Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Welfare Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves $200,000 extension for Social Policy Institute child-welfare review; SPI will present findings July 28
Summary
The board approved a consent-item extension of a contract with the Social Policy Institute (SPI) for an additional $200,000 (about $400,000 total across two years) to support an independent review and implementation phase for the Department of Human Services; SPI will present full recommendations to the board on July 28.
The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved, on the consent calendar July 14, an extension to the county’s contract with the Social Policy Institute (SPI) to continue an independent review of child-welfare services and to assist in implementation. DHS Director Lido Murillo told the board the extension is for another $200,000 and that the total value for the first and second years is about $400,000.
Murillo said SPI conducted a random review of various cases and that the team will return to the board July 28 with a full presentation of findings and recommendations. He emphasized the extension is intended to keep SPI involved through the implementation phase "to ensure that the recommendation and findings that they come out with are something that the department will implement to fidelity."
Supervisor Perez asked whether the SPI review affects an individual criminal case (the Mata case); Murillo and board members clarified that the SPI system-wide review is separate from any criminal prosecution and does not delay or replace work by the district attorney’s office.
Board action: Supervisor Couch moved approval on consent; the motion carried as part of the consent calendar. SPI’s next appearance before the board is scheduled for July 28 for a full report.
