Board approves First 5 contract for parent-focused services amid privacy concerns over minor records

The Board approved a contract with First 5 to fund parenting groups, developmental screening and referral services, and related supports that focus on parents while providing childcare during parent activities.

County staff explained the services funded under the contract: First 5 provides parenting groups with childcare, Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) developmental screening, linkage to primary-care or behavioral-health services for families in need, and a parenting-text messaging service. Staff said the data collected are aggregated for annual reports to First 5 and to the grant funder.

Several supervisors expressed concern about record retention and the role of parents when minors are involved. One supervisor asked how the program protects individual privacy and whether retained identifiers might follow a child into adulthood. County staff replied that the records are private, covered by HIPAA and 42 CFR protections, and that routine reporting to First 5 is aggregated rather than individually identifiable in the materials the county forwards.

A supervisor who sits on the commission said she would recuse herself from the vote. Other supervisors said an eight-month delay in contracting was a recurring issue and urged better contracting timeliness.

The motion to approve the First 5 contract passed on roll call after the recusal; votes recorded in the transcript indicated a majority approved with one supervisor recused and one dissent noted earlier in the consent discussion for related items. The board directed staff to keep improving contracting timelines and to ensure privacy protections and reporting are clarified in contract language.