Compliance and Continuity

R1

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Will not be Response provides an explanation Grand Jury recommends that the implemented. for not implementing the Humboldt County Department of recommendation and is penal code Health and Human Services compliant. However, copies of the (DHHS) develop and maintain a new internal procedures and the “timeliness” metric for measuring call-tracking software manuals their response time once a would be needed to assess the suspected child abuse/neglect event effectiveness of the process. has been reported and until the caller is notified of receipt of report.

R2

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Will not be Response provides an explanation Grand Jury recommends that the implemented. for not implementing the Humboldt County Department of recommendation and is penal code Health and Human Services add the compliant. However, DHHS has timeliness metric discussed in R1 not provided a method to evaluate into its Child Welfare Services’ and verify the effectiveness of its System Improvement Plan 2012- proposed process. 2017, and monitor the metric to ensure an acceptable level of timeliness. 5 2016-2017 COMPLIANCE AND CONTINUITY REPORT Child Welfare in Humboldt: Getting the Door Open Recommendations from Respon- P.C. County 2017/18 Grand Jury 2016/17 Civil Grand Jury dent Com- Responses Analysis pliant

R3

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Will not be Response provides a credible Grand Jury recommends that the implemented. explanation for not implementing Humboldt County Department of the recommendation and is penal Health and Human Services code compliant. (DHHS) develop a “community performance” metric that measures how Mandated Reporters judge DHHS as successfully supporting the safety of our children.

R4

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Will not be Response provides a credible Grand Jury recommends that the implemented. explanation for not implementing Humboldt County Department of the recommendation and is penal Health and Human Services add the code compliant. community performance metric discussed in R3 into its Child Welfare Services’ System Improvement Plan 2012-2017, and monitor the performance over time.

R5

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Has not been Response provides a timeframe for Grand Jury recommends that the implemented, implementation and is penal code Department of Health and Human but will be compliant. Entity indicated Services update its Intake Policies implemented in implementation would be and Procedures to reflect the the near future. completed by December 2017; changes reported to us during our however, copies of these materials February discussion. would be needed in order to assess completion.

R6

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Is being Response summary clearly outlines Grand Jury recommends that Child implemented. how the recommendation has been Welfare Services closely assess the implemented and is penal code qualifications and training of staff compliant. dealing with intake calls, as well as providing the proper supervision to ensure competency. 6 2016-2017 COMPLIANCE AND CONTINUITY REPORT 2. Responding in Time to Help Our ‘At Risk’ Children In this investigation, the HCCGJ focused on the Mandated Report process and procedure for reporting alleged emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of the county’s young children, and found that “many children in the county are living with serious issues of abuse and neglect.” It specifically addressed the three agencies most involved in the Mandated Report process: School Districts, Law Enforcement, and Child Welfare Services. The HCCGJ found problem areas within each agency as well as in how the agencies work together to handle the issues of ‘at risk’ children. The report was issued on May 26, 2017, with responses required and received as follows: • Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (R5, R11): due on August 26, 2017; received on August 15, 2017. • Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) (R1): due on July 26, 2017; received on July 18, 2017. • Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) (R2, R3, R4): due on July 26, 2017; received on July 21, 2017. • Child Welfare Services (CWS) (R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11): due on August 26, 2017; received on August 15, 2017. The complete responses submitted for this report appear in Appendix B on . Responding in Time to Help Our ‘At Risk’ Children Recommendations from Respon- P.C. County 2017/18 Grand Jury 2016/17 Civil Grand Jury dent Com- Responses Analysis pliant

R7

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Has been Response summary clearly outlines Grand Jury recommends that Child and implemented. how the recommendation has been Welfare Services take immediate CWS implemented and is penal code steps to fill the many vacancies in compliant. their Department.

R8

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Will not be Response provides a credible Grand Jury recommends that Child and implemented. explanation for not implementing Welfare Services work closely with CWS the recommendation; therefore, it is the University of California at Davis penal code compliant. program for improvement of services.

R9

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Will not be Response provides a credible Grand Jury recommends that Child and implemented. explanation for not implementing Welfare Services continue to work CWS the recommendation; therefore, it is with their newly developing task penal code compliant. force (not to be confused with the Department of Health and Human Services Blue Ribbon Task Force) to improve relationships with School Districts and Law Enforcement in order to deal more effectively with the problem of ‘at risk’ children within Humboldt County.

R10

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Are being Response summary clearly outlines Grand Jury recommends that Child and implemented. how the recommendations have Welfare Services leadership continue CWS been implemented and is penal code to work collaboratively with all local compliant. American Indian Tribes in both coordinating County services as well as following the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). 9 2016-2017 COMPLIANCE AND CONTINUITY REPORT Responding in Time to Help Our ‘At Risk’ Children Recommendations from Respon- P.C. County 2017/18 Grand Jury 2016/17 Civil Grand Jury dent Com- Responses Analysis pliant

R11

The Humboldt County Civil DHHS Yes Will not be Response provides a credible Grand Jury recommends that the and implemented explanation for not implementing Department of Health and Human CWS because they the recommendation; therefore, it is Services reexamine all cases within are not penal code compliant. the last five years involving reasonable. American Indian children who have been removed from their homes, to ensure compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). 3. Will Unfunded County Pensions Un-fund Our Future? The HCCGJ investigated the extent of the county’s unfunded pension liabilities and how this issue might be addressed. The most recent California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) valuation report (June 30, 2015) placed the county’s unfunded pension liability at $232.3 million. This is almost twice the county’s annual general fund revenue ($118 million) that is used for Law Enforcement, Public Works, Courts, and current retirement benefits. The HCCGJ offers recommendations as to how this liability could be reduced or even eliminated. The report was issued on June 7, 2017, with responses required and received as follows: • Board of Supervisors (BOS) (R1, R2): due on August 7, 2017; received on August 15, 2017. • Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (R1, R2): due on September 7, 2017; received on August 15, 2017. • County Administrative Office (CAO) (R1, R2): due on September 7, 2017. Received on August 15, 2017. As noted below, responses were provided to the Recommendations as required by the penal code. However, the penal code also requires responses to the Findings. None were received from the respondents. The complete responses submitted for this report appear in Appendix C on . 10 2016-2017 COMPLIANCE AND CONTINUITY REPORT Will Unfunded County Pensions Un-Fund Our Future Recommendations from Respon- P.C. County 2017/18 Grand Jury 2016/17 Civil Grand Jury dent Com- Responses Analysis pliant

R12

The Humboldt County Civil EPD No EPD will place Response does not provide Grand Jury recommends that the the a timeframe for Eureka Police Department provide reconfiguration of implementation; therefore, additional entrance and exit the parking lot it is not penal code capabilities for its parking lot. into the capital compliant. improvement budget.

R13

The Humboldt County Civil HCSO Yes Has been Response summary clearly Grand Jury recommends that the implemented. outlines how the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office recommendation has been post additional fire evacuation plans implemented and is penal in appropriate places throughout its code compliant. Main Office.

R14

The Humboldt County Civil HCSO No Further analysis Response explains the Grand Jury recommends that the is required. scope of the analysis but Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office does not provide a undertake negotiations with the owner timeframe for discussion; of the McKinleyville Substation therefore, it is not penal building to install air-conditioning in code compliant. the facility.

R15

The Humboldt County Civil HCSO No Has not yet been Response does not provide Grand Jury recommends that the implemented, but a timeframe for Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office will be imple- implementation; therefore, install directional signage on Central mented in the it is not penal code Avenue for the McKinleyville future. compliant. Substation.

R16

The Humboldt County Civil HCSO Yes Has already been Response summary clearly Grand Jury recommends that the implemented. outlines how the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office recommendation has been procure a backup generator, fire implemented and is penal extinguishers and rescue equipment code compliant. for the Willow Creek Substation. 22 2016-2017 COMPLIANCE AND CONTINUITY REPORT Jails and Law Enforcement Facilities Recommendations from Respon- P.C. County 2017/18 Grand Jury 2016/17 Civil Grand Jury dent Com- Responses Analysis pliant

R17

The Humboldt County Civil HCSO No Requires further Response is unclear as to Grand Jury recommends that County analysis. the scope of analysis and and city governments engage in a does not provide a planning process to address issues of timeframe for discussion; safety as well as the short and long therefore, it is not penal term maintenance needs of its law code compliant. enforcement facilities. BOS No Will be Response does not provide implemented. a timeframe for implementation; therefore, it is not penal code compliant. EPD No EPD sees the Response does not provide value in having a a timeframe for facilities strategic implementation; therefore, public safety it is not penal code planning meeting compliant. for city leadership. APD No Has not yet been Response does not provide implemented but a timeframe for will be imple- completion; therefore, it is mented in the not penal code compliant. future. FPD No No response Reminders sent by received. HCCGJ. RDPD Yes Rio Dell City Response provides a Council approved timeframe for a contract to implementation and is upgrade access to penal code compliant. facilities.

R18

The Humboldt County Civil HCSO No Requires further Response explains the Grand Jury recommends a analysis. scope of the analysis but collaborative approach between the does not provide a Sheriff’s Office and the Hoopa Valley timeframe for discussion; Tribal Council to identify and develop therefore, it is not penal adequate holding facilities for eastern code compliant. Humboldt County in the event that the 23 2016-2017 COMPLIANCE AND CONTINUITY REPORT Jails and Law Enforcement Facilities Recommendations from Respon- P.C. County 2017/18 Grand Jury 2016/17 Civil Grand Jury dent Com- Responses Analysis pliant County Correctional Facility becomes BOS No Will be partially Response does not state inaccessible. implemented. what will be partially implemented or provide a timeframe for implementation; therefore, it is not penal code compliant.