ARTICLE IIIv
CHILD AND FAMILY STRENGTHENING ADVISORY BOARD*

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*Note--Article IIIv, Child and Family Strengthening Advisory Board, §§ 84.700 through 84.710, added by Ord. No. 10598 (N.S.), effective 4-25-19.

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SEC. 84.700. CHILD AND FAMILY STRENGTHENING ADVISORY BOARD OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

   There is hereby created the Child and Family Strengthening Advisory Board of San Diego County, hereinafter referred in this Article as the "Advisory Board." The mission of the Advisory Board is to serve as a platform for cross-sector collaboration and transparent monitoring and accountability of the San Diego County child welfare system to ensure the safety and well-being of children and families. Monitoring should include, but not be limited to, the review and evaluation of San Diego County's child welfare system such as: needs, trends, programs, services, facilities, activities, outcomes and other areas including the Child Welfare Services departmental budget, policies, and priorities, to identify gaps, support the implementation of system wide changes, discuss impacts of upcoming state or federal policies, advocate on behalf of children, youth and families, and encourage active participation by child welfare system partners.

   The Advisory Board shall also serve as the designated child abuse prevention coordinating body and local children's trust fund body as set forth in California Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 18982 et seq. and 18965 et seq.

(Added by Ord. No. 10598 (N.S.), effective 4-25-19)

SEC. 84.701. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

   The Advisory Board shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

   (a)   To serve as an informational resource to the Board of Supervisors on issues related to the prevention, identification and treatment of child abuse and neglect and in conformance with this Article and applicable County policies advise the Board of Supervisors, Chief Administrative Officer, Health and Human Services Agency Director, and Child and Family Well-Being Department Director.

   (b)   Review and evaluate the County's child well-being related services, programs, facilities, and new issues as they arise and review and comment on such evaluations of the County conducted by other entities or bodies as needed.

   (c)   Collaborate and communicate with other advisory boards on issues of mutual concern and serve as the successor advisory board to the Polinsky Children's Center Advisory Board and the San Diego County Foster Care Services Committee.

   (d)   Submit an annual report and dashboard to the Board of Supervisors on the needs and performance of the County child well-being system.

   (e)   Review and comment on items related to child well-being before consideration by the Board of Supervisors.

   (f)   Review and comment on the County's performance outcome data, as it relates to child welfare matters, and communicate its findings to the Board of Supervisors.

   (g)   Review and comment on the outreach efforts used to engage citizen involvement on this Advisory Board.

   (h)   Provide a forum for interagency cooperation and coordination in the prevention, detection, treatment and legal processing of child abuse cases.

   (i)   Promote public awareness of the abuse and neglect of children and the resources available for prevention, intervention and treatment.

   (j)   Encourage and facilitate training of professionals in the detection, treatment, and prevention of child abuse and neglect.

   (k)   Recommend improvements in services to families and victims who are in the public charge, as well as children, youth, and families whose safety and welfare may be at risk.

   (l)   Encourage and facilitate community support for child abuse and neglect, and family support programs.

   (m)   To carry out the purposes of Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 18965 et seq. regarding proposals to be funded by the children's trust fund:

      (1)   Establish criteria for determining those programs which may receive funding,

      (2)   Accept all program proposals that meet criteria set by the Advisory Board,

      (3)   Prioritize the proposals in compliance with County procurement policies where applicable, and

      (4)   Recommend to the Board of Supervisors those proposals that the Advisory Board agrees merit funding.

   (n)   Collect and publish data relevant to the state and local children's trust funds as required by California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 18970.

   (o)   Develop a protocol for interagency coordination and provide a yearly report to the Board of Supervisors as required by California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 18983.6.

   (p)   For the A.B. & Jessie Polinsky Children's Center:

      (1)   Inform the advisory board regarding the operation, maintenance, and material alteration or removal of any part of the PCC facility.

      (2)   Inform the Board of Supervisors, or designee, regarding the expenditure of funds donated by Promises2Kids or other donors/sources for maintenance and operation items not funded by the County.

   (q)   For placement and resource family supports issues:

      (1)   Serve as a forum to review issues concerning foster care and placement.

      (2)   Review and make recommendations on policies and programs affecting resource families and placement.

      (3)   Improve communication and teamwork among the resource family community, the Health and Human Services Agency, other private placement agencies, educational systems and health care agencies.

(Added by Ord. No. 10598 (N.S.), effective 4-25-19; amended by Ord. No. 10851 (N.S.), effective 7-13-23)

SEC. 84.702. MEMBERSHIP AND SELECTION.

   The Advisory Board shall consist of twenty-five (25) voting members appointed consistent with Board Policy A-74 and as follows:

   (a)   Each member of the Board of Supervisors shall nominate one (1) constituent as a Supervisorial District representative to be confirmed by the Board of Supervisors.

   (b)   Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court or designee

   (c)   Health and Human Services Agency Director or designee

   (d)   Child Welfare Director or designee

   (e)   Chief Probation Officer or designee

   (f)   First 5 San Diego Executive Director or designee

   (g)   Persons nominated by the Chair of the Board of Supervisors and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors who represent each of the following categories:

      (1)   Former foster youth

      (2)   Foster parent association

      (3)   Foster family agency

      (4)   Congregate care provider

      (5)   Court Appointed Special Advocate

      (6)   Legal counsel for minors in juvenile court

      (7)   Legal counsel for parents in juvenile court

      (8)   San Diego County Office of Education

      (9)   Child abuse and juvenile justice prevention

      (10)   Children's health care professional

      (11)   Social worker

      (12)   A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children's Center with a preference for a representative from Promises2Kids

      (13)   San Pasqual Academy

      (14)   Two (2) individuals with lived experience who reflect over-represented populations in the system with a preference for former foster youth and/or parents who have experienced the child welfare system.

(Added by Ord. No. 10598 (N.S.), effective 4-25-19; amended by Ord. No. 10623 (N.S.), effective 10-10-19; amended by Ord. No. 10851 (N.S.), effective 7-13-23)