Report 2011-101.1 Recommendation 4 Responses

Report 2011-101.1: Child Welfare Services: California Can and Must Provide Better Protection and Support for Abused and Neglected Children (Release Date: October 2011)

Recommendation #4 To: Social Services, Department of

Social Services should create and monitor compliance with clear requirements specifying that children placed with foster family agencies must have elevated treatment needs that would require a group home placement if not for the existence of these agencies' programs. Specifically, Social Services should revise its regulations so licensed foster homes have higher priority than foster family agencies for children that do not have identified treatment needs.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From December 2017

The CDSS has issued Written Directives for the implementation of the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process. The Directives contain the written processes, standards, and requirements for the RFA program for FFAs. The Written Directives have the same force and effect as regulations and ensure that counties use the same standards. Attached is the link below to the FFA Directives which became effective June 9, 2017:

http://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/RFA%20Written%20Directives%20V4.1%20Final%205.9.17.pdf?ver=2017-05-09-102252-020

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken

After determining that the 100-page document referenced in the agency's response provides no indication that our recommendation was implemented, we followed up with Social Services to gain additional perspective. We were subsequently guided to an All County Letter issued January 31, 2017. The letter describes how rates for various types of placements have changed to a needs-based, level-of-care structure. However, rates paid to foster family agencies continue to be roughly double the rates of other foster homes, and include components for an additional social worker, social services and support, and administration that are not provided to children in the same level-of-care categories at other types of placements. Therefore, it is still unclear why foster family agencies receive a dramatically higher rate for children with similar needs to those placed with relatives or county-licensed foster homes, for example.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2016

County Foster Homes and foster family agency (FFA)-certified homes will be required to meet the same standards. Effective January 2017, all foster and certified homes, and relatives will be licensed as a Resource Family (RF).

All County Letter (ACL) 16-58 http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/lettersnotices/EntRes/getinfo/acl/2016/16-58.pdf outlines the standards which includes how an RF is entered into CWS/CMS. The need for preference to place in an FFA as a priority will no longer be applicable given the shift in direction of how foster homes, certified homes and relatives will be approved.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2015

CDSS continues its efforts to change state statutes and regulations, and to revise and establish a new foster family agency rate methodology to be implemented as part of Continuum of Care Reform (CCR). These ongoing reform efforts also will establish a process to make placement decisions based on the needs of a child or youth and not on the placement type. Moreover, CDSS continues its work with stakeholders, counties, and foster care providers to revise the rate structure, so that it is relevant and comprehensive and aligned with the requirements of CCR and Assembly Bill 403.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2014

Partially Corrected. The Administration agrees with this recommendation and is currently having discussions to address the issues in conjunction with Continuum of Care Reform efforts.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2013

Partially Implemented/Estimated Completion Date: October 2013. As part of the continuum of care effort, CDSS is tasked with recommending core service levels for group home and FFA providers that are integrated and support safety, permanency and well-being for children. Decisions to place children and youth into congregate care will center on a practice model and assessment of that child and family's strengths and needs. CDSS will also develop performance measures for providers to support improved outcomes for children in group homes and FFA settings.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2012

Although Social Services agrees that licensed foster homes are the preferred placement type for children who do not have identified treatment needs, Social Services indicated that it will continue to consider this recommendation in the context of congregate care reform. We continue to believe, as we state on page 90 of the audit report, that Social Services should expeditiously establish a requirement that county CWS agencies provide adequate justification for placements with foster family agencies and this action should not be dependent on the timeline of some larger reform effort.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2011-101.1

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.