San Bernardino County Jails

Recommendations 18

• R1

  Page 149
  Disband the current San Bernardino County Children and Family Services organizational system and create, build, and implement community-based one-stop shop centers where all services are centralized, integrated, and interconnected for all foster care services. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R2

  Page 149
  Children and Family Services to create a community outreach proactive services unit to provide services and resources to those in-need families without any governmental intervention or regulation. Services provided to include food, babysitting services, clothes, respite care, parenting classes, child development classes, medical referrals, etc..., without documentation. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R3

  Page 149
  San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to form an independent watchdog group/children commission to oversee Children and Family Services social workers in San Bernardino County. Members of this group would be authorized by the court and have full access to all confidential documentation. The commission would report to the County Board of Supervisors quarterly. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R4

  Page 149
  Before the initial placement of any child into the foster care system, or subsequent placement, there will be a mental and medical examination. To be implemented by June 2023.
• R5

  Page 149
  Law enforcement to classify reports indicating that they are part of the foster care system so they can be referenced. Children and Family San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 129 Services and law enforcement to capture, track and maintain data on all foster child abuse allegations and investigations. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R6

  Page 150
  Children and Family Services Social Worker to visit the Resource Family Home or foster setting four times a month, two announced and two unannounced, perform a complete home inspection, and interview foster children alone every visit. No field visit to be accomplished by any form of virtual technology. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R7

  Page 150
  All Resource Parents to have monthly mandatory training online. Children and Family Services to require resource parents to complete continuing education in the fields of child abuse, foster childcare and resource services at least two hours per month. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R8

  Page 150
  Children and Family Services to write, implement and maintain a checklist of mandatory attendees at all Children’s Assessment Center child abuse interviews. Checklist to be maintained in the foster child’s case file. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R9

  Page 150
  Children and Family Services to hire two additional mental health specialists per region, called “Child Life Specialists”, for the foster children. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R10

  Page 150
  Every initial foster child to see a Child Life Specialist during the first 30 days of placement in a Resource Family Home or foster setting, two unannounced and two announced. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R11

  Page 150
  Children and Family Services and law enforcement to meet quarterly and review their child abuse allegations and investigations in order to easily identify and track all foster children abuse allegation cases, as a form of checks and balances. To be implemented by June 2023.
• R12

  Page 150
  Reduce the Children and Family Services Social Worker’s caseload to no more than forty per month. For example, utilize one-stop shop to eliminate excess travel, hire support staff for Social Workers to reduce their collateral duties and hire more Social Workers. To be implemented by June 2023. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report
• R13

  Page 151
  Create a protocol and guidelines to ensure every child receives the same written review from their Social Worker during their monthly interviews, which should be included in the child's case file. Questions should focus on any potential child abuse indicators. For example, has anyone new visited or moved into the home, how have you been disciplined and how was your visit with your family. To be implemented by June 2023.
• R14

  Page 151
  Babies and toddlers to be seen four times a week for the first 30 days, after that twice a week while in foster care until the child is four years old. A nurse is required to attend every visit. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R15

  Page 151
  Create, build, and implement new innovative community-based temporary sheltering centers where all removed foster children can go and be housed during the transition time until suitable placement is located, vetted, and determined by foster care services. To be implemented by July 2023.
• R16

  Page 151
  Children and Family Services to train foster children in identifying grooming behaviors, predatory practices, child abuse, and how to report to officials. Training to include in-person role-play scenarios. Also, provide a list with all contact information to the child/children for their use when they need to call for help or support. To be implemented by June 2023.
• R17

  Page 151
  Implement a 20-day requirement to pass along medical cards and behavioral issues to the Foster Family Agencies, regarding foster children assigned to their care. To be implemented by July 2023. .
• R18

  Page 151
  Children and Family Services to complete initial vetting process of any and all foster and visitation settings. Include in-person interviews of all extended adult family and friends, all potential adults who would come into contact with the foster child, and all adults who live or will reside in the Resource Family Home or foster setting. To be implemented by July 2023. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 131