HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-21-2012 - 5i
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ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date:August 21, 2012
Action Agenda
Item No.5-i
SUBJECT: Acceptance of Grant Funds for the Orange County Community Response
Programand Extend Time-Limited Position
DEPARTMENT:PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N)
Social ServicesNo
ATTACHMENT(S):
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Coston,(919) 245-2802
Denise Shaffer, (919) 245-2246
PURPOSE:
To accept grant funds through the Orange County Partnership for Young Children
to implement the Orange County Community Response Program, and to extend a time-limited
position until June 30, 2015.
BACKGROUND:
The Orange County Community Response Program is a collaborative effort of
the Orange County Partnership for Young Children and Orange County Department of Social
Services.At the end of last fiscal year, the Orange County Partnership for Young Children
received this grant and began discussions concerning how to implement the program. Initially
both agencies believeda contractor could provide this service. After further discussions
regardingreferrals, child protective services confidentiality, liability, and integration of services, it
appeared more appropriate to utilize a social services staff member in this role. Although
available grant funds arenot sufficient to pay all the annual salary and benefitsof a staff
position, the Department of Social Services believes this will be a valuable resource for the child
welfare program.
This project seeks to address a gap in the continuum of child maltreatment services by reaching
out to families with children birth to five years who have been reported to and investigated or
received a family assessment by Orange County Child Protective Services, but whose cases
have been closed with findings of 1) no services needed, 2) services recommended, or 3)
unsubstantiated.
The ultimate goal of the Community Response Program is to actively engage the families in
increasing protective factors, leading to enhanced family functioning and betterdevelopmental
outcome for thechildren. Serviceswill be family-centered, with active implementation of the
Principles of Family Support. Assessment of child and family needs will be informed by the five
factors in the Protective Factor Framework. Through referrals and shared planning, the Orange
County Partnership for Young Children and the Department of Social Serviceswill actively
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collaborate with a range of local community services that encompass all five protective factors.
The Program will provideservices to 60 children (and 40 caregivers) in the first year.
The Orange County Department of Social Services currently has an unfunded, time-limited
position that can be extended through June 30, 2015 and reclassified to serve as the
Community Response Worker in this capacity.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Orange County Partnership for Young Children will reimburse the
County for the salary costs of theposition, up to $45,000annually.The annual cost for this
position with benefits will be approximately $60,000. Since this Program will only operate for ten
months this year, sufficient funds are available without additional County appropriation. The
Orange County Partnership for Young Children and the Department of Social Services will
develop a plan to address the additional costs for the position prior to next year’s budget.
Should the grant funds cease to be available, the Program wouldbe discontinued.
RECOMMENDATION(S):
The Manager recommends that the Board accept the funds from the
Orange CountyPartnership for Young Childrento implement the Orange County Community
Response Program and extend the time-limited position until June 30, 2015.