Agenda

Return

C. 61

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Kathy Gallagher, Employment & Human Services Director
Date:	February 1, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

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

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/01/2022

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
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Noppol Keeratiyakul, (925) 608-4961
cc:	Laura Malone Laura Volante

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 1, 2022
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 $276,234 to a new payment limit of $1,185,957, to provide additional Emergency Child Care Bridge Program services for foster children, with no change to term July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This amendment will increase department expenditures by $276,234 for a total department expenditure of $1,185,957, funded by 86% State Capped Allocation and 14% Federal Title IV-E funding.

BACKGROUND:

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to child care continues to be a challenge for families. With the passage of Senate Bill 168 (chapter 261, Statutes of 2021), the State has authorized the payment for up to 16 paid non-operational days for COVID-19 pandemic related closures and for child care reimbursement based on the maximum certified hours of care rather than attendance (otherwise known as “hold harmless”) for children in the Emergency Child Care Bridge program for Foster Children effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The State has provided additional allocations to support SB 168 in addition to supporting additional child care slots for the Emergency Child Care Bridge program covering July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The contract terms and budget were renegotiated to support implementation of the additional funding and guidance for the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program through June 30, 2022.

The Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program) was established as a result of Senate Bill (SB) 89. The contractor provides Bridge Program services that include a six-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 purpose of this program is to increase the number of foster children successfully placed in home-based family care, increase capacity of child care programs to meet the needs of foster children in their care, and maximize funding to support the child care needs of eligible families, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Approval of the contract amendment will allow the Contractor and County to facilitate implementation of SB 168 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, 2022.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The County will not be in compliance with State requirements. In addition, availability of ideal placement of foster children with eligible families may be limited 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.