 Court Street - _
P.O.Box 911 ', c
Martinez,CA 94553-0091 0' 'in1101iie 1 COSta
sr'4 C---K- County
Contact: Robert Kennedy
Foreperson
(925) 646-2345
For Immediate Release:
CAULK THE CRACKS THAT FOSTER CHILDREN FALL
THROUGH!
For the Sake of the Children
Summary
Are Contra Costa County Social Workers aware of the mandates placed upon them by the
legislators? The Grand Jury recommends Social Workers become informed and knowledgeable
about these new responsibilities and take the appropriate action for the benefit of the children of
this County.
Contra Costa County has hundreds of children that enter the foster care system each year. Many
of them need to change schools frequently for a variety of reasons. Delays in getting them back
into the school setting can cause these students to fall behind in classroom work and their school
progress suffers.
Each child in the foster care system has a Social Worker assigned through the Children and
Family Services Bureau of the Department of Employment and Human Services. Assembly Bill
490 (AB 490), enacted in January 2004, imposes new duties and rights related to the education of
youth in foster care. Social Worker involvement is a key component to the intent of AB 490.
This bill requires immediate placement of these children in school, allows Social Workers access
to educational and immunization records and makes clear that education and placement should
be in the best interest of the child.
Although Social Workers do an admirable job, some are not doing all that should be done.
Either they are ignoring or they are unaware of the new mandates placed upon them by the
legislators. The Grand Jury recommends that they must become informed and knowledgeable
about these new responsibilities and take the appropriate actions required on behalf of the foster
children of the County.
The complete report is available on the Grand Jury web site: www.cc-c ourts,orglgrandjury.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT 0604
CAULK THE CRACKS THAT FOSTER CHILDREN FALL
THROUGH!
For the Sake of the Children
TO: Contra Costa County Children and Family Services
INTRODUCTION
California Assembly Bill 490 ("AB 490") is a law that amended sections of the Education Code
and Welfare and Institution Code. It mandates that foster youth have access to the same
opportunities as all other students in meeting academic achievement standards and in
maintaining a stable education experience. AB 490 makes clear that education and school.
placement decisions are to be dictated by the best interest of the foster child.
AB 490 specifically identifies County Social Services Workers ("Social Workers") as having
increased responsibilities and access to the educational records of foster children and their
successful school placement. It is a responsibility and duty of Social Workers, Probation
Officers and the Local Education Agency to monitor,promote and encourage the educational
progress of foster children assigned to them and to ensure timely school placement, transfer of
student records, and overall consideration of the foster child's best interests.
BACKGROUND
Each year, in Contra Costa County("County"), hundreds of abused, neglected and abandoned
children come into the foster care system. Foster youth face a number of challenges.
• Youth placed in foster care and group homes are found to perform 30%below grade
level. 50% of these same youth are held back in school. Nationally, 46% of foster
children had not completed high school within 2.5 to 4 years after exiting foster care.
• Reports indicate that foster children are 50%more likely to be arrested as children,
40%more likely to be arrested as adults for violent crimes, and 33% more likely to
become substance abusers.
• More than 50% of foster children drop out of school before graduation, which is
nearly twice the overall dropout rate.
MAY48,2006 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY PAGE 2
REPORT 0604 CAULK THE CRACKS THAT FOSTER CHILDREN FALL THROUGH!
Children coming into the County foster care system often need to change schools for a variety of
reasons. As a result, when these children change schools, they can lose an average of four to six
months of classroom progress. During the Grand Jury's investigation, examples of problems
were seen. Some of them included the following:
• The inappropriate enrollment of a child in the incorrect grade due to relying on the
child's statement rather than academic records.
• The inappropriate enrollment because of lack of current records.
• The delay of enrollment up to a month while waiting for current records.
• The repeat of immunizations because the records were not available.
All of the above are examples of disservice to the child. This can be corrected with the Social
Worker facilitating the timely transfer of the foster child's academic and medical records.
FINDINGS
1. As of March 2006, there were 1640 Contra Costa County children in foster care and of
those, 222 youths were in group homes.
2. The County has 80 Social Workers actively working with foster youth. The Social
Workers average about 23 cases each.
3. AB 490 mandates that foster youth school placement be immediate, i.e. that education
information and records be delivered to the school within two (2)working days of
receiving a transfer request from a.county placement agency. A comprehensive public
school is to be the first placement option.
4. The Social Worker is authorized to access the educational and medical records of
foster youth for whom they are responsible.
5. Social Workers are authorized to facilitate timely school placement for foster children.
6. Social Workers hired since the fall of 2005, had.training on AB 490.
7. Social Workers hired prior to fall of 2005, have had no formal training on AB 490.
8. Foster children often arrive at a placement without their current academic or health
records.
9. Academic records not delivered in a timely manner result in inappropriate or delayed
school placement.
MAY 18,2006 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY PAGE 3
REPORT 0604 CAULK THE CRACKS THAT FOSTER CHILDREN FALL THROUGH!
10. Health records not delivered in a timely manner result in repeating immunizations.
11. Social Workers rely on the Contra Costa County Office of Education liaisons to
facilitate the timely transfer of student records.
12. Social Workers rely on the group home provider to register the student and facilitate
the transfer of student records.
13. Social Work supervisors are not evaluating Social Worker implementation of AB 490
requirements.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Social Worker involvement is a key component to the intent of AB 490's legislation.
2. Social Workers are inconsistent in facilitating a timely school placement because they
are relying on Contra Costa County Office of Education liaisons and group home
providers.
3. With so many different people (e.g., Social Worker(s), foster parent(s), foster care
education liaison, etc.) involved in the children's welfare, one person needs to be
accountable that AB 490 key provisions concerning timely school placement are being
followed and implemented.
4. The receiving school is better able to place and work with the student if they have a
copy of the child's records.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The 2005-2006 Grand Jury recommends Children and Family Service take the following steps to
have Social Workers get more actively involved in the new duties and responsibilities imposed
on them by AB 490:
1. Require Social Workers to take the primary role to ensure the timely school placement
of foster youth.
2. Provide training to Social Work.Supervisors and Social Workers on AB 490 duties
and responsibilities.
3. Require Social Work Supervisors to monitor and evaluate Social Workers to make
certain that Social Workers are implementing the requirements of AB 490.
MAY 18,2006 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY PAGE 4
REPORT 0604 CAULK THE CRACKS THAT FOSTER CHILDREN FALL THROUGH!
4. Require Social Workers to verify foster children have been appropriately placed in
school.
REQUIRED RESPONSES
Findings:
Contra Costa County Children and Family Services: 1-13.
Recommendations:
Contra Costa County Children and Family Services: 1-4.
MAY 18,2006 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY PAGE 5