Contra Costa County Grand Jury
• 2010-2011
Compliance and Review Committee Report The Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury is impaneled annually to investigate
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 12 findings
F1
Page 14
In 2008·2009, there were approximately 1,100 foster care children served by CPS. Response: Respondent agrees with finding 2. In 2008·2009, 179 of the foster care children in CFS were being served by 157 trained CASA volunteers. Response: Respondent agrees with finding 3. Approximately 50 children are on a waiting list for a CASA volunteer assignment. Response: Respondent agrees with finding 4. In 2008-2009, of the 119 positions eliminated in CFS, 65 were social worker responsible for foster children. Response: Respondent agrees with finding 5. In the same year, CASA volunteers provided 20,477 case hours of advocacy services to foster care children of Contra Costa County. Response: Respondent agrees with finding 6. At least forty-six (46) new CASA volunteers must be recruited, selected and trained each year to maintain the current level of volunteer services. Response: Respondent is not aware of the CASA requirements and is unable to agree or disagree with findings.
F2
Page 1
In 2008·2009, 179 of the foster care children in CFS were being served by 157 trained CASA volunteers. Response: Respondent agrees with
F3
Page 1
Approximately 50 children are on a waiting list for a CASA volunteer assignment. Response: Respondent agrees with
F4
Page 1
In 2008-2009, of the 119 positions eliminated in CFS, 65 were social worker responsible for foster children. Response: Respondent agrees with
F5
Page 1
In the same year, CASA volunteers provided 20,477 case hours of advocacy services to foster care children of Contra Costa County. Response: Respondent agrees with
F6
Page 1
At least forty-six (46) new CASA volunteers must be recruited, selected and trained each year to maintain the current level of volunteer services. Response: Respondent is not aware of the CASA requirements and is unable to agree or disagree with findings. 7. The Fall 2009 CASA training cycle was eliminated due to budgetary constraints. Response: Respondent is not aware of the CASA training schedule and is unable to agree or disagree with findings. 8. In 2008-2009, approximately 70% of foster children in CPS assigned to a CASA volunteer were Latino or children of color. Response: Respondent agrees with
F7
Page 14
The Fall 2009 CASA training cycle was eliminated due to budgetary constraints. Response: Respondent is not aware of the CASA training schedule and is unable to agree or disagree with findings.
F8
Page 14
In 2008-2009, approximately 70% of foster children in CPS assigned to a CASA volunteer were Latino or children of color. Response: Respondent agrees with finding 9. Representatives of CPS and CASA staff expressed the need for more ethnically diverse volunteers since 80% of CASA volunteers are Caucasian. Response: Respondent is unable to agree or disagree with finding in that the respondent is not aware of what representatives have said. The respondent would say that CASA Volunteers should be ethnically and culturally diverse and reflect the population that they serve.
F9
Page 1
Representatives of CPS and CASA staff expressed the need for more ethnically Contra Costa County 2010-2011 Grand Jury Report No. 1101 Grand Jury reports are posted at http:///www-cc-courts.org/grandjury diverse volunteers since 80% of CASA volunteers are Caucasian. Response: Respondent is unable to agree or disagree with finding in that the respondent is not aware of what representatives have said. The respondent would say that CASA Volunteers should be ethnically and culturally diverse and reflect the population that they serve. 10. Of the foster care children served by CASA, 55% are from East and West County while only 16% of CASA volunteers were from East and West County. Response: Respondent is not aware of the parts of the county were CASA volunteers reside and is unable to agree or disagree with findings. 11. Representatives of CFS and CASA suggested that team effectiveness can be improved by addressing the differences in understanding or appreciation of their respective roles and responsibilities. Response: Respondent agrees with finding. Most working relationships are enhanced when representatives’ of different agencies have enhanced understanding of the role of their partners. The CASA program, CFS and other legal representatives meet on a bi-monthly basis. CFS staff volunteer their time to provide training to CASA staff when resources allow. Additionally CFS encourages their social workers to meet with CASA representatives regarding the children they represent. 12. CPS can be instrumental in supporting additional training of CASA volunteers in the areas of juvenile court procedures, dependency law and standards of care. Response: Respondent agrees with finding. There are many parties in the juvenile dependency arena. In addition to CFS, the Bench and Bench Officers are critical towards helping CASA staff in training.
F10
Page 15
Of the foster care children served by CASA, 55% are from East and West County while only 16% of CASA volunteers were from East and West County. Response: Respondent is not aware of the parts of the county were CASA volunteers reside and is unable to agree or disagree with findings.
F11
Page 15
Representatives of CFS and CASA suggested that team effectiveness can be improved by addressing the differences in understanding or appreciation of their respective roles and responsibilities. Response: Respondent agrees with finding. Most working relationships are enhanced when representatives’ of different agencies have enhanced understanding of the role of their partners. The CASA program, CFS and other legal representatives meet on a bi-monthly basis. CFS staff volunteer their time to provide training to CASA staff when resources allow. Additionally CFS encourages their social workers to meet with CASA representatives regarding the children they represent.
F12
Page 15
CPS can be instrumental in supporting additional training of CASA volunteers in the areas of juvenile court procedures, dependency law and standards of care. Response: Respondent agrees with finding. There are many parties in the juvenile dependency arena. In addition to CFS, the Bench and Bench Officers are critical towards helping CASA staff in training.
Recommendations 6
-
R1Page 2West County Detention Facility has an inoperable Central Communications Intercom System. Response: Partially disagrees. At the time of inspection the Central Communications Intercom System was outdated and inoperable. At the time of this report, the Central Communications Intercom System had been replaced and was fully functional. Recommendation: The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department shall repair or replace the system. Response: The central communications system was replaced. West County Detention facility currently has an upgraded, modern functioning central communications intercom system.
-
R2Page 3Marsh Creek Detention Facility has vocational programs to assist detainees with resocialization and transition upon release to productive community living. Response: Agrees
-
R3Page 3Chris Adams Girls’ Center was permanently closed effective September 30, 2009. Response: Agrees Recommendation: The Board of Supervisors shall direct a study to determine how female juvenile offenders in need of intensive therapeutic treatment can be served. Response: The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted. In response to the closure of the Chris Adams Girls’ Center, the Probation Department re- allocated its resources to provide intensive rehabilitative treatment to girls who are committed to Juvenile Hall. Conceptualized in November 2009, the Girls’ In Motion Program accepted its first girls in January 2010. Probation staff has received intensive gender-specific training, enabling it to provide programming including Girl’s Circle, Aggression Replacement Training, and Life Skills to girls, and collaborates with community partners to provide trauma-based treatment groups. Probation is also seeking grant funding to increase mental health support services to girls in the program. In addition, girls who are ordered into placement that do not require the structure of a secure program are placed in out-of-county residential homes.
-
R4Page 3Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Center demonstrated improvement from findings in last year’s Grand Jury Inspection Report Number 0905. However, CSA standards related to hygiene were not met. Showers and drains are in need of deep cleaning, mold removal and leak repair. Response: Disagrees. The facility has always met CSA standards. Mold has never been detected in any area of the facility. Due to the high volume of use, showers and drains in both dormitories are deep-cleaned on a regular basis and any leaks are immediately corrected by the County’s General Services Department. Recommendation: The Board of Supervisors shall direct that appropriate cleaning and repairs are implemented. Response: The recommendation has been implemented.
-
R5Page 4Finding: Richmond Police Department had an overflowing biohazard container. Response: Agrees Recommendation: The Richmond Police Department shall train responsible personnel in proper handling of biohazard material. Response: Richmond Police Department contracts with County Health services and expects that all contents will be removed or container replaced with a fresh one on each visit. Also the Department has invested in newer and larger bio hazard containers to better serve the officers and technicians. The new containers have been wall mounted and are very easy to lift to replace; the smaller units sat on desk tops.
-
R6Page 4Martinez Detention Facility, West County Detention Facility and Marsh Creek Detention Facilities provide meals that meet nutritional requirements for only $3.30 a day per inmate. Response: Agrees Recommendation: None
No Responses Found 3
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office
Contra Costa County Sheriff
Elected County Office
Richmond
City