Title IV-E of the Social Security Act authorized the Foster Care and Adoption Assistance programs to provide federal matching funds to states for directly administering the programs. Its objectives were to improve the quality of care of children in foster care, reduce the number of children in foster care, return children to their homes as soon as conditions permit, and facilitate the adoption or permanent placement of children who cannot be returned to their homes. A single State agency is designed to claim Federal Title IV-E. In California, the agency is the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). The state designates implementation at the local level through the county’s Social Services Agency. In Contra Costa County that agency is Employment and Human Services (EHSD). In late 2013, the Federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) conducted site visits of two Probation departments in California. During their visits they determined that Probation did not have a clear understanding of which juveniles could properly be claimed under Title IV-E. As a result the DHHS froze funding to all Probation departments. At the time they froze funding to all Probation Departments while CDSS worked DHHS to ensure that Probation departments statewide received training to ensure compliance with Title IV-E. Funding for Probation statewide has now been lifted but Contra Costa Probation has seen Title IV-E revenue drop from $4.5 million annually to $424,000. On April 24, 2015 CDSS audited Contra Costa Probation’s Title IV-E claims. During this audit it was determined that Probation is properly claiming the correct juveniles but there was concern that Probation was under reporting the amount of time they are working with these youths. Justice Benefits, Inc. (JBI), founded in 1997, specializes in Federal Revenue Maximization for state and local entities. They are the national experts in Title IV-E claiming assistance for Probation departments and they contract with 30 Probation departments in California alone. Contra Costa Probation needs the assistance of JBI to determine how to accurately capture the amount of time deputies work with Title IV-E eligible youths.

Contra Costa County will no longer have the training and claiming expertise provided by Justice Benefits Incorporated, Ltd.

This action supports four 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 Safe, Stable and Nurturing"; and, 4) "Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families".