Memorandum
Date: July 23, 2024
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Rachael Dillman Parsons, Director, Social Services
Subject: Approve Contract between County of Lake and California Department of Social Services for Agency Adoption Services and Resource Family Approval Family Evaluations, in the amount of $1,218,968.00, and authorize the Chair to sign.
Executive Summary:
The Lake County Department of Social Services (LCDSS) currently has two separate contracts in place with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). One for the provision of Agency Adoption Services, and one for Resource Family Approval (RFA) Family Evaluations. CDSS is requesting that we merge these two contracts.
The RFA program is a unified, family friendly, and child-centered process that helps to provide more placement opportunities for foster children and reduces the likelihood they are placed in a group home. The family evaluations include interviews of applicants to assess their personal history, family dynamic, and a need for support or resources, and a risk assessment. CDSS is the only entity other than the County, that can perform Adoption Services which includes case management, assessments of children and prospective adoptive parents, completion of reporting requirements, medical and social background checks, the provision of relinquishment services for birth/legal guardians, and other related adoption services as needed. Both services are fully funded by the state/federal government, and do not require money from the County’s general fund for continued services.
CDSS’s role is essential for the continued functionality and success of these programs; contracting these services to CDSS has served Lake County well. This agreement combines both existing contracts into a single contract.
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Estimated Cost: $1,218,968.00 Amount Budgeted: $1,218,968.00 Additional Requested: _____ Future Annual Cost: ______
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Recommended Action: Approve Contract between County of Lake and California Department of Social Services for Agency Adoption Services and Resource Family Approval Family Evaluations, in the amount of $1,218,968.00, and authorize the Chair to sign.