County of Santa Clara
Social Services Agency

Department of Family and Children's Services

CSFC SSA04 051006
Prepared by: Randy Parker
Social Work Superviso r
Reviewed by: Norma Doctor Sparks
Director, Department o f Family
and Children's Services

DATE:

May 10, 2006

TO:

Supervisor James T. Beall, Jr., Chairperson
Supervisor Don Gage, Vice-Chairperson
Children, Seniors & Families Committee

FROM:
Will Lightbourne
Agency Director, Social Services Agency
SUBJECT: Children of Color Task Force Report

RECOMMENDED ACTION
Accept Children of Color Task Force Report.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.

80:3r,J of :::upervrsors. [1ona1,J F (]:3ge, 81.=rn,;:3 Alvar::nJo, Pete McHu~1h, .Jirn 88-311, Li;: l<nr·;·;
,:·ount'i E:;ecutive Pe ter l<utra·, .Jr.

Committee .A.genda Date :Mav ·1 0, 2001:i

CONTRACT HISTORY
Not applicable.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION
The Children, Seniors and Families Committee requested this report on the Children of Color
Task Force.

BACKGROUND
Reducing the overrepresentation of children of color in all phases of Child Welfare Services
remains a vitally important goal in Santa Clara County. Over the past several years, the Social
Service Agency, Department of Family and Children's Services (SSA/DFCS), the Child
Abuse Council, and the Social Services Advisory Commission separately focused efforts to
determine how best to address this disparity. In late 2005, they joined forces with
representatives from Offices of the County Board Supervisors, Court Appointed Special
Advocates, Juvenile Welfare Office of the Ombuds, San Jose State University, numerous
community-based service organizations and concerned citizens to form the Unified Children
of Color Task Force. The Task Force members share the goal of reducing the
overrepresentation of children of color by carefully studying how various factors and
conditions within the community and within DFCS operations can be enhanced or modified to
reduce the disparity. Andre Chapman, President and CEO of Unity Care, and Jorge Gonzalez,
DFCS Social Services Program Manager, co-chair the Task Force.
The Task Force met on November 15, 2005, January 31, 2006 and March 21, 2006. This first
phase of the Task Force's work involved extensive analysis of data, far ranging discussion of
possible causal factors and prioritization of areas for in-depth study.
The first meeting of the Unified Children of Color Task Force in November was a half-day
offsite. Members receive a presentation from the Norma Doctor Sparks, DFCS Director, on
the continuum of Child Welfare Services decision points, and strategies relative to the
decision points that DFCS and community partners employ to address the disproportionate
number of children of color in the system (see Attachment A). Data was presented and
discussed concerning the following:
• Children in Child Welfare Supervised Care by Ethnicity

Board of Supervisors: Donalij F. Gage, Blanca .A.lvarado, Pete McHugt1, Jirn Beall, Liz Vniss

C.ountt Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.

2

Cornrnittee ..!!.gen,ja Date :ti.t:iv 1o. 2006

• Referrals, Substantiated Referrals, First Entries into Care, and Children in Care by
Ethnicity and Population
• Referrals by Ethnicity and Zip Code
• Children in Care by Ethnicity
• Length of Stay in Care by Ethnicity
• Children in Relative/Non-Relative Placement by Ethnicity
• Children in Care by Placement Type and Ethnicity, July 1, 2005
• Adoptions by Ethnicity
(See Attachment B for a matrix of agenda items and data reviewed/discussed for the first three
meetings of the Task Force.)
Following presentation of this background information at the meeting in November, members
engaged in a wide-ranging discussion of community-based factors, such as the availability of
culturally appropriate services and child abuse reporting patterns, and factors more inherent to
DFCS child welfare services (e.g., the ethnicity of social workers) that might contribute to the
overrepresentation. The framework for merging agency and community groups was also
discussed to set the stage for ongoing collaboration. Next steps, additional data needs, and
goals and objectives were clarified. Several participants volunteered to work with DFCS to
review a proposed risk and safety assessment tool in regards to its cultural sensitivity.
At the second meeting of the Unified Task Force on January 31, 2006, participants received a
overview of the Enhanced Differential Response program being developed with Gardner
Family Care, Inc., and members were invited to participate in the Workgroup planning
implementation. An update on the Risk and Safety Assessment tool was also provided,
including how members' participation had been instrumental in improving the tool's sensitivity
to cultural differences. Data was presented and discussed concerning the following:
• Children in Evaluated Out Referrals by Ethnicity
•
•
•
•
•
•

Allegation Type by Ethnicity
Allegation by Language
Households by Ethnicity
Indicators of Poverty
Active Cases by Mother/Father Ethnicity and Language
Total Number by Family Size

Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jim Beall, Liz Kniss
Countf Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.

3

Committee Agenda Date :May ·10, 20013

• Summary of UCB Data for Asians in Relative Placement
Next steps from the January meeting included obtaining more detailed referral and allegation
information for analysis at the next meeting.
At the Task Force Meeting on March 21, 2006, the following data was analyzed:
• Counts of Children with One or More Referrals for July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005
• Ethnicity / All Allegation Types / All Dispositions CY05
• Comparison of Ethnic Discrepancies at Child Welfare Decision Points
In view of the data presented at all of the meetings up to that time, members analyzed the
scope of overrepresentation at various decision points, and decided to more intensely study
child abuse referrals (substantiated and unsubstantiated), children's first entries into foster care
(i.e., children removed from their homes), and how decision are made about which families
receive voluntary services vs. court-ordered Family Maintenance, Family Reunification and
Permanency Services from DFCS.
During Phase II of the Task Force's work, members will meet monthly to identify SSA/DFCS
practices and processes that might contribute to overrepresentation of children of color.
Beginning on May 9, 2006, the Task Force will examine the child abuse screening and
emergency response investigation functions, and substantiated child abuse and neglect
referrals.

CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION
Negative action would result in the Children, Seniors and Families Committee not accepting
this report on the Children of Color Task Force.

ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment A - Child Welfare Decision Points and Strategies to Reduce the
Overrepresentation of Children of Color
• Attachment B - Unified Children of Color Task Force Meetings, November 2005 March 2006, Agendas and Data Reviewed

Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, .Jim Beall, Liz l<niss
Count~•· E:<ecutive: Peter Kutras Jr.

4

Children, Seniors & Families Committee, June 9, 2004, DFCS Activities Related to San Jose State University Children of Color Study
ATTACHMENT: Study Findings, Prioritized List of Strategies and Budget Considerations

Findings from San Jose State University
Children of Color Study

Strategies to be Undertaken to Address Findings

Budget Considerations

1. Best Practice: Team Decision Making

Team Decision Making (TDM) was launched on a limited
basis in DFCS through the Family to Family initiative in
October 2003 and over 150 sessions have taken place since that
time. This practice includes family and community members in
decisions concerning the placement of children. A plan for the
full roll-out ofTDMs from pre-entry into the system and
throughout key decision points in a case has been approved for
implementation in FY 04-05.

2. Barrier to Best Practice: Inconsistency
Decision Making

Inconsistency in decision making is widely acknowledged in
counties throughout California. Standardization is a key goal
ofthe State's Child Welfare Services Redesign, and Santa
Clara County is participating in this statewide effort. Selection
and implementation of a standardized assessment tool is a
priority for DFCS in the coming fiscal year. An enhancement
to our existing assessment process that began last year is review
and staffing of every Bypass case, which is helping improve
consistency.
Training for mandated reporters is available, but needs to be
reviewed and targeted for discrete reporter groups (i.e. school
personnel, medical, etc.).

TDM positions are
included in SSA's
proposed FY04-05
budget. If upcoming
vacancies can be filled,
the trained Facilitators
and Supervisor of a new
TDM unit within DFCS
can be maintained. It
may be found upon full
implementation that
additional staff for
facilitation and
scheduling are required.
Full staffing (filled
vacancies) is necessary to
ensure comprehensive
staff training and
maximize utilization.

3. Barrier to Best Practice: Large Number
of Inappropriate Referrals

Resources are included in
SSA's proposed FY04-05
budget.

June 9, 2004 CSFC, DFCS Activities Related to San Jose State University Children of Color Study

4. Record keeping should include more
complete and measurable information

5. Need to expand Child Welfare Services,
particularly those that are culturally
sensitive, non-traditional, collaborative
and involve clients' communities

The overrepresentation of children of color in the rate of first
entries into foster care is an outcome measure that the Social
Services Agency is choosing to analyze as part of California's
new Child Welfare System Outcomes and Accountability Act.
Complete recordkeeping is essential to accurate analysis and
tracking and is being addressed through an intensive round of
training of DFCS social work staff. Ongoing policy
clarification and training in data entry and documentation is
needed.
Community Action Teams have been formed in ethnically
and geographically specific areas to increase community
involvement in service delivery.
Culturally-focused Family Resource Centers are
focusing their efforts on families that do not require courtordered services and will be providing services such as
voluntary family maintenance and informal supervision.
The Family Resource Centers will continue their
partnerships with community organizations.
A grant from FIRST 5 Santa Clara County has been
awarded to DFCS to explore implementation of
Differential Response, a key strategy of the statewide
CWS Redesign that diverts low-risk families from DFCS
and relies instead on community-based organizations as
responders to low-risk child abuse and neglect referrals.
The Family Strengths-Based Services program,
implemented in 2002 through Gardner Family Care
Corporation has expanded culturally sensitive, communitybased diversion services to families and is showing success.
The September 2003 pilot implementation of a Joint
Response Protocol with the San Jose Police Department
and May 2004 implementation citywide is an important
component of child welfare services.

Full staffing is necessary
to ensure comprehensive
staff training and
maximum utilization.
One additional FTE
trainer will be required to
adequately meet the
need.
Full staffing is necessary
to ensure continued
services at FRCs and full
implementation of Joint
Response. Resources are
included in SSA's
proposed FY04-05
budget.

June 9, 2004 CSFC, DFCS Activities Related to San Jose State University Children of Color Study

DFCS involvement in the Greenbook Project, which
brings domestic violence and child maltreatment
practitioners together to determine protocols for joint
intervention, has a cultural diversity workgroup to examine
relevant issues and help determine best cultural practices.
A unit focused on identifying and supporting relative
placements has been created inside the Department to
facilitate increased relative placements and support for
relatives. In January 2004, the majority of children in outof-home care were placed with relatives.
•

6. Best practice: Relative Placements

Resources are included
in SSA's proposed
FY04-05 budget.

7. Future research should address
neighborhood and other communitylevel factors unique to Santa Clara
County

The Agency and the Department is a partner in the newly
formed "Children of Color Task Force," a joint effort of the
Social Services Advisory Commission, the Child Abuse
Council and the Latino Social Workers Network, to address
overrepresentation of children of color in the child welfare
system. The Task Force plans to model its work after the
county's Juvenile Detention Reform specific effort to scrutinize
and improve "disproportionate minority confinement" (DMC).
The DMC work is being guided by the nationally recognized
Heywood Bums Institute of San Francisco, and involves
intensive data collection and monitoring, community mapping
in one selected zip code, and individual case reviews of youth
being detained in Juvenile Hall.

Resources are included in
SSA's proposed FY04-05
budget.

8. Best practice: Parent Orientations

Family orientation sessions to the child welfare system were
launched in South County in the last three years. Based on the
success of this initiative, countywide implementation began in
January 2004.

Resources are included in
SSA's proposed FY04-05
budget.

June 9, 2004 CSFC, DFCS Activities Related to San Jose State University Children of Color Study

9. Best practice: Cultural Matching

Language and culturally specific units have been m~intained
through the reorganization, despite severe budget cuts. These
units provide linguistic and cultural matching to clients in most
cases.

Resources are included in
SSA's proposed FY04-05
budget.

10. Best practice: Strength-based approaches A training agreement with Project Cornerstone, a County
leader in the promotion of youth assets and strengths-based
approaches, has recently been established. Comerstore
provided anorientation to DFCS supervisors in May 2004 and
training of all DFCS staff is expected to begin in the fall.

Resources are included in
SSA's proposed FY04-05
budget.

Reduced social work caseloads and the assignment of one
worker per family are goals of the Department's redesign.
Reduced caseloads will allow more time to support children
and families and strengtmn supervision. The assignment of
one worker per family will assure integrated case plans for all
children in a family.

Full staffing is necessary
to ensure this goal can be
met. Resources are
included in SSA's
proposed FY04-05
budget.

11. Strengthen strongest predictors of family
reunification= fewer workers per
family, shorter case duration, fewer
placement changes

June 9, 2004 CSFC, DFCS Activities Related to San Jose State University Children of Color Study