Agenda

Return

C. 20

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Kathy Gallagher, Employment & Human Services Director
Date:	February 3, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Add Positions: Three (3) Social Service Program Assistant positions in Employment & Human Services Department

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/03/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Michelle Fregoso 925-313-1568
cc:	EHSD Human Resources Otilia Parra

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: February 3, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 21555 to add three (3) Social Services Program Assistant (X0SA) (represented) positions, and allocate 255 1384 ($4,254 - $5,171) in the Children and Families Services Bureau of the Employment and Human Services Department.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Upon approval of these positions will result increase Annual Salary by $287,050. This will also result in additional retirement cost by $102,850. These positions will be funded 45% Federal, 55% State Realignment Revenue. Approval of these positions will not increase NCC.

BACKGROUND:

Employment and Human Services Department/Children & Family Services has determined the need to add additional staff, in order to ensure the Department meets it’s legal obligation to assist and provide services to children, and their families, including foster care families. From 2009-2014 the case loads for Social Services Program Assistants, assigned to Children and Family Services has increased by 24%. The number of cases was a result of an increase in children entering foster care, and children remaining in foster care placements past their 18th birthday (AB12 laws). Probation cases in the last year increased by 51%, from 79 in 2013 to 120 in 2014. In addition, foster youth are now eligible for Medi-Cal up to the age 26. Social Services Program Assistants perform services such as determining eligibility and grant benefits for Foster Care and related benefits programs including KinGap, Adoption Assistance and ongoing MediCal for children transitioning home; all of which are Child Welfare mandated services required to meet the "reasonable efforts" findings in court hearings.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Not hiring these positions will continue to result increased work for the SSPA’s who are responsible for the initial determination and on-going management of cases. When the SSPA’s have high caseloads the department is at risk of not providing mandated services.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

These positions impact a child’s ability to receive services in a timely matter through foster care payments issued to the providers. The staff in these positions also manage the child’s Medi-Cal needs for therapeutic and medical interventions which affects the ability to maintain stable placements for our dependent children.