Agenda

Return

C. 44

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Date:	April 26, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Bringing Families Homes Program Allocation

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/26/2022

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:

Stan Hakes (925) 608- 4845

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: April 26, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, on behalf of the Children and Family Services Bureau, to accept a noncompetitive allocation in the amount of $1,079,500 from the California Department of Social Services for the Bringing Families Home (BFH) Program over two years from the date of grant award through June 30, 2024.

FISCAL IMPACT:

100% State Funding. County to receive up to $1,079,500 from the California Department of Social Services in Fiscal Years 2022-2024 to fund the BFH Program over a two-year period. (No required match).

BACKGROUND:

The Bringing Families Home (BFH) Program provides housing supports to families receiving child welfare services who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness or living in a situation that cannot accommodate the child or multiple children in the home. These housing supports increase family reunification and preventing foster care placement. The Budget Act of 2021 (Senate Bill 129, Chapter 69, Statutes of 2021) appropriated a total of $92.5 million in General Funds for BFH for Fiscal Year 2021, available for expenditure July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024. In February 2022, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) issued an All County Welfare Directors Letter announcing the FY 2021-2022 noncompetitive allocation for all fifty-eight (58) counties and one (1) continuing tribe in the amount of $82.875 million based on a local need methodology. Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) Children & Family Services (CFS) Bureau has been allocated $1,079,500.

Funds will be used to help eligible families receiving child welfare services to secure and maintain housing through BFH, including, but not limited to, Rapid Rehousing, Supportive Housing, Housing Navigation and Targeted Prevention Services. EHSD CFS will coordinate with Contra Costa County Health, Housing, and Homeless Services (H3) as the local Continuum of Care to help implement the program and collaborate with the greater homelessness response system and partners to link families to necessary services.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without funding, the County will face an increased number of children brought into foster care due to inadequate and/or lack of housing and homeless prevention services for biological families.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Funding resulting from this grant will support three of the five community outcomes established in the Children’s Report Card: 2) "Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood"; 3) “Families that are Economically Self Sufficient”; and 4) “Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing”. This is accomplished by providing safe housing and housing supports to assist families and their children.