Agenda

Return

C. 73

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Date:	April 4, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract with Social Service Staffing & Recruiting, Inc. for Temporary Social Workers

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/04/2023

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

ABSENT:

Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

V. Kaplan, (925) 608-5052

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 4, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract with Social Service Staffing & Recruiting, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $725,000 to provide qualified temporary social workers for clients of the Children and Family Services Bureau, for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This contract will increase expenditures by $725,000 funded as Administrative Overhead with 6% County revenue, 35% State revenue and 59% Federal revenue.

BACKGROUND:

Children and Family Services (CFS) has experienced difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified social workers. Currently, there are approximately thirty (30) vacancies in addition to staff on LOA, FMLA and COVID related absences, resulting in a higher than optimal caseload. Recruitment efforts through Human Resources have produced candidates but not adequate numbers to fill all vacancies. Even when new Social Workers are recruited, they require extensive training to be ready to assume a caseload.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Social Service Staffing & Recruiting, Inc. ensures a ready source of temporary, fully qualified social workers to immediately address this situation and ensure child safety. Additionally, social workers obtained through this contractor may become interested in permanent County positions and apply for current vacancies, which would support the Department’s efforts to fill permanent positions with qualified and well-trained applicants familiar with CFS programs, clients and procedures.

Previous contracts and amendments for these services with the contractor have been authorized by the Board of Supervisors on May 24, 2022 (C.48) for FY22/23 (amendment), January 18, 2022 (C.56) for FY22/23 (amendment), and on June 8, 2021 (C.79) for FY21/22.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Qualified social workers will not serve clients in CFS programs efficiently due to the higher than optimal caseload.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

The services provided under this contract support all five of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes: (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 ensuring children and families in CFS programs are working with qualified staff on a consistent basis.