9/5/2018 scgrandjury.org Mail - Board of Supervisors Response: These are Our Children: Responding to Youth Homelessness

The restrictive eligibility requirements of AB 12 exclude some former foster youth from obtaining services available through that legislation and can result in their becoming homeless. AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion X DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): We disagree. AB12 is designed as an opt-in program. Any youth who meets the sole requirement of being in foster placement on their 18th birthday will be automatically opted-in, unless they decline to participate. To maintain their ongoing eligibility in the program, youth are required to be on the path toward self-sufficiency by meeting one of the following participation criteria: 1. Enrolled in high school, or 2. Enrolled in post-secondary, or vocational education, or 3. Working a minimum of 80 hours per month, or 4. Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or to remove barriers to employment, or 5. Is incapable of participating in any activity described above due to a documented medical condition. Youth may provide verbal verification of participation in school or employment and are taken at their word. Verification of school or employment attendance, in the form of paycheck stubs or report cards, is not required. The participation criteria outlined in item #4 allows for a flexible, individualized approach to engaging youth who are not able to meet the education or employment participation requirements of the AB12 program. Examples of activities that have been used to meet the criteria are volunteering, meeting with an Independent Living Program (ILP) Coordinator, attending ILP workshops, or participating in a substance use disorder treatment program. To maximize the number of youth who opt-in to the program, social workers begin engaging youth in a discussion of the benefits of AB12 by the time they are 17.5 years old. The AB12 program is also reviewed in Child and Family Team meetings. Information about AB12 and instructions on how to maintain eligibility are provided to the youth verbally and in court reports. If a youth chooses to opt out, they are informed that they may call the Family & Children’s Services hotline, their former social worker, or their ILP coordinator any time prior to their 21st birthday to enter or re-enter the program. The lack of affordable housing in Santa Cruz County is a significant barrier for AB12 youth. Most youth in AB12 (about half) choose to live in Supervised Independent Living Placements (SILP), some with friends, parents, grandparents, relatives and other community members. Finding an affordable rental unit in Santa Cruz County is a Response required by September 17, 2018 These Are Our Children Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors challenge, and many AB12 youth have made the choice to relocate to other counties where housing is more available and affordable. To facilitate AB12 youth’s ability to secure affordable housing in Santa Cruz County, the Human Services Department partnered with the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz to submit an application to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for Family Unification Program (FUP) Vouchers. FUP Vouchers can provide housing assistance to eligible youth for up to 36 months, with possible extensions under certain circumstances. Should the proposal be funded, FUP Voucher recipients would also be provided case management services to help them maintain their housing and move towards self-sufficiency. Response required by September 17, 2018 These Are Our Children Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors

Turnover among Family and Children’s Services social workers disrupts the care of children in foster care, to their detriment. X AGREE (* with clarification) PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): The Board of Supervisors agrees that, in general, staff turnover is disruptive and impacts outcomes for children and families. turnover rates for the past several years, are consistent with child welfare social worker turnover across the Bay Area region. Family and Children’s Services (FCS) staff turnover rate has decreased in the past twenty-four months. Specific to the AB 12 population, social work staff does not frequently turn over. At times, staff may experience extended leaves for medical or family reasons and this can mean youth are seen by other social workers during this period. Therefore, from a client perspective, it can feel like staff turnover. Response required by September 17, 2018 These Are Our Children Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors

The location and limited hours of the lone drop-in center in Santa Cruz County restricts the access of homeless young adults to necessary services and available resources. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Response required by September 17, 2018 These Are Our Children Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors

Santa Cruz County lacks an effective means of identifying and locating homeless youth and unaccompanied minor children in order to connect them to available resources. X AGREE PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Response required by September 17, 2018 These Are Our Children Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors

The County has no emergency or long term shelter available to house homeless youth and unaccompanied minor children, placing them at risk in adult shelters and on the streets. X AGREE (* with clarification) PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion DISAGREE – explain why Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): For unaccompanied minors, the Human Services Department (HSD) Family and Children’s Services (FCS) has emergency foster care homes where they can be placed. However, as indicated in the report, these minors do not come to the attention of child welfare unless there is interaction with law enforcement or a mandated reporter. Response required by September 17, 2018 These Are Our Children Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors