[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6693387,"mediaKeyId","2220327-2c9261b9f2dc78d41767470637c62ae9","parentId",2220327,"title","County social services outlines system improvement and corrective-action steps for child welfare","audioSeconds",4935,"startMs",3743000,"endMs",8678000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220327-2c9261b9f2dc78d41767470637c62ae9&start=3743&end=8678","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220327-2c9261b9f2dc78d41767470637c62ae9/thumbnail_3743000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6693387/Santa-Clara-County/California/County-social-services-outlines-system-improvement-and-corrective-action-steps-for-child-welfare","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6693387-4621f480d1daca962136474683334b27/orig.mp4?Expires=1776577092&Signature=LET2123ySj95tuncSJ5XR-PWm0Jy6j4DkXMlvPN5CT3Ebjnt15OZnHDIaJb6SC6J6AevnZSGNbLtu~t4P8YoV1n3uT-KUlMYtCfygSYNJS-qGWRn-CZh92irigFBVZw2EyGpP4~J4D8erPv-AMrCclVP1ahY2Arwtvo8K-Zp5SzU~mbUf0a9ORUhc0UBVK1XAhOL~XeRe6yCXJb-eYad91P3v4vUK397VAdS2LugGo0yLOHlHWCzIiQhCXO~u57TEDNQDd3x04eK0l4DV4mtP5-MfGheQvaruZbi76gz0ck30Bo6gg6ZdOU5k22gYIMmUC9tDBSMwoVPwL9VLhLxNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Santa Clara County","date","2025-02-05T00:06:53.303Z","article","Santa Clara County\u0000Deputy Director Sarah Duffy and acting Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) Director Wendy Kinnear Rausch presented a year-in-review and an updated System Improvement Plan (SIP) and Corrective Action Plan (CAP) on Feb. 4, noting progress on safety assessments and outlining next steps for quality assurance and workforce development.

The board unanimously received the report and approved a package of additions and reporting directions to tighten safety-plan monitoring, expand training and strengthen community engagement around child-welfare work.

DFCS framed the update around three strategic pillars: safeguarding children, workforce empowerment and partnership building. The department told the board it has improved some statutorily required timeliness measures (DFCS reported safety-assessment completion near 98% in recent reporting) and has increased use of child-and-family team meetings; staff said 2,066 such teams met in 2024 and 59% of meetings were attended by families\u0000or natural supports.

Agency leaders said challenges remain. DFCS managers reported an increase in involuntary and court-related cases and higher family reunification caseloads. Navigating those demands while raising quality of home visits and safety plans motivated a set of CAP-driven actions the department described: mandatory training on structured decision-making (SDM) tools, supervisor coaching on safety-plan content, monthly managerial reviews of active safety plans and a rollout of a safety-review tool for continuous quality-improvement audits.

Naveen Sanghwan, manager of the systems improvement bureau, explained the statutory basis for the SIP work: AB 636 (the California Child Welfare System Improvement and Accountability Act) and the related five-year review process. DFCS said the county\u0000self-assessment was approved in 2023, the SIP implementation chart was informally approved by the state in November 2024, and stakeholder outreach is ongoing.

Board members pressed for more disaggregated performance data and operational detail. Vice President Arenas led a lengthy line of questioning asking how the county will ensure timely monthly visits are done in residents\u0000homes and how safety-plan quality (not just presence) will be audited. Arenas and other supervisors asked staff to: 1) provide SIP measures broken down by age and race; 2) include targeted action steps to prioritize behavioral-health and substance-use treatment for caregivers with court timelines; 3) add external coaching for DFCS leadership; and 4) use the county\u0000child-welfare roundtable to surface implementation challenges.

DFCS agreed to revise the SIP work plan to reflect those directions and to return with more detailed reports: an off-agenda background on grant alignment and a plan for layered monitoring of active safety plans. The board also asked DFCS to expand reporting on differential response outcomes and to map DFCS referral categories against SIP goals.

The board voted unanimously to accept the report with the amendments. Supervisors asked for routine progress updates to the County\u0000Services and Finance Committee and annual progress reports to the full Board of Supervisors.

Moving forward, DFCS said it will continue targeted SDM coaching for supervisors, expand training on safety planning and family engagement, deploy evidence-based tools to improve father and caregiver engagement, and stand up random supervisory audits of safety-plan content to evaluate effectiveness.

Ending: The department will return with the revised SIP/CAP materials and additional disaggregated metrics as directed by the board; supervisors signaled they intend to follow the implementation in subsequent quarterly updates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors February 4, 2025 9:30 am","oneSentenceSummary","The County\u0000Social Services Agency and Department of Family and Children\u0000Services presented a multi-year system improvement plan and corrective action updates. The Board accepted the report and directed additional staff follow-ups, training and monitoring to strengthen safety planning, parent engagement and workforce supports.","taxTitle","Santa Clara County, California","taxId",2855,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6693373,"Board orders targeted changes, outreach after review of 40 county boards and commissions",576,9202000,9778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220327-2c9261b9f2dc78d41767470637c62ae9&start=9202&end=9778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220327-2c9261b9f2dc78d41767470637c62ae9/thumbnail_9202000.jpg","/articles/6693373/Santa-Clara-County/California/Board-orders-targeted-changes-outreach-after-review-of-40-county-boards-and-commissions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6693373-4e8f003cf1796b6067b9baf8f0ce8d84/orig.mp4?Expires=1776577092&Signature=XGghIdxzeQoH3~OK-iTBLhjwKTY8pjbN-NKEdr~ubfQFrvMe7iRv5ee9prhPB1o6eUAzw7OrHqnHXYC4M9rseAq6m~Dbbb52MieZQxzAq38TGeF8KWOs~rzk5fLm~ePhGp~1H3aR-Yx-c~kyifgXRBta1qsxQ2knQ3903jvQZGBu0Y1bCNp35o9Vqczrczh51En7HYJiOiedEYgMm83oDO~j-PQsjkBo0qI2NTuHPMTOzX5PrpvH~hv0vWDep~YjTFqGnyuULI3QztV3beUR-ATEXmqxq8q0O7dPsl95DWGTQSvc8KvoUfJD~MrzRsmeWi-MQymda7tQrOKniqiWaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clerk of the Board and County Counsel presented a comprehensive review of county boards and commissions on Feb. 4. The Finance and Government Operations Committee had requested the review, which examined meeting frequency, quorum issues and statutory requirements for more than 40 bodies.

After public comment from multiple commissioners and a number of community stakeholders, the Board voted unanimously to receive the report and direct administrative follow-up. The board\u0000action packages included: 1) direction to administrative staff to sunset 10 of the county\u0000appointed advisory bodies recommended by the Clerk\u0000of\u0000the\u0000Board review; 2) removal of proposed sunsetting for several bodies (including the Development Review Board, the Domestic Violence Council, and the Race and Health Disparities Community Board) and instead ask staff to report with options for reconfiguration or improved support; 3) direction for Clerk and County Counsel to conduct outreach to commissioners and affected departments; and 4) an omnibus review of bylaws and ordinance-code language to remove outdated references and standardize procedures.

Public commenters included current commissioners who urged the board not to remove specialized advisory bodies and emphasized the difficulty of reaching quorum when vacancies exist. The DA\u0000office and community advocates also urged retention or reconfiguration for key public-safety and equity-focused groups; speakers cited recent programmatic work and cross-border delegations as evidence of continued value.

Board members said the review was intended to increase transparency, reduce redundancy and make it easier for appointed bodies to function (for example, by proposing bylaw changes so quorum is based on filled seats rather than all seats). The Board asked administration to prepare ordinance and bylaw amendments where necessary and to propose a standard process to evaluate the effectiveness of appointed bodies and to handle chronic absenteeism.

Ending: The Board accepted the review and directed staff to implement the follow-up package, including outreach, bylaw/ordinance cleanup and targeted reconfiguration rather than blanket sunsetting for several specialist commissions; supervisors asked staff to return with ordinance amendments and an evaluation proposal.","Following a clerk-led review, the Board received a report and approved a package of actions: sunset of some advisory bodies, further evaluation or reconfiguration of others, outreach to commissioners and an omnibus review of bylaws to standardize procedures.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6693378,"Board orders competitive solicitation for management-audit services; approves short extension of current contract",1010,19800000,20810000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220327-2c9261b9f2dc78d41767470637c62ae9&start=19800&end=20810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220327-2c9261b9f2dc78d41767470637c62ae9/thumbnail_19800000.jpg","/articles/6693378/Santa-Clara-County/California/Board-orders-competitive-solicitation-for-management-audit-services-approves-short-extension-of-current-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6693378-f1fc7e592c1950c5cc676924698fb105/orig.mp4?Expires=1776577092&Signature=bw3-345DSQYAIWFGtILKvsBiUGQ0WxmLFFs9qI-pj9FOAYwwLzDJUeCTRKKGA9i~a40BvJwa1YMts3ArMhZWG8tCxvY5VYUEUEyiJFfOd~ahFW0BSEHUfsCOFbz3LXGzN5AcBVJckA3Vaq5NvDdAdeXdleO99MvsKURt2bEMSKcQWhIKM~fF~6O9oaA3t0a2Pu3w1dhp4uLpVfOFu1Oxd3-1uMvYhs11T8wP~0msNJ0yT3yRZihXWDuwECYGpXpeZ5SCaFbLH~tGTOGIKzOd54Vq66UhNHEj~6JOHe2UNEckLw0g4Ct8Z~P7rJhfq-Wx2C3OjdHrP7ii3~0RBgNnmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Supervisors asked the Clerk of the Board and County Counsel to proceed with a competitive procurement for the Board\u0000management audit contract and approved a short, single-source extension to provide procurement runway.

Clerk Curtis Boone told the board that the existing contract with Harvey M. Rose Associates LLC expires in October 2025 and that the board previously authorized a longer single-source extension. Finance and Government Operations Committee members had asked administration to conduct a competitive solicitation instead. Supervisor Ellenberg moved that the Clerk negotiate a one-year extension with an additional-year option while the county completes an RFP process; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Board members emphasized transparency and best practices; several said periodic competitive solicitations are sound fiscal policy even when the incumbent provides satisfactory service. Staff said the procurement office and County Counsel would assist the Clerk\u0000of\u0000the\u0000Board to prepare a solicitation; county staff estimated that the RFP work will require coordination and that the one-year extension (plus the remaining months on the current contract) would give procurement the needed time to complete a fair competitive process.

Ending: The Clerk will negotiate a one-year extension with an additional-year option for the board's management-audit contract and the Clerk and County Counsel will coordinate an RFP for competitive procurement; the board requested status updates during the procurement process.","After discussion, the Board directed the Clerk of the Board to negotiate a one-year contract extension (with an option for an additional year) to allow time for a competitive RFP for the Board\u0000auditor/management-audit contract.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6693383,"Board directs $5 million referral, moves to create office to coordinate county violence-prevention efforts",4931,7419000,12350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220327-2c9261b9f2dc78d41767470637c62ae9&start=7419&end=12350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220327-2c9261b9f2dc78d41767470637c62ae9/thumbnail_7419000.jpg","/articles/6693383/Santa-Clara-County/California/Board-directs-5-million-referral-moves-to-create-office-to-coordinate-county-violence-prevention-efforts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6693383-5049aea32b94ac8ee2eea5ceac01376e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776577092&Signature=iy06fLhbZWlX7J3o1egFiyq84Wr88LcrPXh4J0l5uqCwKed~Cbxdxe5qEcrKdGJBblQH23baIGHKpGkXf48cF7BPVvT~xjFbXEBCu~IyrMy8bfdIvbbmXTuUgA6e1j1wFHsuaCzgy3gy4bdmfwmn1yUjSeX9N2hAswO777R0pnLZqSZOdrwP-RK0HA1rOlVNarhZG-wn71ESItRFV8em1LPn9~wc9WlACWZ1PF3q1mqe6SpHIvvqWmfUOpsDXMU0ikQT0SOhQofR7cFOtN5FCFOVEDzbkiEY9jfTv0lgEFznCVbS0EpocfdiW~Jq6j7eeloMmWCuuB6gmCwHTsPl6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Sarah Cody, County Health Officer and Director of the Public Health Department, presented a countywide Community Violence Prevention Strategic Plan on Feb. 4 that inventories existing county investment and recommends a coordinated public-health-led infrastructure.

The presentation summarized an interdepartmental review showing roughly $740 million in annual county investment across multiple departments, the majority financed from county general fund sources. The department reported that about 17% of current investments are in primary prevention (upstream efforts), while most funding is spent on secondary and tertiary responses (post-incident services). Public Health recommended building coordinated capacity: an Office of Violence Prevention, a flexible Community Violence Prevention Fund and a data-and-evaluation infrastructure to target limited resources toward most effective strategies.

Supervisor Ellenberg moved and the board unanimously approved a referral of $5,000,000 to the fiscal 2025-26 budget process to incubate a Community Violence Prevention Fund and directed the Chief Executive\u0000Office to return in six months (or upon establishment) with recommendations on which county department should house the new office, including the option of placing it in Public Health. The board emphasized the public-health framing and requested continued stakeholder engagement.

The board and the public also discussed coordination with cities (San Jose was cited as an active partner) and with local nonprofits; supervisors asked administration to seek partnerships that would leverage city and nonprofit investments and to plan for major upcoming events that could affect trafficking and vulnerability.

Separately, the board received a report on the South County Youth Task Force (SCYTF). Supervising Deputy District Attorney Adam Flores described existing collaborative work in South County, including a restorative-justice diversion program launched in late 2021 and supported by a grant that expires later in 2025. The DA\u0000office said the unit currently supports a regional diversion program and a community-outreach specialist assigned to SCYTF.

Supervisor Arenas moved that administration incorporate SCYTF implementation into the new Office of Violence Prevention, request two community-outreach specialists from existing departments (social services, probation or public health) to support South County prevention and intervention activities, and return with biannual and annual reports to Board committees. The board voted unanimously to approve that direction.

Board members repeatedly stressed two themes: 1) prioritize upstream public-health prevention while maintaining secondary and tertiary services for people already affected, and 2) coordinate county, city and nonprofit efforts to avoid duplication and to leverage limited resources. County leaders noted the uncertainty of federal and state funding streams and said the new office should be designed to evaluate program effectiveness and to guide investment decisions.

Ending: The Board referred $5 million to the fiscal 2025-26 budget process for a community violence prevention fund, directed the CEO to propose a home for the Office of Violence Prevention within six months, and directed administration to incorporate SCYTF functions and two outreach specialists into that structure; the board asked staff to return with detailed implementation and data plans.","Public health presented a countywide community violence prevention strategic plan and the Board referred a $5 million fund and the proposal to create an Office of Violence Prevention to the 2025-26 budget process; the board also approved integration of the South County Youth Task Force into the effort and directed staffing for community outreach.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County social services outlines system improvement and corrective-action steps for child welfare

Board orders targeted changes, outreach after review of 40 county boards and commissions

Board orders competitive solicitation for management-audit services; approves short extension of current contract

Board directs $5 million referral, moves to create office to coordinate county violence-prevention efforts