Buy Agenda C'atH :June ! A, 2UU4

County of Santa Clara
Board of Supervisors
Supervisorial District Four
Supervisor James T. Beall, Jr.

bosD4-6.15.04csfc.6.9.04
DATE:

June 15, 2004

TO:

Board of Supervisors

FROM:

7'
James T. Beall, Jr.

Supervisor, District 4

L

Donald F. Gage
Supervisor, District 1

SUBJECT: CHILDREN,SENIORS AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION: FISCAL YEAR 2005 BUDGET

RECOMMENDED ACTION

This year presents particular challenges for the entire County. As we face decreasing revenue,
increasing welfare caseloads and an uncertain economic future, we must focus on preserving
our safety net programs that benefit our most needy residents. The Committee used the Board
adopted Budget Strategy Statement to aid our decision-making, focusing on creating cost
savings through reductions in overhead expenses, policy changes and/or process
efficiencies/improvements. The Committee recognizes that the State budget uncertainty in
Sacramento creates opportunities for significant changes to the County budget. Programs such

Bu^rd 01'Supeivisor':., Don.^ld F Osge, Blarica A.lvansdo, Poto McHugli, Jim B09li, Liz Kni:L ounty' EAeujtivo: Petor Kutfai Ji.
1

BO

i.genda Date June i 5

2004

as IHSS and Foster Care may be significantly modified during the legislative process in
subsequent months. It may be necessary to address such changes during the June budget
hearings. The Committee recommends the following modifications to the County Executive's
Recommended Budget.
CSFC Inventory Items:
Department

Recommended Budget

Committee

Change

Recommendation
Social Services

Agency
BU503

Add $240,000 for
County Executive's
Recommended Budget did not implementation of two
fund alternative re-use
six-month pilot
programming at the
programming at the
Children's Shelter.

$240,000

Children's Shelter.
Fund from the Food

Stamp Liability
Reserve.

Social Services

Reduce General Fund

Add back $90,462 for

Agency

Contracts by $900,462.

the General Fund

$900,462

Contracts. County
BU502

Executive will define

additional funding
sources. These options,
as well as the options
presented by the Social
Services Agency, will
be presented to the full
Board of Supervisors
during the Budget
Hearings.

Board of Supervisors: C;ionald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jirn Beall, Liz Kniss
rJ ounty E:ii;ecutive: Peter Kutras Jr.
2

BOy Agenda Date ;Jurie 1 5, 2004

BACKGROUND
A. Shelter Reuse

The Committee recommends allocating $240,000 from the Food Stamp Liability Reserve to
implement two six-month pilot programs, the Educational Support pilot and the Family
Mental Health Services pilot, for alternative re-use programming at the Children's Shelter.
The County Executive's Recommended Budget reduces the Children's Shelter Budget over
three million dollars compared to last fiscal year. The Committee believes that a portion of the
Children Shelter savings should be reinvested to fund alternate supportive services dedicated
to serve the children and families in the Child Welfare System.

The Shelter facility has six cottages. Beginning September 1, 2003, the Ford cottage was
closed due to extremely low admissions of 7-12 year old boys needing intensive supervision.
Valley, an additional cottage, was closed this past January 2004. The Children's Shelter has
and will continue to be used as an assessment center and when immediate placement with

relatives or foster parents is not available or not appropriate, as a short-tenn residential care
facility. The Children's Shelter will continue to provide a stable, safe, temporary environment
for abused and neglected children. Currently, the Social Services Agency is utilizing three
cottages for the residential care program. A fourth cottage is being kept vacant to address any
potential temporary population overflow.

The Board of Supervisors directed the Social Services Agency to develop alternative uses for
the closed cottages. In response. Social Services Agency convened a community stakeholder
group, the Santa Clara County Children Shelter's Use Committee, to assess the needs of
dependent children and families and identify potential gaps in services. The Children's Shelter
Use Committee met from September 2003 to January 2004. The Social Services Agency
provided periodic status reports to the Children, Seniors and Families Committee on Febniary
18, 2004, May 5, 2004 and June 9, 2004. The Committee provided Board members shelter
re-use updates during the December 17, 2004, February 18, 2004, May 5, 2004, and June 8,
2004 Board meetings.

Over 400 community representatives gave input to the Children's Shelter Use Committee
through focus groups and community meetings. Two themes emerged regarding the needs of
children and families: family and caregiver strengthening resources and educational support
for children of all ages. Three recommended uses of available space at the Children's Shelter
are: Educational Support for Foster Youth of All Ages, Family Mental Health Services, and
Family Visitation. All three proposals reflect the repeated themes supported by community
residents and research in the field. A strong synergy exists among the proposals such that not
only are themes repeated, but some proposed strategies and desired outcomes are

Board oi Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca .Alvarado, Pete McHugh,.Jirn Beall, Liz Kniss
County' E:K:ecutive: Peter Kutras Jr.
3

BOS Agenda Date :June 1 5, 2004

interchangeable.

B. General Fund Contracts

The Committee recommends restoring the General Fund Contracts by $900,462. The
Committee considered several funding options and requested the County Executive to define
additional funding sources to fully restore the contracts. The funding options will be presented
to the full Board of Supervisors for their consideration during the Budget Hearings.
The Committee believes that partnering with community non profits will enable the County to
provide affordable direct services to clients on a long-term basis. On May 19, 2004, the
Children, Seniors and Families Committee heard public testimony from several individuals
representing the elderly, immigrants and youth regarding the adverse impacts of the County
Executive's Recommended Budget proposal to reduce the General Fund Contracts by
$900,462. The Committee found these concerns compelling and directed the Social Services
Agency to prepare options to restore the General Fund Contracts budget reductions. Services
funded by General Fund contracts insulate the County service delivery system by diverting
at-risk families from entering the system at a fraction of the cost and allow families to receive
services in their own communities. The General Fund Contracts support preventative services
and therefore address the Board of Supervisors' Budget Strategy goals. The Committee found
the proposed reductions excessive and believes the reductions will have a negative fiscal
impact on the County as families who could be served by non-profits turn to various County
agencies for services. The suggested augmentations will enable further support at-risk
families, and achieve the Board of Supervisors' goals to strengthen families.
The upcoming years will continue to challenge the County's ability to deliver core services.
Over the next few months, the General Fund Contracts RFP process will be discussed by the
Committee, and recommendations will presented to the full Board of Supervisors for
consideration. The Committee plans to work with the County Executive to develop budget
strategies early in the upcoming fiscal year and is confident that the County will continue to

provide safety net services to our residents. The Committee recommends approval of the
County Executive's Recommended Budget with the above mentioned modifications.

Board of oupetvisors; Donald F. Gage, Blanca .Alvarado, Pete McHugh,.Jim Beall, Liz Kniss
County' Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
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