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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Fresno County Grand Jury • 2013-2014

Grand Jury Annual Report

Published: October 03, 2014 46 pages
View PDF View Full Original

Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F211, F212, F213, F214, F215, F216, F217, F218, F219, F220, F221, F222, F223, F224, F225, F226, F227, F228, F229, F230, F231, F232, F233, F234, F235, F236, F237, F238, F239, F240, F241, F242, F243, F244, F245, F246, F247, F248, F249, F250, F251, F252, F253, F254, F255, F256, F257, F258, F259, F260, F261, F262, F263, F264, F265, F266, F267, F268, F269, F270, F271, F272, F273, F274, F275, F276, F277, F278, F279, F280, F281, F282, F283, F284, F285, F286, F287, F288, F289, F290, F291, F292, F293, F294, F295, F296, F297, F298, F299, F300

Findings 16 findings

F201
There will always be those who prefer to remain homeless. Thus, chronic homelessness will never be eliminated.
F202
While the official model of "housing first" is fundamentally sound and has helped reduce the number of those homeless, at the current rate of progress there will never be enough appropriate housing to eliminate the unsheltered homeless in Fresno.
F203
The 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness provided the necessary focus and coordination to receive Federal funding to help address the region's homeless problems.
F204
Servicing the homeless involves much more than simply providing shelter. In a majority of the cases serious mental health and substance abuse problems are factors leading to homelessness and impediments to implementing solutions.
F205
The local agencies, under the FMCoC umbrella, appear to be doing a reasonable and conscientious job of addressing some of the needs of the homeless population, but these efforts are fragmented and not part of a holistic approach to solving the problem.
F206
There does not appear to be a single agency, within or outside the public sector, that provides leadership and coordination of all efforts to serve the homeless in Fresno.
F207
The efforts of many well-intentioned organizations are counter-productive in that by giving (often unused) food and clothing they are viewed as enabling homelessness rather than assisting with efforts to return the homeless to self-sufficiency.
F208
The non-enforcement of ordinances regarding panhandling and shopping cart theft enable the homeless to remain independent and be a public nuisance.
F209
There is an acute shortage of "come-as-you-are" emergency shelter(s) for men in Fresno County, which increases the numbers of those on the street and hampers their return to more productive lives.
F210
The City of Fresno's police unit that deals with the homeless has been very effective in mitigating problems and preventing the reforming of encampments.
F301
CPS is doing a satisfactory job with the resources available.
F302
CPS uses a 24-hour hotline as a major part of its triage system. This system classifies cases as a two-hour or a 10-day response depending on the urgency of the case.
F303
Community agencies interviewed cite a need for an available CPS liaison.
F304
Mandated reporters in healthcare, as well as childcare advocates, cite a need for better communication and cooperation between themselves and social workers. FY 2013-2014 Fresno County Grand Jury Report #3 – An Investigation of Fresno 4/8/2014 County Child Protective Services
F305
While Rushmore is not yet fully implemented, CPS increasingly relies on the use of this data base system to help provide effective triage of children entering the system.
F306
While comments from vendors, mandated reporters, and quality assurance staff regarding CPS responsiveness, timeliness, professionalism, and follow-through were overall positive, they did cite a need for improved communication.

Recommendations 4