Report 2013-110 Recommendation 39 Responses

Report 2013-110: Child Welfare Services: The County Child Welfare Services Agencies We Reviewed Must Provide Better Protection for Abused and Neglected Children (Release Date: April 2014)

Recommendation #39 To: Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services

To be able to review regularly more referrals and cases, the Butte County CWS agency should consider adding additional staff to its quality assurance function.

1-Year Agency Response

As part of the proposed budget for FY 2014/15, the Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services requested the addition of one Program Manager, one Administrative Analyst and two additional full time social worker positions to provide Quality Assurance (QA) functions, as part of the new Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Unit. The Administrative Analyst was hired in September 2014 and the Program Manager was hired in February 2015. This allowed Butte County to be selected as one of the five pilot counties for the new Children and Families Services Review (CFSR) process, which will be rolled out statewide in August 2015.

Due to new state requirements regarding the CFSR Review Process (implemented following the Audit), Butte County adjusted staffing requirements for the new CQI Unit. Two new QA Staff positions (supervisory level) were authorized by the Butte County Board of Supervisors on March 23, 2015, and the hiring process has been initiated. It is anticipated that full staffing for the CQI Unit will be in place by June 15, 2015.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

As part of the proposed budget for FY 2014/15, the Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services requested the addition of one Program Manager, one Administrative Analyst, and two additional full time equivalent (FTE) Social Worker positions.

This team, along with the existing Social Worker assigned to Quality Assurance, will comprise a new Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Unit. The FY 2014/15 Butte County budget was adopted in July 2014. The new Administrative Analyst position was hired in September 2014.

The remaining positions were approved, and the department is actively completing the hiring process. It is anticipated that the unit will be fully staffed by year end.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

As part of the proposed budget for FY 2014/15, the Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services has submitted a request to add one Program Manager, one Administrative Analyst, and two additional full time equivalent (FTE) Social Worker positions. This team, along with the existing Social Worker assigned to Quality Assurance, will comprise a new Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Unit. It is anticipated these positions will be hired in September 2014, following the adoption of the FY 2014/15 Butte County budget.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2013-110

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.