2009 2010 Rpt Santa Cruz HSD Annual

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County of Santa CruzHuman Services Department

Annual ReportFiscal Year 2009-10

Visit our website @

www.santacruzhumanservices.org

Dedicated toMaking a Difference


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Message from the Director

Dear Members of the Santa Cruz County Community,

I am proud of the departments accomplishments in the past year and the commitment of our dedicated staff whosetireless efforts ensured that critical safety net services were available to people hard hit by difficult economic times.Looking forward, this report also includes information about new initiatives underway to enhance and strengthenprograms and increase the network of supportive services to lift individuals and families out of poverty and protect our

countys most vulnerable residents. I hope that you find this report both interesting and informative. If you would likemore information about our programs and services, please visit our website atwww.santacruzhumanservices.org.

Sincerely,

Cecilia Espinola, DirectorHuman Services Department

I am pleased to share with you the FY 2009-10 Annual Report for the County ofSanta Cruz Human Services Department. The report offers an overview of thewide range of services the department provides to residents of Santa Cruz Countyand highlights major accomplishments and challenges of the past year.

Our department remained steadfast in its commitment to provide quality servicesto people in need of assistance in our community, despite another year of budgetcuts. Unemployment rates reached record highs with the countys rate climbing to

11.4% and the City of Watsonvilles rate rising to 23.6%. With high unemploymentand the ongoing recession, the department saw tremendous growth in publicassistance cases with one out of every five county residents receiving some form ofaid.
http://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/http://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/http://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/http://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/


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Human Services Department Overview

Our Mission:We strengthen our community by protecting the vulnerable, promoting self-sufficiency, alleviating poverty, and improvingthe quality of life for residents of Santa Cruz County.

Our Goals:

Some of Our Services in FY 2009-10:

Gave 32children apermanenthomethroughadoptions

Helped anaverage of2,287 clientsper monthreceive IHSS

Responded to542 reports ofsuspected elderabuse orne lect

Responded to2,624 reportsof suspectedchild abuse orne lect

Provided WIAemploymentservices to9,810 clientsat the CareerCenters

Helped anaverage of7,859 clientsper monthreceive FoodStamps

Helped anaverage of28,826 people permonth receiveMedi-Cal healthcare benefits

28,826 9,8107,859 2,624 32542 2,287

Increaseeconomic

potential anddecrease poverty

Reduce abuse andneglect

Improve wellbeing and quality

of life

Improve healthand mental

health


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Family and Childrens Services Division

FY 2009-10 Program Highlights Completed Bill of Rights for children, parents, and resource parents

ImplementedRoots and Wings A program to promote permanency for children and to providemore support to resource families

Began Team Decision Making meetings to involve parents, resource families, social workers,therapists, court appointed special advocates, relatives, friends and other supportive individuals inplanning for safe and successful reunification

Implemented an evidenced based model of parent education for child welfare involved familiescalled Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)

Looking Forward: Areas of Focus in FY 2010-11

Strengthen recruitment and support of resource parents especially for older and hard

to place youth

Increase community supports for foster youth

Provide developmental and socio-emotional assessments and appropriate referralsfor very young children ages 0 to 5

Improve educational opportunities and increase housing options for foster youth


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Child Welfare Services

Emergency ResponseDependency Investigations FY 09-10

Abuse/Neglect Referrals (families) 2,624

Children Referred (unduplicated) 2,802

Children with Substantiated Referrals (unduplicated) 500

In any given month, approximately 424 childrenwere receiving services in an ongoing program ofchild welfare.

Approximately 40% of children with substantiated referrals(confirmed abuse or neglect) were children 0 to 5 years old. Alittle more than one-half were Latinos, 41% were White and 3%were African American.

Child Welfare Services Include:

Emergency Response & DependencyInvestigations

Family Maintenance or Family

Preservation

Family Reunification & Permanency

Planning

Licensing & Adoptions

0 to 5 years ,

40%

6 to 10 years ,

26%

11 to 17

years , 33%

Age of Children with Substantiated Referrals

Supportive Adolescent Services

Supportive Adolescent Services is a collaborativeprogram that offers a broad continuum of services

including specialized social work and mental healthservices as well as independent living skills servicesto assist teens in accomplishing their educational andemployment goals. Transitional housing and otherspecialized services are provided to assist youth inthe transition to an independent adult life.

FY 09-10Independent Living Program150 youthTransitional Housing 36 youth

Foster Youth Employment 38 youth

Protecting children from abuse & neglect and strengthening families

Family & Childrens Services is required by State and Federal law to

provide child welfare services to children who have been abused,neglected, or who are at risk of abuse or neglect.


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Foster Care

Foster parents and relative caregivers, also known as resource parents,are a very important source of support for children when they are notable to remain safely in their own homes. They share their lives withchildren in need and provide a nurturing stable home environment forchildren while their parents receive counseling, parenting education andother services to enable them to be reunited with their children.

The good news is that all across California, as well as in Santa Cruz,the number of children in foster care has been declining. Both thepositive family strengthening services we provide and our countyschild abuse prevention and early intervention programs may becontributing to this reduction.

In any given month, approximately 240 childrenwere in out-of-home placement. More than half wereplaced with relatives.

Promoting permanent homes and permanent relationships for children

Foster Care

310

282262

244

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

FY 06-07 FY 07-08 FY 08-09 FY 09-10

Monthly Average of Number of Children in Foster Care

Adoptions

As a licensed Adoptions Agency, we place children inpermanent homes. Services include placing children inadoptive homes when the Juvenile Court has terminatedrights of parents who have been unsuccessful inreunifying with their children; recruiting and screeningprospective adoptive parents; finalizing adoptions; andproviding post adoption services, including the Adoption

Assistance Program (AAP). We also provide services forchildren whose parents voluntarily relinquish theirparental rights.

Adoptions &Adoption Assistance FY 09-10

Finalized Adoptions 32

Adoption Assistance Cases 503

If parents cannot provide a safe environment,the children must be placed in foster care orrelatives homes until they can safely bereturned to their own homes or placed with anadoptive family.


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0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

FY 06-07 FY 07-08 FY 08-09 FY 09-10

Number of Parents Served by

Prevention Programs

Families Together

Primeros Pasos

On average the grant-funded prevention and early intervention programsserve between 150and 200 families per year. They offer supportive services and resources to struggling familiesbefore they are in crisis and before they become involved with the child welfare system.

Reducing risk factors for abuse and neglect

Prevention Programs

Families Together:Serves women who are pregnant and familieswho have at least one child under the age offive. High risk families who are referred to childwelfare but are evaluated out are eligible toparticipate. The program is a collaborativeeffort between Santa Cruz CommunityCounseling Center, First Five, and the HumanServices Department.

Primeros Pasos:Serves Latinas who are pregnant and/or have ayoung child and are struggling with substanceabuse issues. New grant funding was securedthis year in order to continue this importantprogram led by the Santa Cruz CommunityCounseling Center.


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Adult & Long Term Care

FY 2009-10 Program Highlights

A variety of new requirements for In Home Support Services (IHSS) providers (e.g., mandatoryorientation, fingerprinting, criminal background checks)

Multiple State-level law suits pending regarding IHSS provider wages, service reductions, andcriminal background checks

Relocation of the Veterans Services Office due to structural problems with the Veterans MemorialHall

Continuing challenges to staffing in Adult Protective Services (APS) necessitating more narrowscreening of referrals and fewer in-person investigations.


Ensure all current and prospective IHSS providers complete the new rigorous

enrollment requirements

Improve access to data and information on IHSS to increase efficiencies

Continue to mitigate the negative impacts of the closure of the Santa Cruz VeteransMemorial Hall and maintain current service levels

Build stronger partnerships and community supports to ensure that elders anddependent adults have services in place prior to APS case closure


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Adult Protective Services

Adult Protective Services (APS) is a state mandated program that provides investigationand intervention services to protect elderly or dependent adults who may be victimsof physical, emotional or financial abuse or neglect or who may be self-neglecting dueto physical or mental decline.

In-Home Supportive Services Program (IHSS)

APS Referrals FY 09-10

Abuse/Neglect referrals 542

Investigations 314

Elder Financial Abuse: Largest Category of Abuse by Others

Although self neglect represents more than one-half of APS reports,financial exploitation is a growing concern and represents the largestcategory of reports of abuse by others (28%). APS collaborates withthe District Attorneys Office, law enforcement and the Financial AbuseSpecialist Team to respond to reports of elder financial abuse.

In FY 09-10, over $5 million in assets belonging to elderly anddependent adult residents of Santa Cruz County were preserved dueto the Countys intervention efforts.

Approximately three-quarters of the people referred to APS are elders with theremaining one-quarter dependent adults.

In FY 09-10, APS responded to 542 reports of adult or elder abuse and neglect.38% of those reports did not receive an in person investigation due to staffingconstraints.

Caucasian

82%

Hispanic

10% Other

8%

Ethnicity of APS Referrals (FY 09-10)

Protecting the elderly and disabled from abuse and neglect


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0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

FY 05-06 FY 06-07 FY 07-08 FY 08-09 FY 09-10

Average Monthly IHSS Caseload

IHSS - Supporting Activities of

Daily Living

Basic HousekeepingMeal Preparation & Clean-upPersonal Care

The IHSS program provides jobs forapproximately 2,000 care providersevery month. 88% work more than 25hours per month.

Almost 400 providers who met eligibilityrequirements elected to participate inthe health insurance program.

IHSS provides a cost effective alternativeto institutional care for the elderly anddependent adults.

The In-Home Supportive Services Program (IHSS) is a state mandatedprogram that provides assistance to low income frail elderly adults anddisabled persons of all ages to enable them to remain safely in their ownhomes. The need for out-of-home care can often be prevented throughprovision of services that support daily living activities. For income eligibleindividuals, IHSS Social Workers conduct assessments and authorizepayment for necessary services based on need.

In-Home Supportive Services

Helping seniors and dependent adults stay safely in their homes


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Veterans Services Program

Services

During the most recent reporting year, the VeteransServices Office generated revenues of$1,482,336 in

retroactive and lump sum payments as well as$1,314,132 in new monthly benefits for veterans andtheir dependents in Santa Cruz County.

The total value of cash benefits for the 2008 calendaryear was approximately $25 million.

The Veterans Services Office provides a range of services toSanta Cruz County veterans and their families such as helpingveterans access benefits accrued from military service from local,state, and federal governments, providing information andreferral and veterans advocacy services, and providing claimsand appeals assistance.

Assistance is provided in a variety of areas, including:Compensation and pensionsHealth and dental care

Vocational rehabilitationHomeless servicesEducational assistanceHome loansGovernment life insurance

The Human Services Department coordinates theprovision of medical services through the Veterans

Administration (VA) to the Countys most vulnerableveterans. Medical examinations and consultations areavailable at the Santa Cruz office. In FY 09-10,approximately 250 veterans were served through medicaloutreach services. Additionally, rides are available toveterans who need transportation to Palo Alto VAhealthcare and clinical services.

Trends observed in FY 09-10:

Increasing numbers of veterans of militaryactions in Iraq and Afghanistan areseeking assistance.

An increasing number of older veterans,especially low income veterans and thosewith high health care costs, are seekingassistance with obtaining benefits andservices.

Assisting local veterans in accessing benefits and services


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Employment & Benefit Services Division



Expand subsidized employment opportunities for low income families

Provide clients with automated telephone access to inquire about their benefit status

Provide clients with online benefits applications and periodic reports

Expand and enhance information at partner sites and other locations

Used federal stimulus funds to create a subsidized employment program and provide shortterm non recurring benefits such as help with utility bills, car repairs, and rent

Provided public assistance, in the form of Medi-Cal, Food Stamps, Welfare to Work services, orcash aid, to 1 of every 5 county residents in Fiscal Year 2009-10

Designed a new public website to help the community better understand eligibilityrequirements and what they need to do to receive benefits

Closed the Cal Success program, which provided Food Stamps and employment training forstudents at Cabrillo College due to an unfortunate change in federal match requirements


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CalWORKs & Welfare to Work

General Assistance

The General Assistance program is mandated by theState Welfare and Institutions Code. The program is100% County funded and provides cash assistance toeligible disabled or unemployedcounty residents whoare ineligible for other aid programs and providesdisabled individuals with SSI application assistance. InFY 09-10, the average monthly General Assistance

caseload was 138 and 75% were Caucasian.

$15 millionin CalWORKs benefits are provided tocounty residents every year which is state and federalmoney that stimulates the local Santa Cruz Countyeconomy.

CalWORKs offers employment services and cash assistance to needy families whohave children under 19 years of age. The program helps meet basic needs forshelter, food, clothing, while increasing job readiness skills. Cash aid benefits for theadults have a lifetime limit of 60 months and most adult recipients must meet workparticipation requirements as a condition of receiving cash assistance. In an averagemonth in FY 09-10, 1,485 people were subject to Welfare to Work requirements andapproximately 40% of them will be exempted for good cause.

With the economic downturn, the CalWORKs program has seen a steady increase in

applications as well as increases in caseloads.

White

75%

Latino

13%Afr.

American

9%Other

3%

Responding to meet basic needs during difficult economic times

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

FY 05-06 FY 06-07 FY 07-08 FY 08-09 FY 09-10

CalWORKs Cash Aid

Average Monthly Caseload


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Food Stamp Program

The Food Stamp Program serves as the first line of defenseagainst hunger. Food Stamp benefits provide critical basicsupport to low income families and individuals enabling themto buy nutritious food with an Electronic Benefit Transfercard. As a result of the recession, Food Stamp applicationsincreased dramatically during the 2009-10 fiscal year.

More than 19,000 individuals were receiving Food Stamps in June 2010

An increase of 17% from the same month one year earlier.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

FY 05-06 FY 06-07 FY 07-08 FY 08-09 FY 09-10

Food Stamp Applications

Average Monthly Intake

The County disbursed approximately

$30 millionin Food Stamp benefitsinto the local economy in FY 09-10.

The average monthly caseload for FoodStamps in FY 09-10 was 7,656. Thisnumber has more than doubled in thepast five years.

Working to ensure that no one goes hungry


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Medi-Cal Program

The Medi-Cal program is a health insurance program for low income

families and disabled and aged adults. The Central Coast Alliance forHealth is the countys Medi-Cal managed care health plan that helpsrecipients access health care from local participating providers.

The estimated value of Medi-Calbenefits provided to the County is$180 million per year or approximately$377 per recipient per month.

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

FY 05-06 FY 06-07 FY 07-08 FY 08-09 FY 09-10

Monthly Caseload of People on Medi-Cal

Providing medical insurance for needy families

Profile of People Receiving Medi-Cal:

61% are children under 18

71% are Latino, 24% White

54% use Spanish as their primary language

61% live in South County


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Workforce Investment Board


Provided training scholarships to almost three times the number of laid off workers and job seekers compared tolast year.

Utilized the Summer Youth Employment Programs to create jobs for 240 youth in 2009 and 435 youth in 2010 fora total of 677 youth.

Provided green construction and energy efficiency training to unemployed adults and older youth funded by Stategrants called the Green Jobs Corps and Monterey Bay Green Pre-apprenticeship Project

Participated in the Green Career Partnership, a joint venture with Cabrillo College and other community partners, inorder to identify emerging jobs and employers in the clean/green/solar industry sector. The WIB is collaboratingwith California First to inform and prepare contractors and the local workforce for these jobs


Develop a regional strategy for employment and training programs for adults and

youth

Focus on re-skilling and training internships

Organize job fairs with workforce partners and job seekers and coordinatespecialized job recruitments for business

Enhance workforce service integration so job seekers and training partners have

information on entry points and eligibility for services


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In April 2010, Santa Cruz Countysunemployment rates reached 15% andWatsonvilles rate skyrocketed to 30%.

The majority of Adult participants receiving training services werewomen, and nearly half of Dislocated Workers receiving services werelaid-off workers, age 22-44. 32% of participants receiving WIAservices were South County residents.

Youth Employment Services

ARRA funds were also used for a Summer YouthEmployment Program which served 435 eligibleyouth between 14 and 24 years of age in 2010. Theprogram offered subsidized employment of up to 30hours per week for six weeks.

The Workforce Investment Board helps connect local job seekers with employers who are seeking

qualified job applicants. Working with members of the business and education communities, localgovernment and community members, the WIB provides resources to respond to the needs of employersand County residents in search of employment. In FY 09-10, a difficult economy increased businesslayoffs and closures raising unemployment to historically high levels.

Adult & Dislocated Worker Services

In partnership with the Employment Development Department,Cabrillo College, Shoreline Workforce Development Services, AdultSchools and local partners, services are provided for individuals

seeking employment or wanting to upgrade their job skills withtraining scholarships. Services are available to assist workersdislocated as the result of layoffs, plant closures, or downsizing.There was a large increase in services provided in FY 09-10 due tothe availability of ARRA funds.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

An infusion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act(ARRA) stimulus funds was received in FY 08-09 & 09-10 to assist unemployed and dislocated workers duringdifficult economic times. This temporary addition of

ARRA funds was used to:

Increase training scholarshipsOffer skill development classes through Cabrillo

Promote green job training and placements

0

500

10001500

2000

FY 05-06 FY 06-07 FY 07-08 FY 08-09 FY 09-10

Participants in WIA Enrolled Services

(adults, dislocated workers, & youth)

Responding to the needs of local employers and local job seekers

Workforce Investment Board


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Contact the Human Services Department

Visit our website atwww.santacruzhumanservices.org

For Public Assistance Programs call the Benefits Call Center at 1-888-421-8080 or TTY 454-4763or

Apply for Food Stamps and MediCal Online at www.benefitsCalWIN.org

Family & Childrens Services 1400 Emeline Avenue , Santa Cruz 454-4222 TTY 454-4233

12 W. Beach Street, Watsonville 763-8800

Adult & Long Term Care 1400 Emeline Avenue, Santa Cruz 454-4101 TTY 454-477412 W. Beach Street, Watsonville 763-8800

Employment & Benefit Services 1020 Emeline Avenue, Santa Cruz 888-421-8080 TTY 454-4763119 and 18 W. Beach Street, Watsonville

Veterans Services 1400 Emeline Avenue , Santa Cruz 454-4761 CA Relay Service 711215 E. Beach Street, Watsonville

Workforce Santa Cruz County Career Centers

Capitola Shoreline Santa Cruz Watsonville

2045 40th Avenue 350 Encinal Street 18 W. Beach Street464-6286 429-6415 763-8720TTY 464-4358 CA Relay Service 711 CA Relay Service 711

Report Child Abuse

1-877-505-3299

Report Elder Abuse

1-866-580-4357

Dedicated to making a difference
http://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/http://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/http://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/http://www.benefitscalwin.org/http://www.benefitscalwin.org/http://www.santacruzhumanservices.org/

Documents

2009 2010 Rpt Santa Cruz HSD Annual