Report 2022-102 Recommendation 11 Responses

Report 2022-102: California Department of Public Health: It Has Missed Opportunities to Collect and Report Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data (Release Date: April 2023)

Recommendation #11 To: Public Health, Department of

To consistently collect accurate SOGI data, Public Health should develop and implement procedures to review and approve its branches' SOGI data collection processes, including a review of branches' reasons for not collecting SOGI data.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2024

- CHSI completed a second review of the forms identified during the CSA 2022-102 audit to evaluate potential updates. This review focused on incorporating the latest SOGI data collection recommendations from the SOGI workgroup and determining whether any statutory or other exemption applies. CHSI presented a summary of these to the Director's Office.

- CHSI will use the procedures to identify and interview all relevant programs for this review on an annual basis (see Attachment 6 - CHSI Response Support - Public Health Program Interview Questions.docx).

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

We look forward to reviewing Public Health's progress toward implementing our recommendation.

1-Year Agency Response

- CHSI is currently conducting an internal review of forms identified during the CSA 2022-102 audit. Results of this internal review will be shared with the CA Health and Human Services Committee.

- The SOGI workgroup is creating a standing subcommittee to review all data collection forms utilized and streamline data collection practices. This includes periodically reviewing whether forms are necessary for SOGI collection data, assessing SOGI data collection processes, and examining the program's reasons for not adhering to departmental standards once they are distributed.

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

We look forward to reviewing the Public Health's progress toward implementing our recommendation.

6-Month Agency Response

Public Health is considering a data collection/forms workgroup to review all data collection forms utilized and streamline data collection practices, including a periodic review whether forms are required to collect SOGI data, assessment of SOGI data collection processes, and review of program reasons for not collecting SOGI data in accordance with departmental standards, once those standards are distributed.

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

60-Day Agency Response

- Public Health is continuing to support the 2022 SOGI Workgroup on the data collection recommendations, which provide updated guidance on SOGI question wording and response options. These recommendations are with the Director's Office for review and approval.

- Planning is underway on reconvening the SOGI Workgroup to address SOGI data display standards. Issuance of data display standard recommendations will complete the goals of this workgroup.

- Of the seven forms identified as non-compliant in the audit report, further investigation has revealed that three of these forms were one-time use only and no longer relevant to the report. Two forms will be compliant by July 1, 2023 and the other form will be compliant by September 30, 2023. Public Health is in conversation with the program responsible for the one remaining form to develop a workplan to make the form compliant.

- Public Health will direct all centers to form data collection/forms workgroups to review all data collection forms utilized within the centers and streamline data collection practices, including a periodic review whether forms are required to collect SOGI data, assessment of SOGI data collection processes, and review of branches' reasons for not collecting SOGI data, in accordance with Departmental standards.

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

We look forward to reviewing Public Health's progress towards implementing this recommendation.

All Recommendations in 2022-102

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.