2013-2014 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Report is the Receiving, Assessment and Intake Center a Safe Place for

Conclusions 10

• CL1 Page 10
  The existing security at the RAIC is not sufficient to keep the children safe at all times.
• CL2 Page 11
  Lighting and visibility in the parking lot is inadequate.
• CL3 Page 11
  The existing slats in the playground fence allow items to be passed through and permit people to observe the children.
• CL4 Page 11
  There is no procedure for the RAIC staff to inspect the playground prior to allowing the children to enter.
• CL5 Page 11
  There is not an updated, comprehensive ADA evacuation plan.
• CL6 Page 12
  RAIC counselors are not certified in CPR/First Aid/AED every two years.
• CL7 Page 12
  Non-counselor RAIC staff members are not trained in First Aid and fire extinguisher use.
• CL8 Page 12
  SSA does not regularly report RAIC safety and security issues during the Stakeholder Group meetings.
• CL9 Page 12
  SSA does not document discussions regarding RAIC safety and security issues in the minutes of the Stakeholder Group meetings.
• CL10 Page 9
  The Grand Jury believes that the safety and security of children who pass through the RAIC must be improved. Every child must feel protected until an alternative placement can be found. 17 May 16, 2013 minutes of the Children, Seniors and Families Committee of the Board of Supervisors 9 Extra security measures need to be taken because the RAIC is in a high crime area. Also, the multi-block-sized parcel that the Mediplex Building sits within is otherwise unoccupied nights and weekends, making the area dark and isolated. There is serious concern for the children’s safety because the RAIC is not a locked facility. When children run away from the facility, they place themselves in potentially dangerous situations. In the event of an emergency, the ADA evacuation plan for disabled children is inadequate. A physically disabled child, who is not able to climb the stairs to exit the building during a fire, should not be required to shelter-in-place in a hallway while awaiting rescue. By direction of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, the RAIC Stakeholder Group has developed a concept for a RAIC model which could completely eliminate the need for children to stay overnight. However, it will take years before the new model will be fully implemented. The Grand Jury would like to see this model implemented and a new facility opened as soon as possible before the three to five year timeline proposed by the Social Services Agency, Department of Family and Children’s Services.18 The RAIC Stakeholder Group should continue to focus on the current RAIC facility and closely monitor its safety and security along with other issues/problems that persist. Since children will likely occupy the current RAIC facility for the next three to five years, the Grand Jury concludes that the SSA and the RAIC Stakeholder Group need to recommit to improving the existing facility. Whether the RAIC is in its current temporary location for three to five days or three to five years, the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency has the responsibility to ensure that every vulnerable child taken into protective custody is safe and secure at all times. Findings and Recommendations Finding 1 The existing security at the RAIC is not sufficient to keep the children safe at all times. Recommendation 1 The County should increase the number of hours a deputy sheriff is onsite at the RAIC to 24/7. 18 Ibid 2 10 Finding 2 Lighting and visibility in the parking lot is inadequate. Recommendation 2a The County should increase parking lot lighting. Recommendation 2b The County should ensure that security camera sight lines are not compromised. Finding 3 The existing slats in the playground fence allow items to be passed through and permit people to observe the children. Recommendation 3 The County should procure and install privacy screens to cover the fencing. Finding 4 There is no procedure for the RAIC staff to inspect the playground prior to allowing the children to enter. Recommendation 4 The County should develop and implement a procedure that requires the RAIC staff to inspect the playground and remove any items/debris before the children enter. Finding 5 There is not an updated, comprehensive ADA evacuation plan. Recommendation 5a The County should develop a comprehensive ADA evacuation plan for the RAIC. Recommendation 5b The County should train RAIC staff in the implementation of the ADA evacuation plan. 11 Finding 6 RAIC counselors are not certified in CPR/First Aid/AED every two years. Recommendation 6 The County should ensure that RAIC counselors are certified in CPR/First Aid/AED every two years. Finding 7 Non-counselor RAIC staff members are not trained in First Aid and fire extinguisher use. Recommendation 7 The County should provide First Aid and fire extinguisher training to all non-counselor RAIC staff. Finding 8 SSA does not regularly report RAIC safety and security issues during the Stakeholder Group meetings. Recommendation 8 The County should require that RAIC safety and security issues be reported during every Stakeholder Group meeting. Finding 9 SSA does not document discussions regarding RAIC safety and security issues in the minutes of the Stakeholder Group meetings. Recommendation 9 The County should require that RAIC safety and security issues be included in the minutes of the Stakeholder Group meetings. 12 Appendix A Documents Reviewed “The Building Assessment for 725 E. Santa Clara Street Mediplex,” Santa Clara County Facilities and Fleet Department prepared by Joseph Chow & Associates, Inc., September 25, 2013 California Community Care Licensing Division Regulations, Title 22, Division 12 “Children’s Shelter: Santa Clara County Needs to Close Inadequate Intake Center” article published in the Mercury News, April 30, 2013, by Judge Patrick Tondreau and Ray Blockie Children, Seniors and Families Committee of the Board of Supervisors meeting minutes, May 16, 2013 “County of Santa Clara Declares Children’s Shelter Property Surplus,” County of Santa Clara Office of Public Affairs, May 10, 2011 Crime Statistics reported by the San Jose Police Department and the Santa Clara County Sheriff at www.crimereports.com “Interagency Collaboration Committee Report of the Santa Clara County Receiving, Assessment and Intake Center, February 13 and 18, 2013”, tour report prepared by the Child Abuse Council of Santa Clara County Letter to the Board of Supervisors from the Child Abuse Council of Santa Clara Count dated June 7, 2013, “Receiving, Assessment and Intake Center” Management Audit of the Department of Family and Children’s Services, October 10, 2013, Harvey M. Rose Associates, LLC RAIC Stakeholder Group agendas, handouts and minutes from meetings held on July 9, 2013, August 12, 2013, September 9, 2013, October 8, 2013, November 5, 2013, December 10, 2013, and January 7, 2014 Report to the Children, Seniors and Families Committee of the Board of Supervisors from Social Services Agency Director, “Child Welfare Quarterly Report”, April 16, 2013 Report to the Children, Seniors and Families Committee of the Board of Supervisors from Social Services Agency Director on August 15, 2013, “Receiving, Assessment and Intake Center” Report to the Children, Seniors and Families Committee of the Board of Supervisors from Social Services Agency Director on October 10, 2013, “Public Safety Issues at the Receiving, Assessment and Intake Center Facility” 13 Report to the Children, Seniors and Families Committee of the Board of Supervisors from Social Services Agency Director on December 12, 2013, “Progress Report on the Implementation of the Harvey Rose Management Audit of DFCS” Report to the Children, Seniors and Families Committee of the Board of Supervisors from Social Services Agency Director on January 9, 2014, “Stakeholder and Planning Process Update” including the “RAIC Emergency Placement Model Strategic Plan” Santa Clara County Amendment to Service Agreement with Professional Security Consultants, December 18, 2012 Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Report 68193, regarding playground design and construction costs at the Receiving, Assessment, and Intake Center, approved September 10, 2013 Santa Clara County “Children’s Counselor” job description, Class Code X31, revision date March 10, 1998 Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services Receiving, Assessment, Intake Center (RAIC) Workgroup Meeting 3 Minutes, October 15, 2013 Santa Clara County Facility and Fleet Department work orders for the Receiving, Assessment and Intake Center, January 1, 2013 through August 22, 2013 Santa Clara County Facilities & Fleet Department response to the August 7, 2013 “Current Fire Marshall Report: Status for RAIC” “Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Commission Receiving Center Site Visit Report”, January 2013 “Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Commission Receiving Center Site Report Update”, March 2013 Santa Clara County Receiving Center Monthly Statistical Summary, March 2014 Santa Clara County Social Services Agency “RAIC Emergency Plan” November 2012 Silicon Valley Children's Fund Post on the Office of Public Affairs website on May 10, 2011 Social Services Agency Department of Family and Children’s Services Online Policies and Procedures, Handbook 1: Intake, 1-10 Assessment of Intake Center: Staffing and Functions, http://www.sccgov.org/ssa/opp2/01_intake/1-10.html Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC), §308(a), 1-11, Receiving Center Welfare and Institution Code §10850, Division 19 Confidentiality of Information, Chapter 19-000, Confidentiality of Records 14

No Responses Found 1

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