REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 15, 2020
FROM
MARLENE HAGEN, Director, Children and Family Services
SUBJECT
Title v
Non-Financial Memorandum of Understanding between Children and Family Services, the Department of Behavioral Health, Probation Department, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, California Department of Rehabilitation, and Inland Regional Center, Inc., for Coordination of Services to Foster Care Children and Youth Experiencing Trauma
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve non-financial Memorandum of Understanding between Children and Family Services, the Department of Behavioral Health, Probation Department, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, California Department of Rehabilitation, and Inland Regional Center, Inc., to set forth the roles and responsibilities of each agency to ensure coordinated, timely, and trauma-informed services are provided to children and youth in foster care, for the period of September 16, 2020 through September 15, 2025.
(Presenter: Marlene Hagen, Director, 388-0242)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Children and Family Services (CFS), the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), Probation Department (Probation), San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS), California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), and Inland Regional Center, Inc. (IRC) is non-financial; therefore, it does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In September 2018, the California Governor approved Assembly Bill No. 2083 (AB 2083), which added Section 16521.6 to the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) with the intent to develop a coordinated, timely, and trauma-informed system-of-care approach for children and youth in foster care who have experienced trauma. CFS, DBH, Probation, SBCSS, DOR, and IRC developed the recommended MOU to fulfill this intent and the requirements of WIC Section 16521.6. The MOU delineates the roles and responsibilities of each party and enhances interagency collaboration and partnership by increasing coordination in the delivery of services to children and youth in foster care who have experienced trauma. This collaboration will help to ensure the provision of these services in an integrated, comprehensive, effective, and culturally responsive manner.
The recommended MOU fulfills the obligations under AB 2083 and WIC Section 16521.6 including, but not limited to: continued commitment to and implementation of an Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM); processes for screening, assessment, and entry to care; processes for child and family teaming and universal service planning; alignment and coordination of transportation and other foster youth services; information and data sharing agreements; staff recruitment, training, and coaching; financial resource management and cost sharing; dispute resolution; recruitment and management of resource families; and delivery of therapeutic foster care.
In July 2014, CFS, DBH, and Probation entered into a joint agreement to implement the requirements of the Katie A. Settlement Agreement that mandated the state mental health and child welfare agencies develop and implement a plan for providing mental health services to all dependents in the State of California. This agreement included the provision of services representative of an ICPM ensuring all children who became dependents received a full screening for mental health services and all services were conducted in a Child and Family Team manner.
An ICPM is an articulation of shared values, core components, and standards of practice expected from those serving California’s children, youth, and families. It sets out specific expectations of practice behaviors for staff as well as those who serve in supervisory and leadership roles in child welfare, juvenile probation, and behavioral health as they work together in integrated teams to assure effective service delivery for California’s children, youth, and families. Additionally, it promotes a set of values, principles, and practices meant to be shared by all who seek to support children, youth, and families.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Jennifer Mulhall-Daudel, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on August 11, 2020; County Counsel (Michael Markel, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 17, 2020; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0280) on August 18, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on August 18, 2020.