Committee backs sending ordinance to form task force on residential treatment for youth in foster care to full Board

The Rules Committee voted without objection to forward to the full Board an ordinance creating a San Francisco task force on residential treatment for youth in foster care.

The ordinance, described by the clerk as adding sections to the San Francisco Administrative Code to create the task force, drew public comment from providers and advocates who urged a coordinated, cross-departmental approach to placements and funding.

Nancy Rubin, CEO of Edgewood Center for Children and Families, thanked Supervisors Maxwell, Duffy and Daley and said the city has "not" yet solved the placement system, urging integration of the task force's work with the Department of Children, Youth and their Families and relevant advisory councils. Ms. Rubin said one-time funding decisions are insufficient without an overall coordinated departmental focus.

Rod Libby, CEO of Walden House, said his agency reopened a 30-bed adolescent residential program at the city's request but is again challenged by low census and financial losses, telling the committee, "We can't keep the program full" and urging attention to the system that feeds residential providers.

Emily Rogers, an aide to Supervisor Maxwell, said redline amendments to the ordinance are forthcoming; the committee directed the city attorney to prepare amendments pursuant to the submitted memo. The committee then moved the item to the full Board with the committee's recommendation as amended.

Next steps: the city attorney will prepare the redline amendments and the task force ordinance will appear on the full Board agenda as a committee report.