1. RFA PRESENTATION 3/21/2016 Bay Area Learning Academy County of San Luis Obispo

2. RFA Standards – what’s changed: Relative Approvals: Pre-approval training now required Stricter background clearance requirements Health screening assessment Permanency assessment Complaints now investigated by licensing staff Expanded Harris hearing rights Will now be approved to take all children, if they are willing, not just their relative children Permanency Assessment approves family for guardianship or adoption up front

3. RFA Standards - What’s changed continued: Licensed homes: Pre-approval training is now completed in a mixed group of relatives who have placement and traditional unmatched families Harris hearing rights for denials and rescissions Permanency Assessment means family is approved for guardianship or adoption up front

4. RFA Standards - What’s changed continued: Adoptive Homes: Home Studies no longer completed, replaced by Permanency Assessment Harris hearing rights added Some AD forms no longer used or have been replaced with RFA forms ( like the health screening)

5. RFA Requirements Background/Criminal Records Check Home and Grounds Inspection and approval Pre-approval training Health Screening – physical Physically and Mentally able to care for the child(ren) TB clearance DMV clearance References (3) CPR/1 st Aid Financial Ability Permanency Assessment Marriage and Divorce docs (not required for approval, but required for adoption)

6. FIRST STEPS Internal steering committee convened to develop an action plan and establish an implementation timeline. Kick off event held to introduce RFA and invite participation on subcommittees Subcommittees identified to focus on specific areas Lead person identified for each subcommittee. Developed SLO’s implementation plan Presented implementation plan to CDSS Obtained BOS approval and signature on MOU Developed needed forms, policies and procedures Staff training Implementation

7. Subcommittees Home Approval/Home Study Renewals Forms and Packets Database Complaint investigations PRIDE training

8. Home Approval/Home Study Subcommittee Created the Combined Comprehensive Permanency Assessment from existing home study models Created the Self Assessment form Worked with partner agencies to develop their role

9. Forms and Packets Subcommittee Reviewed all currently used forms and packets Identified which existing forms would be used, and recommended new RFA forms be developed such as:  Health Screening Assessment  Release of information  Pre-Service Training class agreement In all over 30 new forms were developed

10. Database Subcommittee Created database to: Track RFA applicants through the entire application process, as well as alert when renewals are due. Generate the RFA ID number which replaced the old license number House complaint information Database overview will follow later in the presentation

11. Pre-Service Training Reviewed curriculum to meet both relative and non relatives training needs Contracted with a health care professional to attend one of our training sessions to complete the health screening. (Now we contract with our County Health Department) Contracted with a certified phlebotomist to draw blood and submit samples for TB screening (one step blood draw instead of two step skin test with need to return for reading) Mobile Livescan unit is brought to one of the training sessions One session is dedicated to completing First Aid and CPR training Food and child care is provided Taught by a Social Worker with a Foster Parent as the co-facilitator In depth overview of our training will be provided later in this presentation

12. Alleviating the concern that we would lose relative placements Finding the middle ground between relative and adoption standards Helping staff navigate the challenge of changing how we approve homes Motivating caretakers who have a child placed with them on an emergency basis to complete all RFA requirements in a timely manner Staffing Length of time to when FFA can claim PAARP Expense Challenges of Implementation

13. Concern Reality Relatives would refuse to complete RFA process due to length and intensity Relatives would not pass heightened background check Relatives will be “screened out” Relatives have continually expressed how valuable they find the additional training and resources We have only denied a small handful of relatives for criminal background RFA provides an opportunity to identify potential concerns early and put supports in place where needed Alleviating the concern that we would lose relative placements

14. Concern Reality RFA “waters down” Adoption standards Relatives who would not have passed adoption home study previously are now being approved for RFA and therefore adoption RFA levels the field for all applicants creating one approval standard RFA provides tools to the Social Worker to do thoughtful concurrent planning up front alleviating the pain of moving a child after they’ve been with the caregiver and the caregiver can’t pass the adoption home study Finding the middle ground between relative and adoption standards

15. Concern Reality There are so many more moving pieces now, how will this work in practice? Families will be so overwhelmed with this new process Lots and lots of staff training, communication and discussion to develop understanding and new work processes Families new to our process will not know the “old” way, it is up to us to help them navigate and be successful Helping staff navigate the challenge of changing how we approve homes

16. Concern Reality We have just placed 1 or 2 or more children into this family’s home and their entire life has been turned upside down. We are asking a lot It is up to the County to be creative and flexible It is up to the County to create milestones to guide families and staff on how to gauge whether an approval process is moving along timely County does have to ask the tough question – Is this true resistance and not a good match or is there something we can do to support the caregiver Motivating caretakers who have a child placed with them on an emergency basis to complete all RFA requirements in a timely manner

17. Staffing Started with our original licensing unit ( staff of 4 full time and 1 half time Social Worker and 1 AA) Have now added 2 full time positions and 1 additional half time position for Social Workers and an additional full time AA Adoptions Unit workers have done some full RFA approvals – currently are helping with the psychosocial assessments

18. Expense Pre – service training costs have skyrocketed  Pre RFA we would train an average group size of 6 to 10 people, we now train an average of 25 to 30  Additional sessions had to be scheduled Paying all County funds for any expenses authorized before RFA is fully approved

19. Length of time to when FFA can claim PAARP FFA partners were doing permanency assessments for all families Families still have 18 to 24 months of reunification services before potential adoption We are a reunification agency first and foremost, so many families never reach adoption stage

20. Other words of wisdom Don’t forget to include Probation in your planning Ask early implementing Counties to share their policies and forms – no need to reinvent the wheel

21. Benefits of RFA Concurrent plans established with no concern that family won’t be able to pass the adoption home study Relative placements are being better assessed up front Relatives have stated they really like the training they receive Caregivers without placement receive pre-service training with relative caregivers Complaints on relative caregivers has decreased Long term placement stability is increasing A natural fit with QPI – healthy families and strong connections

22. Pre-Service sessions 5 Sessions – 3 full Saturdays from 8-4 and 2weeknights from 6-9 New session starts the first Saturday of each month and runs complete session 1 through 5 by the end of each month Applicants can start at any of the 5 sessions to provide maximum flexibility Use PRIDE as framework and have combined sessions and added interactive panels

23. Day One (8 hrs) Snapshots/Statistics RFA overview Concurrent Planning Acronyms RFA Orientation Meeting Foster Children’s needs TDM Overview Roles of Families Visits Understanding Allegations Confidentiality

24. Day Two ( 3 hrs) Human Development and Attachment Impact of Maltreatment and Trauma on a Child Developmental Challenges Reality of Loss Expected/Unexpected Losses Grieving Being a loss manager for the child

25. Day Three( 8hrs) Continuing Family Relationships Understanding the Permanency Plan Needs of Older youth LGBTQ Jail Panel Discipline Meaning of Behavior/De Escalating Crises Emotional Regulatory Therapy CYC/ILP youth Panel Getting Youth ready for Emancipation Placements Sexually Abused Children

26. Day Four (3 hrs) Live Scan Fingerprinting Health Screenings QPI Parent Partner CASA ILP

27. Day Five (8hrs) CPR/First Aid DSS Panel

28. Federally eligible relatives: EA Funds first 30 days, then County funds until approved. Federally eligible non relatives: EA funds up to one year, switched to Federal funds once RFA approved Non Federally eligible relatives: County funds until RFA is approved then switched to ARC funding. Non Federally eligible Non-Relatives: EA funding up to one year. RFA Funding – where we started

29. RFA Funding – Two years in Foster Care eligibility staff work with new relatives to put them on a CalWorks NNR case until approval NREFM placements paid through EA up to the NNR amount until approval Once RFA is completed, cases will switch to foster care funds. Clothing allowances issued using county funds on case by case basis.

30. RFA Process 1. Potential Resource Family is identified and agrees to complete the RFA process including the permanency assessment. Child may be placed on emergency basis, or child may be in alternative placement while family is being assessed 2. TDM is held for family to discuss who will go through full RFA process 3. During initial 30 days of placement, DSS gathers information, completes a background check and assesses the family’s potential suitability. Family will be enrolled in pre-approval training 4. At 30 days, the family is assigned to a Social Worker for completion of the Permanency Assessment, which includes a psychosocial evaluation

31. RFA Process con’t 1. As part of the permanency assessment, the assessing Social Worker will conduct home visits and interviews, and will submit a complete Permanency Assessment with their recommendation within 60 days 2. Licensing Unit SWS makes recommendation to Assistant Director for final determination and, if approved, issuance of RFA Certificate. 3. An RFA update will be done yearly.

32. RFA Roles: RFA approving SW Completes Home Environment Assessment Gathers verifications and documents, Completes criminal background checks Works with assessing SW to resolve any concerns Completes final written assessment Is ultimately responsible for approvals, denials and rescissions of RFA

33. Assessing Social Worker (may be same as RFA approving Social Worker or could be partner agency) : Completes their portion of the Psychosocial Assessment within 60 days of referral Completes required interviews (2 interviews required –individual meetings and one joint interview if more then one applicant Makes a recommendation about the family’s suitability for permanency

34. Referral to Assessing Social Worker Assessing worker receives: Application Self Assessment Combined Comprehensive Permanency assessment Health Screening Budget information Release of Information

35. Annual Updates Required for all RFA homes, including an update to the permanency assessment

36. Complaints All complaints that come in on RFA homes are investigated by DSS Licensing/RFA Social Workers DSS has the ability to rescind Resource Family Approval if needed

37. Appeals RFA Applicants can appeal denials by filing for a Fair Hearing (Harris Hearing) RFA homes whose approval is rescinded can appeal the rescission by filing a Fair Hearing DSS will provide information about filing for a Fair Hearing, and will be responsible for attending the Fair Hearing

38. RFA’s Dual Hearing Forums: OAH and SHD DGS Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) Administrative Procedures Act (APA), Government Code governs. CDSS State Hearings Division (SHD) WIC §10950 et seq. and CDSS Division 22 Regulations (“MPP”) govern. Note: RFA ACL to be issued by SHD detailing hearing procedures.

39. 2 RFA Hearing Forums: OAH and SHD How are they similar? Both are administrative hearing forums. Both provide state level hearings. Both are less formal than civil or criminal court. Both have Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) that preside over the hearings. Both hold their hearings “before the Department of Social Services.”

40. OAH SHD Has experience doing foster care licensing hearings. More technical evidentiary rules apply such as limitations on evidence, which is helpful to limit the length of complex hearings. APA provides rules for complex discovery, evidentiary issues/motions, expert witnesses, etc. Requires the filing of a formal pleading (Accusation or Statement of Issues). Has experience doing relative/NREFM (Harris) hearings. SHD’s rules of evidence allow more information to be viewed by ALJs. MPP does not currently provide rules for complex discovery or expert witnesses. No formal pleading is filed, rather a Statement of Position (SOP) is filed. This means county’s Notice of Action and SOP must meet certain legal sufficiency requirements. 2 Hearing Forums: OAH and SHD. How are they different?

41. How to know which forum - OAH or SHD? The general rule as to which forum is set forth in WD §11-06. A legal consult is required to assist the county in sending the case to the correct forum.

42. OAH SHD (1) Dual-license matters where the applicant, parent, or individual holds another type of license issued by the Department. (2) Rescissions or exclusion actions that are not based solely on criminal conduct or a conviction. (3) A temporary suspension order was issued as a result of an immediate and substantial risk to the health and safety of a child. (4) Exclusion actions. (1) Application denials. (2) Denial, rescission or exclusion actions based upon criminal conduct or a conviction. Which forum - OAH or SHD? The general rule as to which forum is set in WD §11-06.

43. County of San Luis Obispo Data Collection

44. Dashboard

53. Weekly pending assignment report

59. Permanency Assessment completed by specific agency

60. 1/1/2014-12/31/14 Total Applications received: 100 (update from 1/1/15-12/31/15 102 apps received) Total homes approved: 41 (25 matched, 16 unmatched) (2015 update through 12/31/15 – 54 (27 matched, 27 unmatched) ( 22 licenses issued for the comparable previous period of 1/1/12-6/30/12) Withdrawals: 61 (child returned home reason in 10 cases) Denials: 4(Criminal history) RFA Statistics

63. Questions?