To: Board of Supervisors
From: Health and Human Services Agency
Meeting Date: May 4, 2021
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Department Contact: |
Bekkie Emery |
Phone: |
463-7761 |
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Department Contact: |
Jena Conner |
Phone: |
463-7971 |
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Item Type: Consent Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: N/A |
Agenda Title:
title
Adoption of Proclamation Recognizing May 2021 as National Foster Care Awareness Month in Mendocino County
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Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Adopt Proclamation Recognizing May 2021 as National Foster Care Awareness Month in Mendocino County; and authorize Chair to sign same.
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Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
Most recent action: May 5, 2020, Item 4(k), Proclamation.
Summary of Request:
In 1988, President Reagan issued the first Presidential proclamation establishing May as National Foster Care Awareness Month. Since then, it has been an annual time to recognize and acknowledge foster parents, relative caregivers, child welfare professionals and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care. This year’s national theme is “Foster Care as a Support to Families, Not a Substitute for Parents.”
Foster care is an important temporary, last resort service for children and youth who cannot safely remain with their birth families. Mendocino County has over 200 foster children in care, and there is an increasing shortage of local resource families, even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic, who are willing to provide this important care for children of any age, but especially teens, children with complex behavioral and mental health needs and sibling groups. This results in foster children being placed out of county and/or separated from their siblings, which creates significant barriers to successful reunification between foster children and their birth families.
Resource Families play a critical role in the lives of foster children, caring for and nurturing them and helping reduce the trauma of separation, while working with their birth families, Family & Children’s Services and community agencies to strengthen birth families’ abilities to safely care for children and successfully reunify with them. When reunification is not possible, foster families help care for children until they are able to achieve permanency through adoption or legal guardianship.
With great thanks and appreciation, Mendocino County recognizes our local Resource Families for opening their homes to our foster children and youth. We invite everyone to recognize Resource Parents during the month of May 2021 which is set aside as National Foster Care Awareness Month.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Return to staff for alternate handling.
Supervisorial District: All
vote requirement: Majority
Supplemental Information Available Online At: N/A
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: N/A |
budgeted in current f/y: N/A |
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current f/y cost: N/A |
if no, please describe: |
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annual recurring cost: N/A |
revenue agreement: N/A |
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budget clarification: N/A |
Agreement/Resolution/Ordinance Approved by County Counsel: N/A
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CEO Liaison: Darcie Antle, Deputy CEO |
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CEO Review: Yes |
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CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Atlas Pearson, Deputy Clerk I |
Final Status:Adopted |
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Date: May 4, 2021 |
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