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Approve a contract with Solano Family and Children’s Council, Inc. for $435,297 to provide emergency subsidized child care, child care navigator services and trauma-informed training to child care providers for the period beginning May 8, 2018 through June 30, 2019; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments that remain within budgeted appropriations
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION
The Department of Health & Social Services (H&SS) recommends that the Board approve a contract with Solano Family and Children’s Council, Inc. for $435,297 to provide emergency subsidized child care, child care navigator services and trauma-informed training to child care providers for the period beginning May 8, 2018 through June 30, 2019; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments that remain within budgeted appropriations.
SUMMARY
One of the primary barriers for potential families seeking to take in a foster child is the lack of access to child care immediately following the removal of the child. The passage of Senate Bill (SB) 89 established the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program (Bridge Program) which allows eligible resource families to receive a time-limited monthly payment or voucher for child care and a child care navigator. The Bridge Program consists of the following three components: Emergency child care voucher, child care navigator, and trauma-informed care training and coaching for child care providers. This proposed contract with Solano Family and Children’s Council for $435,297 for the period beginning May 8, 2018 through June 30, 2019 aims to increase the number of foster children successfully placed in home-based family care settings, increase capacity of child care programs to meet the needs to foster children in their care, and maximize funding to support the child care needs of eligible families.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The contract costs for FY2017/18 are included in the H&SS Child Welfare Services Adopted Budget. The contract costs for FY2018/19 will be included in the Child Welfare Services Requested Budget. The Bridge Program is an opt-in program with capped funding. Solano County has recently been allocated $123,905 for FY2017/18 ($30,757 for navigator, $13,422 for training and $79,726 for vouchers). The FY2018/19 contract amount is based on estimated federal, State, and County program funding. The administrative costs incurred to issue child care vouchers, estimated at $33,583, will be funded with 1991 Realignment. There is no additional financial impact to the County General Fund.
DISCUSSION:
The lack of access to child care for potential foster families seeking to take in a foster child is one of the top barriers to placing young foster children with families. This contract identifies the roles and responsibilities of Child Welfare Services and Solano Family & Children’s Council in efforts to recruit, retain, and support eligible families with subsidized child care, child care navigator, and child care providers to receive trauma-informed care training and coaching for foster children in their care. Solano Family and Children’s Council will provide emergency child care vouchers or payments to a minimum of twenty (20) children for a maximum of six months and provide a child care navigator to all families. Assistance in accessing appropriate child care will be provided to the family, child welfare worker, social worker/probation officer, and other child and family team members. The trauma-informed care training and coaching for child care providers includes, but is not limited to, infant and toddler development and research-based, trauma-informed best care practices for children in the child welfare system. An overall, long-term child care plan will be developed to minimize child care transitions or disruptions.
As part of the contract monitoring, Solano Family & Children’s Council will submit data and outcome measures as developed and required by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). The data is intended to demonstrate that the program is meeting desired results such as a reduction in the number of foster placement changes, transitions to other types of care, number and length of vouchers issued, number of trainings, and navigator referrals. As part of the contract performance measures, Solano Family & Children’s Council agrees to maintain a 95% timeliness rate on the intake process, maintain a 10-day turnaround time for child care placements upon referrals, and provide 80% of child care providers participating in the Bridge Program with trainings. This contract goal is to remove barriers to placing with relatives and supporting the least restrictive placements of children.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve this contract. This is not recommended as it would result in a lack of support to resource families for children in the foster care system.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the contract for legal sufficiency.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION