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⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 17 findings
F1
Page 31
Many children experiencing homelessness are not identified as such, and therefore do not receive the support and benefits authorized by the McKinney-Vento Act.
F2
Page 31
The lack of mandatory McKinney-Vento Act training of school site office staff, counselors, and teachers contributes to a failure to identify children experiencing homelessness.
F3
Page 31
There is disparity in the application of McKinney-Vento regulations across Orange County public school districts which results in unequal access to educational benefits for children experiencing homelessness.
F4
Page 31
The majority of McKinney-Vento Liaisons are in full-time positions, but because their work includes multiple non-McKinney-Vento responsibilities, most do not have sufficient time to do the work required by the McKinney-Vento Act.
F5
Page 31
Many McKinney-Vento Liaisons lack needed experience due to a high turnover rate in those positions.
F6
Page 31
McKinney-Vento Act training is not mandatory for the majority of McKinney-Vento Liaisons.
F7
Page 31
Students experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in an elementary district often do not continue to receive McKinney-Vento benefits when they move to a high school district because the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prevents the sharing of this information between districts.
F8
Page 31
McKinney-Vento funds depend on school districts submitting grant proposals, but not all districts have employees trained in writing grant applications, resulting in missed funding opportunities.
F9
Page 31
School districts that do not apply for grants which fund programs benefitting children experiencing homelessness miss potential revenue opportunities.
F10
Page 31
McKinney-Vento is an unfunded federally mandated program; however, school districts which qualify and apply for Title I, Part A funds may obtain revenues that can be used The ABC’s of Educating Children Experiencing Homelessness in Orange County for children experiencing homelessness. These funds are insufficient to meet the needs of the school districts supporting children experiencing homelessness.
F11
Page 32
A lack of reliable transportation for children experiencing homelessness often results in chronic tardiness and absenteeism.
F12
Page 32
Chronic Absenteeism Rates of Homeless Students are disproportionately high in comparison with the Chronic Absenteeism Rates of All Students and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students.
F13
Page 32
Children experiencing homelessness in Orange County perform at a lower level on standardized tests and have a lower graduation rate than All Students and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students.
F14
Page 32
The percent of Homeless Students graduating who failed to meet state standards on English Language Arts and Math tests. is significantly higher than it is for All Students and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students.
F15
Page 32
There is a tendency by school districts to operate in isolation, which prevents productive collaboration on addressing the issue of children experiencing homelessness and the challenges of their education.
F16
Page 32
A significant lack of affordable permanent housing contributes to many families being caught in the cycle of homelessness.
F17
Page 129
The OC County Counsel’s office misstated to the Grand Jury the scope of its commitment to serving and assisting the Grand Jury in its investigations into County governance respecting managing conflicts between the Board of Supervisors, OC departments and agency clients, and the Grand Jury. I 2023 Gimme Shelter and a Pound of Advice
Recommendations 2
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R6Page 33By October 1, 2023, a joint task force should be formed by the OCDE comprised of a district-level administrator from each Orange County school district and leadership from non-profit organizations who serve homeless families, to address absenteeism, low test scores and low graduation rates of children experiencing homelessness. (F.11, F.12,
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R10Page 33The Orange County Superintendent of Schools should provide information from the School Accountability Report (SARC) to the Board of Supervisors identifying the number and describing the performance of children experiencing homelessness in Orange County public schools. This data should include the aggerate of students in each district who are experiencing homelessness, their chronic absenteeism rates, and the high school graduation rate and the percent who meet or exceed state standards in English and Math, starting October 31, 2023, and yearly thereafter. (F11, F12, F13,
Conclusions 16
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CL1 Page 127Internal and external communications at OCAC will improve.
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CL2 Page 127The reallocation of staffing positions within the organization, increasing the number of Animal Care Attendant positions and employing an animal behaviorist or trainer, will improve general animal welfare at the shelter.
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CL3 Page 127Improvements in the timely filling of staff vacancies will enhance shelter operations and overall staff morale.
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CL4 Page 127The adoption process will be more public-friendly, leading to more adoptions.
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CL5 Page 127The behavioral euthanasia decision process will be standardized, articulated, and documented, leading to consistent behavioral euthanasia outcomes.
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CL6 Page 127The shelter’s Policies and Procedures will be correct and up to date.
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CL7 Page 127OCAC and Orange County rescue organizations and animal advocates can work toward mending their relations for the welfare of the animals.
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CL8 Page 127The shelter’s TNR program will be re-evaluated, reconsidered and reinstated.
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CL9 Page 127The shelter’s volunteers will be more integrated into the shelter’s personnel team and communications. The Grand Jury conducted many interviews with shelter personnel. The Grand Jury is very impressed with their sense of dedication and earnest concern for the welfare of shelter animals. ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY 2022 I 2023 PAGE 30 OF 51
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CL10 Page 279Students feel safe to talk to each other and to staff
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CL11 Page 279There is a mutual trust and respect among students and school staff
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CL12 Page 279There is on-going dialogue and relationships with family and community members that interact with the school
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CL13 Page 279There is adequate support, training, and resources for school staff The Grand Jury strongly recommends that all Orange County public school districts work to provide mental health services to all schools in each district as an effective tool in helping to prevent potential active shooter incidents. “A cohesive and supportive school environment is key to preventing school shootings.” (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia-CVP)
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CL14 Page 319This report is meant to enhance public awareness, bringing to light the difficulty and complexity of human sex trafficking and the harms that this criminal enterprise inflicts on its victims in Orange County. Sex trafficking is a multidimensional crime of supply and demand that inflicts psychological and physical damage to vulnerable individuals. Through the efforts of the OCHTTF and its various partners in law enforcement, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, various nonprofits, and County agencies engaged in victim support, these recommendations, if implemented, will serve to enhance efforts to combat this serious crime.
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CL15 Page 354Orange County still faces significant challenges related to illicit fentanyl addiction, poisoning, and death. The availability of illicit fentanyl on the streets and through social media is described as overwhelming. Orange County will benefit by having a chartered fentanyl Task Force to develop, launch, monitor and fine-tune a county-wide plan to reduce the harm caused by illicit fentanyl and other opioids. Orange County needs leaders from all impacted agencies along with key non- government organizations and community leaders to work in unison to prevent fentanyl distribution and use from becoming a widening crisis. A task force could provide full support to law enforcement agencies who must continue to target drug dealers and distributors for prosecution; and work with legislators to adopt drug prevention legislation. The Grand Jury heard loud and clear that Orange County cannot law enforce its way out of this crisis. Expanding public awareness and practicing safeguards are the best preventive measures. Orange County needs influential voices within our communities and schools to highlight the dangers and risks of illicit fentanyl, opioid use, and addiction.
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CL16 Page 330RUSSIAN ROULETTE: FENTANYL IN ORANGE COUNTY
Commendations 7
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CM1 Page 319Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana Police Departments
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CM2 Page 313Orange County District Attorney’s Office
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CM3 Page 257Orange County Sheriff’s Department
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CM4 Page 30Jeanne Awrey, Coordinator of Student Programs and Services of the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE), and the Homeless Outreach Promoting Educational Success (HOPES) team, are consistently reported as providing excellent support for those Liaisons who seek assistance. The OCDE offers outstanding ongoing support to the McKinney-Vento Liaisons and school districts by providing one-on-one advice, legal guidance, training, and educational materials.
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CM5 Page 30The many non-profits in Orange County who are consistent in their support of families experiencing homelessness as reported by many of the McKinney-Vento Liaisons interviewed by the Grand Jury.
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CM6 Page 7The ABC’s of Educating Children Experiencing Homelessness in Orange County
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CM7 Page 173South Coast Water District is to be commended for its strategic foresight. The District has recently gained approval for the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project for which they initiated feasibility studies in 2008. The plant is now anticipated to be operational in 2028. The Doheny Ocean Desalination Project is a new, reliable, local, and drought- proof water supply. The Doheny Ocean Desalination Project is the first desalination project in the State of California to be fully compliant with the California Ocean Plan.18 Orange County Water District successfully manages the aquifer under Central and North Orange County for the benefit of multiple water suppliers. It has also built the Groundwater Recovery System (GWRS) to treat wastewater to potable levels for supplementing the aquifer. Recently, it expanded and commissioned the GWRS. The Orange County Grand Jury commends OCWD for its work. The water suppliers for Orange County have undertaking numerous initiatives to increase the resiliency of their water supplies. The Orange County Grand Jury commends these suppliers for their efforts and encourages them to continue pursuing expanded opportunities. The Orange County public has significantly reduced the per-capita water usage through conservation efforts. This is important to maximizing the water supply. The Orange County Grand Jury commends the public for these efforts. The Orange County Grand Jury commends the leadership of MWDOC and OCWD for their continued negotiations regarding merger. The Orange County Grand Jury commends the Southern California news media for their continued efforts in reporting on the critical nature of our water supply.