County of Humboldt*

Recommendations 2

• R1
  DHHS permanently disqualify caregivers who have committed fraud. DHHS establish a centralized system for cross-checking caregiver timecards. DHHS implement a written policy for ongoing case monitoring when the physical safety of the client is in question. DHHS establish a multi-disciplinary team to determine case closure when client safety is at issue. DHHS provide mandatory training for proper case documentation.
• R2
  DHHS adjust caseworker caseloads to provide adequate client support. DHHS implement a process of sharing case information with workers in other DHHS units/divisions. The Sheriff's Department develop a written policy and provide training for deputies to follow in mandated reporting of abuse and conducting welfare checks. Grand Jury Report # 2004-HS-02 HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S FOSTER CARE PROGRAM NEEDS HELP NOW EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This investigation of the Child Welfare Services (CWS) unit of the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was initiated by a physician's complaint about serious shortcomings in the county's foster care program. A four-year project to redesign the county's foster care program is underway. However, certain matters of serious concern affecting the county's foster care children must be addressed now. Personnel: CWS has a high turnover rate for caseworkers, which creates tension, stress and turmoil for foster children and their families as well as in the department. Caseworkers are not permitted overtime or flex scheduling to help manage their caseloads and, as a result, they resort to shortcuts to meet demands. Due to a shortage of caseworkers, caseloads are nearly double state guidelines. At the same time, in the past two years, there has been an increase in the number of supervisors, who never work directly with or even see the children or families. Supervisors who have no first-hand case knowledge often override caseworkers' decisions. In addition, communication between caseworkers and those in the supervisory chain of command is discouraged beyond the level one supervisor. Children/Families: The instability in CWS staff adds to the lack of security already felt by foster children. Their caseworkers, foster parents, and counselors are constantly changing, they frequently must change schools and doctors, and too often siblings are separated from one another. Little attention is paid to what is best for the child. Although the foster care program is mandated to encourage family reunification and family maintenance, current programs for improving parenting skills are ineffective. Foster Families: There is a serious shortage of licensed foster homes and recruitment of new foster parents is difficult. Testimony attributed this in large part to department policies and practices, which result in tension between the department and foster parents. Decisions affecting foster families are made at supervisory levels without meeting with the child, the biological parents, or the foster parents. Families are dealt with inconsistently from the time a case is opened through its investigation and court appearances. Services: Children in crisis need reliable, expert support and the best possible services. The support and services CWS provides to foster children fall short of this standard. Caseworker requests for expenditures have to go up the chain of command, and may take months for approval. A rotating contingent of interns at Humboldt County Mental Health provides services and may see a child only one hour per week. CWS sometimes refuses to authorize payment for court-ordered services and does not always follow medical doctors' opinions and recommendations for treatment, often citing cost as the reason. Dental care is difficult to obtain because few dentists accept MediCal. Court Proceedings: Frequent continuances of court hearings result from lack of preparation and absences by both attorneys and caseworkers. Delays in legal proceedings prevent timely resolution of important issues in the foster children's lives, frustrate and inconvenience the families involved, add to the caseworkers' workload, and overload the court's calendar. DHHS attributes many of the deficiencies in its CWS foster care program to lack of money for hiring more caseworkers, obtaining better medical, dental and counseling services from private practitioners, and providing training for caseworkers, supervisors, parents, and foster parents. The Grand Jury recommends that DHHS reduce caseloads, establish flexible hours, provide ready access to funds for caseworkers to use for clients' emergency needs, and provide regular, mandatory training for caseworkers and supervisors in conflict resolution and preparation for court appearances. The Grand Jury also recommends that DHHS make no critical supervisory decisions without meeting with the caseworkers, the children, and the parents and/or foster parents, and without reviewing all relevant information. The Grand Jury recommends that CWS staff make it a priority to place children with relatives of involvement in order to avoid the court taking jurisdiction. When court orders are made, CWS should seek modification rather than ignore them or assert cost as a justification for failing to comply. In addition, the Grand Jury recommends that DHHS improve relations with foster parents and work with child development specialists to design and implement new approaches to parent-child visits and parental training. Finally, the Grand Jury recommends that DHHS reallocate funds to better provide for foster children's physical and emotional needs. Grand Jury Reports # 2004-JL-01 through #2004-JL-10 HUMBOLDT COUNTY'S JAILS AND HOLDING FACILITIES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: