Do other counties have foster kids sleeping on office tables? State says it’s ‘uncommon’
It’s “uncommon” for foster care children to live and sleep in offices — conditions children in Fresno County were enduring and were revealed last week — a state official told The Bee.
Scott Murray, a spokesman at the California Department of Social Services, said what was happening in Fresno County is rare, but there have been “some instances when it has happened in the past.”
“In these instances, the Department, in addition to providing guidance to clarify statutes and regulations, has worked collaboratively with counties and the provider community to utilize existing placement resources or help develop new approaches to meet needs of specific youth,” he said.
The Fresno Bee first reported last week of living conditions for children awaiting a permanent home after being removed from their parents’ custody, and for youth already under the care of Fresno County who have “blown” their placements. Social workers raised concerns of the children’s office living conditions at the CWS Office, Fresno County’s main hub for Child Protective Services in downtown.
County officials last week said a shortage of placement options for youth with high needs was a contributing factor that led to children staying at the CWS Office while social workers searched for placements. Officials said the placement options for children with greater needs were “significantly” reduced with the passage of state laws and regulations, and could be further impacted with changes at the federal level.
Though, county officials on Thursday promised quick action to remedy the situation.
What do other California counties do?
Other California counties, however, have had a better handle on the issue, even with the limited placement options.
Other counties use various methods to identify appropriate placements for youth that meet their needs, such as those with complex care needs, Murray said.
Those methods include emergency and short-term foster care home placements and short-term residential therapeutic programs (STRTPs) — formerly known as group homes — designed to focus on clinical issues to help stabilize youth while longer-term living arrangements are identified, he said.
Other counties also have wraparound care and other resources meant to support foster families or relative caregivers to help meet the needs of the youth, he said, and intensive in-home services to provide specialty mental health care services.
“Some counties have also utilized rate flexibility established in recent legislation to develop and implement innovative funding models and individualized rates to create a placement alternative for a specific youth,” Murray said.
On Thursday, Fresno County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau apologized to the children and the workers who oversee them. He promised to resolve the problems quickly.
That same day, three children staying at the CWS Office were taken to a motel. Beginning on Saturday, a county facility at the former University Medical Center near the fairgrounds was made available with proper “bedding, staff, a food service and an onsite pantry” to house children while they await permanent placement.
County officials are scheduled to discuss the issue with state representatives this week to explore longer-term solutions.
Certain county officials had been made aware of some of the issues at least since June.
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