Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Dcfs Audit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County reports progress on DCFS audit: referrals down 57% and interagency steps underway
Summary
DCFS staff told the board that open referrals have fallen from a peak near 3,997 to about 1,497 (a ~57% reduction) and outlined steps taken on audit recommendations, new documentation templates, a family‑finding contract launching April 1, expanded interagency coordination (AB2083 MOU work) and an updated public dashboard.
Alameda County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and system partners gave the Board of Supervisors a status update on March 10 about progress addressing a 2024 audit and steps ahead of an on‑site California Department of Social Services review.
"In March '24, we've reduced that number by approximately 57% through active effort," DCFS staff said when reporting a decline in open referrals from a high near 3,997 to 1,497. The department said its oldest open referral dates to 2021 and that staffing, assignment practices and supervisory review remain priorities.
What staff told the board: presenters reviewed the audit timeline and a set of corrective actions and operational changes already implemented, including new documentation templates to track service referrals and monthly child visits; mandatory shadowing for new employees; an investigation narrative setup to reduce time spent on case notes; and a family‑finding contract scheduled to launch April 1. DCFS said it is in a meet‑and‑confer process with the supervisors’ union to standardize supervisory review practices.
Behavioral health partners described the interagency governance in place under AB2083 (an interagency coordinating council and an interagency leadership team) and said a shared assessment platform and referral pathways now allow multiple entry points into behavioral‑health services for youth involved with child welfare or justice systems. Behavioral health staff reported that nearly 96 percent of shared clients fall in the ages 13–17 band and that roughly 32 percent of shared clients receive services out of county; staff noted placements and kinship options remain areas of attention.
Data and transparency: DCFS staff showed an updated public dashboard with metrics on open referrals, timely investigations, staffing vacancies and outcomes for children in foster care (for example, sibling placements and medical/dental exam rates). Staff said most dashboard metrics are refreshed monthly, that they will upload materials to auditors on March 23, and that the March 23 packet will be circulated to the board (with required redactions).
Board questions and next steps: supervisors requested additional qualitative context alongside dashboard numbers (for example, stories or examples that illustrate improvements in reunification or sibling placements), asked for placement and capacity detail for high‑needs youth, and pressed staff about legislative barriers tied to Continuum of Care Reform placements. DCFS said it is pursuing legislative opportunities (including AB141846‑style proposals described in the packet) to strengthen relative‑placement preference and to expand treatment placement capacity.
Ending: DCFS and behavioral health staff committed to return with the March 23 audit upload materials, to continue dashboard improvements, and to work with interagency partners on data‑sharing MOUs and placements to reduce overstays and improve timeliness.
