Motion by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky

June 3, 1997

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ZEV YAROSLAVSKY

On April 7, 1997, the Los Angeles County Grand Jury Juvenile Services Committee issued their final report on group homes. Today, as a result of this report, a hearing is being held to give the public an opportunity to comment on the findings made in this report.

This morning, the Commission for Children and Families presented the Board with recommendations that include the creation of a Board-appointed Task Force comprised of the Directors of the Departments of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Probation, and Mental Health, representatives from the Regional Center, Commission for Children and Families, Los Angeles Unified School District, County Office of Education, Inspector General, and the Ombudsman. The charge of this Task Force is outlined in the Commission’s formal recommendations to this Board. These recommendations also outline the elements of a quality group home. These include a nurturing environment, appropriate physical surroundings, preparations for emancipation, and most importantly, that the operators and staff make it a priority to ensure good outcomes for every child. Ensuring that a child is safe is critical, however, it is extremely important that the child’s quality of life be part of a group home’s mission. Wherever a child is placed, the home needs to be a nurturing environment which helps a child to flourish as an individual and become a productive member of society. Therefore, this Task Force should also develop specific criteria which would be utilized in determining whether the group home is meeting all of its requirements as well as its mission.

Additionally, it is my understanding that the DCFS is about to approve contracts with group homes. Quality of care elements need to be included in all contracts and appropriate fines and actions need to be taken by DCFS when these elements are not being provided.

I, THEREFORE, MOVE that the Board create the Quality of Care Task Force as recommended by the Commission on Children and Families and that this task force also develop an instrument for measuring quality of care elements in group homes;

I FURTHER MOVE that DCFS include quality of care elements in all group home contracts and that appropriate fines and sanctions be leveled when these elements are not being provided.