REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 3, 2026
FROM
JEANY GLASGOW, Director, Department of Children and Family Services
SUBJECT
Title
Resolution Establishing the San Bernardino County Children and Family Services Welcome Center Governing Board, Adopting Governing Board Bylaws, and Rescinding Prior Approval of Agreement No. 24-1011 with the California Department of Social Services
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Adopt Resolution establishing the San Bernardino County Children and Family Services Welcome Center Governing Board to serve as the governing body and board of directors for the County-operated Children and Family Services Welcome Center, as required by the California Department of Social Services Transitional Shelter Care Facility Operating Standards.
2. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with County Counsel, to take administrative actions necessary to implement the Resolution, including approving non-substantive updates to Governing Board procedures or forms required for State licensing compliance and submitting related licensing documents, provided that such actions do not create additional fiscal obligations, materially change the composition or authority of the Welcome Center Governing Board, or require further approval by the Board of Supervisors.
3. Approve and adopt the Bylaws of the San Bernardino County Children and Family Services Welcome Center Governing Board, effective November 3, 2026, establishing the rules and procedures governing the composition, responsibilities, meetings, and administration of the Governing Board.
4. Rescind approval by the Board of Supervisors on October 22, 2024 (Item No. 15) of the provisional license Agreement No. 24-1011 with the California Department of Social Services, for the operation of the San Bernardino County Transitional Shelter Care Facility at Acres Lane, which was never executed by the California Department of Social Services.
(Presenter: Jeany Glasgow, Director, 658-1181)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The recommended Resolution establishes the San Bernardino County Children and Family Services Welcome Center (Welcome Center) Governing Board as required for State licensing and oversight purposes, and the recommended Bylaws establish the rules and procedures governing the Board's operation. Members will serve without additional compensation for service on the Governing Board, except as otherwise expressly authorized by the Board of Supervisors (Board) and applicable County policy.
Children and Family Services (CFS) will serve as the Liaison Agency and provide administrative and staff support, including meeting coordination, agenda and minute preparation and retention, licensing coordination, and recordkeeping. These activities will be absorbed within the existing CFS budget. Any future action resulting in additional costs or fiscal obligations will be brought to the Board for consideration, as necessary.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
CFS operates the Welcome Center, which provides short-term care and supervision for children in need of transitional shelter care. The Welcome Center is a County-operated facility subject to licensing and oversight by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Community Care Licensing Division.
The CDSS Transitional Shelter Care Facility Operating Standards, Chapter 12, section 84663, requires the licensee to be accountable for the general supervision of the licensed facility and for establishing policies concerning its operation. Section 84663 further requires a governing body to conduct the activities and affairs of the licensee and provide ultimate direction over the exercise of its powers, even when management responsibilities are delegated.
For a County-operated Transitional Shelter Care Facility, Section 84663(a)(3)(A) provides that the Board may serve as the board of directors of the facility or, at its election, may appoint no fewer than three individuals to serve as the board of directors. The recommended Resolution exercises this authority by establishing a five-member Welcome Center Governing Board to serve as the governing body and board of directors for the County-operated Welcome Center for purposes of applicable State licensing requirements.
The proposed Welcome Center Governing Board will consist of the following five members appointed by the Board by position or designation:
a. The Director of CFS;
b. An Assistant Director of CFS;
c. The Deputy Director of CFS responsible for Initial Response Operations and the Welcome Center;
d. A Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) leader designated by the Director of DBH; and
e. A Human Services (HS)/Administrative Services Division representative designated by the Assistant Executive Officer (AEO) responsible for HS.
Membership is established by position or designation rather than by individual name. Individuals serving in the three identified CFS positions, and those designated by the DBH Director and the AEO responsible for HS, will serve for so long as they hold the applicable position or designation, unless otherwise determined by the Board. Members will serve at the pleasure of the Board and in accordance with applicable State requirements, County policy, and the Resolution.
The Welcome Center Governing Board will provide governance, oversight, accountability, and direction over the operation of the Welcome Center. At a minimum, its duties will include establishing and approving facility policies and procedures; approving and monitoring the operating budget, subject to the Board’s appropriations and applicable County fiscal processes; assessing and maintaining the level of funds necessary for operations; reviewing and approving the Emergency Intervention Plan; employing or designating a qualified administrator, subject to the County’s standard employee approval process; documenting duties delegated to the administrator; reviewing facility operations and required reports, including reportable law enforcement contacts; conducting meetings at least quarterly; maintaining permanent meeting minutes; and ensuring required records are available to CDSS or the licensing agency for inspection, audit, and copying upon request.
The Resolution states that the Welcome Center will remain a County-operated facility and that the establishment of the Governing Board does not create a separate legal entity or transfer ownership or operation of the Welcome Center from San Bernardino County. The Board retains its legislative, fiscal, personnel, contracting, and policy authority under applicable law and County policy. The Governing Board may delegate day-to-day administration and management to the Welcome Center Administrator and appropriate CFS personnel; however, such delegation does not relieve the Governing Board of its responsibility for active oversight, licensing compliance, and accountability.
The Governing Board will meet no less frequently than quarterly and will conduct its meetings in accordance with applicable provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, County requirements, and the Bylaws approved by the Board. Each member will receive and review CDSS Publication 326, Facts You Need to Know, Group Home Board of Directors, and complete and sign Form LIC 9165, Board of Directors Statement, as required by applicable licensing requirements. Completed forms will be maintained and made available to CDSS in accordance with applicable requirements.
CFS will serve as the Liaison Agency to the Welcome Center Governing Board and will provide the administrative and staff support necessary for the Governing Board to perform its responsibilities, including coordinating meetings; preparing and retaining agendas and minutes; providing facility reports and licensing documents for review; coordinating with CDSS; and maintaining records required for licensing purposes. The Governing Board will conduct its affairs in accordance with applicable County policies, including County Policy 02-09. The recommended Bylaws establish the rules and procedures governing the Board's composition, officers, meetings, quorum and voting, records, responsibilities, and administrative support.
The second recommendation authorizes the County Executive Officer, in consultation with County Counsel, to take administrative actions necessary to implement the Resolution and maintain licensing compliance. This delegated authority is limited to administrative implementation matters, including non-substantive updates to Governing Board procedures or forms and submission of licensing-related documents. It does not authorize actions that create additional fiscal obligations, materially change the composition or authority of the Governing Board, or otherwise require further approval by the Board.
Separately, on October 22, 2024 (Item No. 15), the Board approved Agreement No. 24-1011 with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for the operation and provisional licensing of a CFS Transitional Shelter Care Facility, Acres Lane, separate from the Welcome Center. Following Board approval and execution, but prior to final execution by the State, an administrative oversight involving an incorrect attachment was identified, requiring an updated agreement. As a result, Agreement No. 24-1011 was never executed by CDSS and did not become effective. The Board subsequently approved the corrected Agreement No. 24-1311 on December 17, 2024 (Item No. 33). Accordingly, the fourth recommendation rescinds the Board’s prior approval of Agreement No. 24-1011 to formally close out the unexecuted agreement, consistent with standard Board procedures for agreements that are approved by the Board but not fully executed by the State.
Approval of this item will establish the Welcome Center Governing Board required for compliance with applicable State licensing standards, approve the Bylaws governing its operation, and rescind the prior approval of an unexecuted CDSS agreement related to a separate CFS Transitional Shelter Care Facility. These actions support continued governance, oversight, accountability, and State licensing compliance. The Resolution will become effective immediately upon adoption.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Daniella V. Hernandez, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 23, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (John Hallen, Principal Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on October 23, 2026.