Committee Agenda Date: November 15, 2006
Agenda Item No.6

.:aunty of Santa Clara
Clerk of the Board
Boards & Commissions

Social Services Advisory Commission

SSAC-CSFC-111506
Prepared by: Beverly Sumcad
Board Clerk I
Reviewed by: Mari lyn Anderson
Supervising Board Clerk , Boards
& Commissi ons

DATE:

November 15, 2006

TO:

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

FROM:
Phyllis Perez
Clerk of the Board
SUBJECT: Statement of Concern on Disproportionate Representation of Children of Color in
Santa Clara County Child Welfare System

RECOMMENDED ACTION
Accept Statement of Concern on Disproportionate Representation-of Children of Color in
Santa Clara County Child Welfare System from the Social Services Advisory Commission
(SSAC).

Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Ga ge, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugt1, .Jim Beall, Liz Kniss
County Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.

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Committee Agenlta D~e,: Novem~e,r 15,, ~00~

Agenda Item No.6

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Acceptance of the Statement of Concern has no fiscal impact to the General Fund.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

The report notifies the Board of Supervisors of the significance of the problem of
over-representation of children of color in the Child Welfare System.

BACKGROUND
Over the past several years, the Commission received information regarding the
disproportionate representation of children of color in the County Child Welfare System. The
Commission met with the Child Abuse Council's (CAC) Children of Color Task Force and
formed a Unified Children of Color Task Force (UCCTF), which includes representatives
from the Social Services Agency (SSA), the Department of Family and Children's Services
(DFCS), the Offices of the Board of Supervisors, Court Appointed Special Advocates,
Juvenile Welfare Office of the Ombuds, San Jose State University (SJSU), community-based
service organizations, and concerned citizens. UCCTF focuses on efforts to determine how
best to address this disparity with the goal of reducing the over-representation of children of r-"'\.
color in the Child Welfare System.
At its February 24, 2006 annual Retreat, the Commission identified that recommending policy
and practice changes that will ultimately reduce the over-representation of children of color in
the Child Welfare System is a priority, and included the priority in their Work Plan. Since
then, the Commission has reviewed and discussed reports and data provided by DFCS,
requested and received information from SSA at a Direct Services Committee meetings and
SSAC meetings, and discussed various strategies to better understand the issues.
Subsequently, the Commission reviewed the report prepared by SJSU entitled "An Evaluation
of Factors Related to the Disproportionate Representation of Children of Color in Santa Clara
County's Child Welfare System: Child Welfare Practices and Ethnic/Racial Disproportionality
in the Child Welfare System"; the Santa Clara County System Improvement Plan Narrative
9-22-03 v3 developed by DFCS; and a report from the UCCTF, dated January 2006.

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

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Committee Agenda Date: November 15, 2006
Agenda Item No.6
1

--\formation that was reviewed indicates that African Americans represent 2.8 percent of the
general child population and 10.9 percent of all first entries into care for five days or more
during the baseline period (2002-2003). Over the past three years, the proportion of first
entries for these children has typically been in the 10 percent range. The County's most
current performance (2005) was 9. 7 percent.
Additionally, Hispanic/Latino children represent 35.5 percent of the general child population
and 59.8 percent of first entries into care for five days or more during the baseline period.
Over the past three years, the proportion of first entries for these children has been most
typically in the 57 percent range. The County's most current performance (2005) was 56. 7
percent.
The "Unified Children of Color Task Force January 2006 Data" report suggests that poverty
alone does not account for the disproportionate representation of children of color in
out-of-home placement.

At its September 27, 2006 meeting, the Commission voted unanimously, with three members
~bsent, to forward a Policy Statement and data relating to the over-representation of children
of color in the Child Welfare System to the Board of Supervisors.

CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION
The Board of Supervisors will not have the opportunity to review the Commission's concerns
regarding the issue of over-representation of Children of Color in the CWS.

STEPS FOLLOWING APPROVAL
a. The Deputy Clerk, SSAC, will notify the SSAC of the action taken by the CSFC.
b. If approved by CSFC, the Deputy Clerk will forward the recommendation to the Board
of Supervisors.

ATTACHMENTS

Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jim Beall, Liz Kniss
County E)(ecutive: Peter Kutras Jr.

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•

n

• Commission's Statement of Concern

n

Board of SupetVi$ors:-Dohald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jim Beall, Liz Kniss
County Executive: Petet Kutras Jr.
··

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Social Services Advisory Commission
Statement of Concern

Whereas, the Social Services Advisory Commission of Santa Clara County, with

the continuous input from professionals, stake-holders, providers and residents
of Santa Clara County, has extensively interviewed, inquired and studied, during
the last several years, the extreme overrepresentation of children of color within
the Social Service system; African Americans represent 2.8 percent of the
general child population and 10.9 percent of all first entries into care for 5 days or
more during the baseline period (2002-2003); Over the past three years, the
proportion of first entries for these children has typically been in the 10 percent
range; The County's most current performance (2005) was 9.7 percent;
Hispanic/Latino children represent 35.5 percent of the general child population
and 59.8 percent of first entries into care for 5 days or more during the baseline
period; Over the past three years, the proportion of first entries for these children
. has been most typically in the 57 percent average; The County's most current
performance (2005) was 56. 7 percent; and Whereas, during this time in spite of
the knowledge and seeming concern of the professionals and providers, the
current state has been consistent overrepresentation; and Whereas, the current
state of overrepresentation of children of color is grave; and Whereas, the
institution of the Sodal Service system of Santa Clara County appears to not be
able to ameliorate the problem in any significant way: It is hereby resolved: that
the Social Services Commission recommends that the Board of Supervisors of
Santa Clara County comprehensively and with due diligence take new and
significant actions to seek clear improvement for the status of children of color.