Agenda

Return

C. 50

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Date:	January 10, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract Amendment with CocoKids, Inc. for the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 01/10/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

L. Pacheco (925) 608-4963

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: January 10, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with CocoKids, Inc., a non-profit corporation, to increase the payment limit by $459,999 from $763,741 to a new payment limit of $1,223,740, to provide Emergency Child Care Bridge Program services for foster children, with no change to the original term of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This amendment will increase department expenditures by $459,999 for a total department expenditure of $1,223,740, funded by 84% State Capped Allocation and 16% Federal Title IV-E funding, all of which is already budgeted in FY 2022-2023.

BACKGROUND:

The lack of access to child care for potential eligible families seeking to take in a foster child continues to be one of the top barriers to placing young foster children with families. The State has implemented additional provisions to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program), as follows, to increase child care opportunities and placement stability for foster youth placed in home-based care.

The implementation of provisions of Senate Bill (SB) 187 (Chapter 50, Statutes of 2022), added Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 11461.6(g)(2), pertaining to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program), which provides the ability to extend Bridge program child care payments or vouchers for eligible families beyond the current 12-month limit based on compelling reason determination and approval.

Pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 185 the Legislature has allocated funds to provide eligible state-subsidized child care providers supporting the Bridge Program up to sixteen (16) paid non-operational days for COVID-19 closures due to COVID-19 self-quarantine or self-isolation, when recommended by local public health department guidelines for use between September 27, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

As a result of the California State Budget Act of 2022, the State has provided additional funding allocations to support SB 187, AB 185, in addition to supporting additional child care slots for the Bridge Program covering July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

The Bridge Program was established in January 2018 as a result of Senate Bill (SB) 89. The contractor provides Bridge Program services that include a twelve-month payment (or voucher) for child care, as well as assistance from child care navigator(s) for eligible relative caregivers, eligible families or parenting youth in foster care. The contractor also provides trauma-informed care training and coaching to child care providers who care for children in foster care. The contract terms and budget were renegotiated with Contractor to support implementation of the new guidance and corresponding funding for the Bridge Program.

On May 24, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved a contract with CocoKids, Inc. for in an amount not to exceed $763,461, to provide Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024. The contract was executed with a payment limit of $763,741 as was intended by both EHSD and the contractor.

Approval of the contract amendment will allow the Contractor and County to facilitate implementation of new legislature as required by the State for the Bridge Program and continue to provide critical emergency child care services to foster youth and their eligible families through June 30, 2024.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The County will not be in compliance with State requirements. In addition, availability of placement for foster children with eligible families may be limited due to lack of access to child care and State/Federal funding will be lost.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

This contract supports all five of the community outcomes established in the Children's Report Card: 1) "Children Ready for and Succeeding in School"; 2) "Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood"; 3) "Families that are Economically Self Sufficient"; 4) "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing"; and 5) "Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families" by providing safe housing and support to assist youth in foster care.