ALienda D'-itd ijclobdi iu, iUUJ

County of Santa Clara

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Social Services Agency
Department of Family and Children's Services

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CSFC SSAOl 102004

Prepared by: Mary D. Patterson

Special Assistant for
Children's Services

Doug Southard
Director, Children's
Shelter

Reviewed by: Norma Doctor Sparks
Director, Department of
Family and Children's
Services
DATE:

October 20, 2004

TO:

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

FROM:

Will Lightboume

Agency Director, Social Services Agency
SUBJECT: DECS Pilot Program Planning Status Report

RRCOMMENDED ACTION

Boaid oi’Sui:iefviecir;

Dunald F.

'■ dunt'/ Executive' Peter ivjtfai Jr

Bianca .-.Ivarado, Pete McHugh, Jim Beall, Liz Kni
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Committee Acienda Date lOctober 2

004

Accept this status report from the Department of Family and Children's Services on planning

for implementation of Pilot Programs at the Children's Shelter facility.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Not applicable
CONTRACT HISTORY
None

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

At its August 18, 2004 meeting, the Children, Seniors and Families Committee accepted a

report from the Social Services Agency Department of Family and Children's Services on the
implementation plan for two pilot programs to improve the well-being of children and

families involved in the child welfare system. This report provides an update on the planning.
BACKGROUND

in June 2003, a task force ot
As directed by the Children, Seniors and Families Committeeformed
to recommend potential

community stakeholders and staff from County agencies was

alternative uses of the County Children's Shelter and Assessment Center facility.
Recommendations from this group were presented to the Committee in February 2004.

The Board of Supervisors, during its Fiscal Year 2005 budget hearings conducted m June
by the Shelter Use
2004, approved the implementation oftwo program ideas recommended
Committee. The Board allocated $240,000 in County General Fund dollars in FY 2005 to
support this effort. The two program ideas that will be piloted at the facility aim to support
educational achievement and assure mental health services for all children involved in the
child welfare system.

Children, Seniors and Families
At meetings held on August 18 and September 15, 2004,the
for the pilot programs. The pi ot

Committee accepted reports on implementation planning
with children ages six to eleven, and
programs will be phased in, beginning in January 2005
Services to be offered will include mental

expanding to children ages zero to eighteen in 2006. and therapy, individual academic
health assessments, individual and family counseling

Board of Supervieore

Donald F, Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jirn Beall, Liz h.ni

Count','' Evecutivei Peter Kutrao Jr.

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Committee Agenda Date lOctober 20, 2004

skill-building, tutoring in literacy, assistance to youth, parents and caregivers in navigating
school and human service systems, linkages to community-based services and parenting
groups.

Phase I Program Goals

1. Improve mental health status of children through enhanced screening and assessment
for, linkage to, and coordination of mental health services

2. Improve educational achievement of children through attendance and literacy
improvement interventions
Partners in Service Provision

The County Mental Health Department, the County Office of Education and the Department

of Family and Children’s Services will work together to offer services that achieve the goals
stated above, that provide support to both children and their caregivers, and that support the
work of social workers. These partnering agencies will provide services to children and

families, participate in team training opportunites and will obtain and report data that
effectively measures the pilot programs' success.
Pmlirninarv Phase I Perfonnance Outcome Measures

1. Increased number of children receiving mental health services
2. Increased days of school attendance
3. Improved literacy

4. Improved child and parent/caregiver satisfaction with support in school achievement
and mental health status

Planning Process

The three partnering agencies have established an Operational Planning Team, which is
is responsible for
meeting weekly to plan the details of the pilot program. This Team
Plan."
The Plan will contain the
developing the "Service Delivery Design and Implementation
following:

• service delivery design

• program staffing
• staff training

Board 01 Supervisors:; Donald F, Gage, Blanca .Alvarado, Pete McHugh,.Jim Beall, Liz Kni
L':0 u n tv' E e c Ijt i v e. Peter K u t r a'S -J r

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Committee Age rid a Date .October 20, 2UU4

case flow

• policies and procedures

• perfonnance measurement tools and process
• timeline for implementation
• communication strategy

The Operational Planning Team will provide program planning updates and seek feedback on
its progress from specific stakeholders beginning in October, including: Superior Court, fostei
youth representatives. Child Advocates, Foster Parents Association, Silicon Valley Childrens
Fund, Board of Supervisor staff and the Community Care Licensing Division of the California
State Department of Social Services.

At its December 8, 2004 meeting, the Children, Seniors and Families Committee will receive

comprehensive and substantive status report with specific information on what
services will be delivered, how they will be delivered and how their impact will be measured.
a more

CnNSEOTJENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION

Failure to accept this report could result in delayed action on implementation of alternative
uses of the Children’s Shelter facility.
STEPS FOLI OWING APPROVAL

The Clerk of the Board will follow the usual steps for a report of this type.

Boaid of Supervisor: :

Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jim Beall, Liz Kniss

County Executive: Peter Kutras Jr

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