⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 8 findings
F1
A master report that incorporates program data and outcomes does not exist.
F2
Available data does not associate programs and outcomes with the Fullerton Report recommendations.
F3
It is very difficult to determine total population for each program and what percentage of that population is actually served and their outcomes.
F4
A full report, in the form noted above, is not provided to the Board of Supervisors on an annual basis.
F5
The annual "Skills Day" is not enough opportunity for pre-emancipated youth to exercise their Independent Living Skills.
F6
The demand for pre-emancipation transitional housing and availability is unclear.
F7
The web site http://www.ssa.ocgov.com/youth/default.asp is not user friendly for emancipated youth.
F8
Emancipated youth do not always use the Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment and when they do they may not enter the county identification code. Responses to Findings F-1 through F-9 are requested from the Social Services Agency. RECOMMENDATIONS In accordance with California Penal Code sections 933 and 933.5, each recommendation will be responded to by the government entity to which it is addressed. The responses are to be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court. Based on the findings of this report, the 2006-2007 Orange County Grand Jury makes the following recommendations:
Recommendations 8
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R1SSA needs to report programs and outcomes in one document. Numbers presented without 18 2006-2007 ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY background data border on useless. A report card format would be very beneficial in that it would identify each program and provide population data, i.e. number in the group to be served, number actually served, and number that experienced success and/or percentage of success measured against total population to be served.
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R2A link between the Fullerton Report recommendations and what is actually occurring needs to be established. Time, money, and effort were expended in the development of the report and it appears it has been placed on a shelf. If it was important to develop the document then it is equally important to implement its recommendations. The recommendations should be merged into the report card format mentioned in R-1.
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R3The presentation of data needs to be in the context of the overall population served. Calling data "outcomes" that merely identify attendance numbers is not really an outcome. Attendance does not automatically mean the youth grasp the concepts. Outcomes should be presented that reflect the youths' ability to actually use the information provided.
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R4The report card recommended in R-1 should be presented annually to the Board of Supervisors.
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R5The opportunity for youth to exercise Independent Living Skills once a year is not enough. The youth should have multiple opportunities during the year to use the skills they have learned in workshops. Vendor contracts should be revised to require competency testing for each workshop. This would also allow for the assessment of outcomes.
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R6The SSA needs to identify the actual demand for Transitional Housing and consider changes to the screening process and criteria for living in these programs.
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R7Revise the website so that it contains an area that is specific to pre-and post- emancipated youth services.
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R8The SSA has improved the use of the Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment; however, more should be done to ensure participation of post-emancipated youth by offering incentives that are important to them. A Response to all Recommendations is requested from the Social Services Agency. RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS The California Penal Code specifies the required permissible responses to the findings and recommendations contained in this report. The specific sections are quoted below: § 933.05. Responses to findings (a) For purposes of subdivision (b) of section 933, as to each grand jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the following: (1) The respondent agrees with the finding. (2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefor. (b) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 933, as to each grand jury recommendation, 19 2006-2007 ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY the responding person or entity shall report one of the following actions (1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the implemented action. (2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future, with a timeframe for implementation. (3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a timeframe for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed. This timeframe shall not exceed six months from the date of the publication of the grand jury report. (4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefor.
Conclusions 1
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CL1As the information provided shows, programs for pre and post emancipated youth have been proposed, started, enhanced, downsized, or discontinued. Inconsistent funding streams and changing legislation coupled with local priorities all cause direct impacts to starting and maintaining individual programs. As an example, in 2000 the SSA commented on a recommendation in the "Camelot" report that they could not track emancipated youth, and now (2007) a federal program has presented a proposed rulemaking that will require them to do just that. It may be helpful for local government to be proactive rather than reactive to state and federal mandates. That is not to say that some creative things are not being done; however, the "system" needs to embrace a philosophy of "how can we make this happen" instead of waiting for state or federal funding and direction on some important issues, such as tracking emancipated youth outcomes. Without reasonable outcome data, the programs become nothing more than shooting in the dark hoping to hit a target. How do we know with any certainty that what we are doing works in the absence of this data? Unfortunately, the above data provides little perspective as to how well the County is addressing the issues identified in the Fullerton Report. Therefore, data should be collected that provides a clear picture of how youth are faring during pre-emancipation and their first few years after emancipation. Gaining an appreciation of the magnitude of the problem is very difficult due to the scattered sources and presentation of available data. The data presented here comes from multiple sources and had to be merged into a single document. If data were presented in a way that identified total population in each category along with population served and their outcomes, an understanding could be gained of the segment of the identified population not being served or served without success. Currently, this is not being done, which makes review and comprehension difficult. Usable information on outcomes needs to be presented in a manner that allows the reader to draw conclusions as to whether or not programs are beneficial to the clients. Several issues emerge from the information provided. Housing is an ongoing issue along with tracking of emancipated youth. In addition, the ability to exercise ILS prior to emancipation is limited and assessment of ILS prior to emancipation is non-existent. On the positive side, new programs and oversight committees that serve this population are up and running. As stated above, 17 2006-2007 ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY the key to all of the time, effort, and money being spent is outcome. How well is the County doing in preparing pre-emancipated youth for successful transition into adulthood? The Mentors For Youth, a non-profit group serving Anaheim, Fullerton, Orange, and Santa Ana, was founded by an Anaheim police officer who was concerned that street kids in the foster care system were just being warehoused without the services that they needed. It works with children ages 13 to 17 to help them transition into adulthood through programs ranging from tutoring, to locating a job, to information on how to become financially responsible. Clearly, despite ongoing efforts by SSA, not all emancipated youth are successful. Based on the information provided by SSA, the Grand Jury could not determine how many emancipated youth are failing to succeed in mainstream society.
Agency Responses 2
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.