DPSS News July 2020

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Dear DPSS Team: Thank you for your focus on our clients and communities as we continue to adjust our practices in this coronavirus environment. Efforts to flatten the curve on

FROM FOSTER CARE TO UNIVERSITY LIFE

J une was a big month for Brianna Gonzalez. The 18-year-old foster youth graduated from Temescal Canyon High School in Lake Elsinore. While her senior year didn’t turn out quite exactly as she had hoped for due to COVID-19, she is looking forward to opening the next chapter of her life and career. Gonzalez, of Menifee, is one of the 11 foster youth in Riverside County who will be going to a four-year c o l l e g e a f t e r h i g h s c h o o l graduation. Countywide, there are about 100 students in foster care graduating in the high school class of 2020.

the pandemic have not gone as well as officials had hoped early on. As a result, the County of Riverside has again temporarily closed its buildings to curtail spread of disease. Most county employees, including those with DPSS, will continue to telework. No target date for reopening has been announced. DPSS is an essential organization. Our work and mission are vital to our communities. As a critical safety net, we must keep our doors open on a limited basis to those who need immediate resources to stay safe. Children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect need us now, possibly, more than ever. We will continue to safely comply with regulatory requirements for in-person customer assessments. Protective services programs will also continue to conduct mandatory in-person safety assessments and court-ordered family visits. Our organization continues to take several precautionary measures to keep you and our customers healthy while conducting DPSS business inside and outside of our facilities. These include but are not limited to mandatory health screenings, facial coverings, physical distancing, sneeze guards and sanitation of our buildings daily. More protective services workers continue to be trained and provided wi th personal equipment to use when recommended, to help them stay safe in the field; this will be done on an ongoing basis. Nevertheless, the most effective safeguard against COVID 19 remains you—and me. Over the past four weeks, Riverside County has seen a spike in COVID 19 cases, including a near doubling of cases within our own department. It is our understanding that none of our staff cases have been traced to customer contact, but rather external contacts. I have confidence in your strong focus to protect the wellbeing of our clients. I have seen time and again your proven commitment to keeping our communities—and one another—safe. The pandemic likely will be with us for some time. Our executive team will continue to communicate with you and ensure ongoing measures to carry out our mission while keeping our workforce healthy. I am truly grateful for your flexibility and grace as we find our path forward during this unprecedented event. Sayori

Brianna Gonzalez , 18, graduated from Temescal Canyon High School in Lake Elsinore and in August will be attending California Baptist University in August. (Photo courtesy of Brianna Gonzalez)

Foster youth represent one of the most vulnerable and at-risk student populations in California schools. In 2019, the high school graduation rate for foster youth in California public schools was just 56%, compared with 85% for all students.

“

Brianna is a very impressive young lady. Growing up in the child welfare system has its challenges and she has defeated the odds and earned her way into a university. I couldn’t be prouder of her; it was an honor to be a part of such a wonderful young lady’s life.

“Congratulations to Brianna and a l l ou r f os t e r you t h graduates of 2020, ” said Char i ty Douglas, program director of Children’s Services a t t he R i ve r s i de Coun t y Department of Public Social Services. “They are resilient and empowered to write a bright future for themselves and others whose lives they will positively impact.”

-Kim Hill, Social Services Practitioner III “

Born in Pennsylvania, Gonzalez moved to Riverside County in the sixth grade. That is when she says her world fell apart and she was placed in foster care. “In seventh grade, I was blessed to live with my amazing foster parents, who’ve been beside me this entire time,” she said. Now, with high school behind her, Gonzalez is ready for university life. She will be pursuing a nursing degree at California Baptist University in Riverside. She loves kids. Her dream is to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. “I know from being in foster care that not all kids like me get to go on to do their schooling,” she said, adding that she feels a strong support system and placement with a stable and loving family were keys to her success. Gonzalez hopes she will be moving into campus housing this August. “I can’t wait to be on my very own,” she added.

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

SPENDING TIGHTENS BUT HIRING TO CONTINUE IN BUDGET YEAR AHEAD

D espite a rocky budget year ahead, the Board of Supervisors has unanimously agreed to maintain county funding for DPSS, with the supervisors citing strong support for the organization’s mission and their appreciation for the complexity of its caseloads. Fifth District Supervisor Jeff Hewitt said he was skeptical early on about the role of DPSS and that his eyes were “opened” when he accompanied a Children’s Services social worker on a ride along to check on children and families. “This is such an emotional and demanding job,” Hewitt said during the county’s budget hearings late last month in downtown Riverside. “It is really one of the toughest jobs there is.” Sayori Baldwin, director of DPSS, said it was essential that DPSS continue to recruit and hire qualified social workers and supervisors as the department focuses on the delivery of quality services and organizational efficiencies. “I am so grateful for our Board’s support,” said Baldwin. “This crucial investment underscores our supervisors’ commitment to protecting vulnerable children and adults, and their interest in ensuring resources are available to local communities at an unprecedented economic time.” The 2020-21 fiscal year began July 1.

TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS: $1,153,288,785

NCC

THE NET COUNTY COST (NCC) ACCOUNTS FOR 5.9% OF THE DPSS BUDGET.

$68,425,268

Most of the $1.15 billion annual budget for DPSS comes from the federal and state governments. However, just under 6% comes from Riverside County. Much of the county investment is required for DPSS to draw down funding from state and federal programs. Officials say cuts by the county would have meant much larger fiscal losses for the department. Monica Bentley, chief financial officer for DPSS, says a budget agreement from the State of California to backfill other lost revenues also helped stabilize the financial outlook for the coming year. But, she cautions, the department is “not out of the woods.” “We will be carefully considering all spending. Savings will be pursued in many areas,” Bentley said, adding that plans to close some DPSS facilities in coming months could yield some reductions in overhead costs. “As the economy recovers, it will be necessary to monitor the recovery rate and assess what our funding streams will be able to support in the future,” Bentley says. “While it appears that economic recovery has begun, it will not happen overnight.”

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They’ve been foster parents for over 30 years. They’ve fostered over 2000 kids. Now they’re answering FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FOSTER PARENTING.

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

PANDEMIC DOESN’T STOP ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM

MULTIAGENCY TEAM EARNS NATIONAL AWARD

DELIVERING MESSAGE S o c i a l w a t c h d o g s a r e needed, now more than eve r, t o he l p p r o t ec t vulnerable seniors and dependent adults from financial scams, abuse and neglect during the coronavirus pandemic, say advocates for the aging and disabled. “We are experiencing a time of

W hen Adult Services social worker Gaby Reyes struggled to get an uncooperative homeless woman off Lake Elsinore streets and into a safe environment, she turned to a team of Riverside County agencies for help. “This woman was in her 80s, and had been homeless for more than 20 years,” Reyes said. “She resisted any help from me. I knew I needed multiple partners to step in.” Reyes turned for help to a newly formed team of medical, behavioral health, social services, law enforcement, and housing authority professionals. The homeless multidisciplinary team launched in 2018. It’s coordinated by the Curtailing Abuse Related to the Elderly (C.A.R.E.) Team and its members collaborate to solve complex issues around homelessness. Reyes’ case was one of the team’s first. Since then, the C.A.R.E. Team has successfully managed more than 100 high- risk homeless cases. The National Association of Counties has recognized the team’s success with a 2020 Achievement Award for improving county services. Partners such as Riverside University Health System-Behavioral Health, the Sheriff’s Department and community-based organizations play important roles. The team connected the homeless senior with the Riverside County Public Guardian who placed her in a conservatorship to manage her finances and get her into stable housing. “Everyone knew this woman, her history and family dynamics,” Reyes said. “She was able to get wrap-around services such as food and cash assistance and room and board. Seeing her excitement was so rewarding. I was not working alone.” Cooperation on the C.A.R.E. Team allows it to meet the needs of high-risk seniors and dependent adults who frequently fall between the cracks of government safety nets, said Todd Bellanca, program director of Riverside County Adult Services. “We are able to effectively close gaps in services by working together to strengthen that safety net,” Bellanca said. Reyes is proud of the collaboration of the C.A.R.E. Team and the positive impact its work has had on the community. “They’ve helped people involved in my cases, and so many others,” she said. The Homeless Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meets in Riverside in January 2020 to discuss complex cases involving homeless adults.

Dr. Stacey Wood

increased social distancing and isolation,” warned Dr. Stacey Wood, a nat ional exper t in forensic neuropsychology and geriatric psychology. “And, isolation is a potent factor for all kinds of abuse,” Wood was speaking to more than 300 advocates for the aging who attended the webinar “Isolation and Loneliness: Precursor to Elder Abuse & Exploitation.” The webinar was hosted by Riverside County Adult Services Division to align with National Elder Abuse Prevention Month in June. Attendees said the webinar was excellent, easy to understand and that it offered practical tools that were easy to apply. Some said the topic was especially timely. “Considering the unprecedented situation we are facing, I am glad we had this webinar,” wrote one participant. “The tremendous participation we saw speaks to the relevance of the topic and the interest we all share in protecting vulnerable adults from neglect and abuse in any of its forms,” said DPSS Regional Manager Julie Orozco, one of the webinar’s organizers. “This means strengthening the social safety net around them.” “Our seniors are valued members of society and our communities,” Orozco added. “Pandemic or no pandemic, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that recognizes the value of our seniors and protects them from harm and neglect.” Help protect elder and dependent adults by calling 1-800-491-7123 to report suspected abuse including: Phys i cal abuse, sexual abuse, sel f -neglect , abandonment, financial abuse, psychological abuse and neglect by others.

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

FAITH COMMUNITY SEAMLESSLY RESPONDS TO NEED FOR MASKS S ince early April, faith- based partners from

MEET A DAD HELPING OTHER DADS IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY

R oger De Leon is passionate about being a dad who helps other dads. De Leon moved from Texas to Southern California when he was 8. Just 10 years later he became a father. Now, a grandpa at 41, De Leon helps other parents across Riverside County who want to reunify with their children who are in placed in foster care. De Leon knows firsthand what it’s like when a child is taken away and says sometimes the experience can seem unfair. As a father, De Leon has

across Riverside County have sewn nearly 7,000 masks to protect at-risk clients and social services workers from exposure to the coronavirus.

“We sent out an email letting our faith partners know about the dire need DPSS had for masks, and they immediately swung into action to meet this need, says Irene Capen, manager of Faith in Motion, a network of more than 50 faith-based partners. The network of partners from many faiths collaborates with DPSS to provide resources and support to abused and neglected children and their families. The network also helps recruit families to foster children who need safe and loving homes. Recipients of the masks include children and youth in foster care, the elderly, home caregivers, social workers and others who have needed them, said Capen, calling the initiative a collective effort. “This is what Faith in Motion is all about—coming together to support efforts that keep individuals and families safe during this crisis,” Capen said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing a face covering in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Face coverings are always to be worn by employees and visitors to DPSS faci l i t ies, says DPSS Director Sayori Baldwin. Sandals Church, in Riverside, was the first faith partner to donate masks.

Roger De Leon, 41, is a parent partner for the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). (Photo credit: David Meleika)

experienced all the emotions and work that it takes to get a child back. De Leon said his faith and his role as an assistant youth minister are reassuring to him that he went through the experience himself for a reason. For the past five years, De Leon has been a parent partner for Riverside County DPSS. Parent partners are paraprofessionals who have experienced having a child placed in foster care and were later reunified with their child. De Leon especially loves working with and encouraging fathers. He is bilingual and engages them in both English and Spanish; his goal being to ensure all his clients are communicating with their social worker, actively participating in the reunification process, and can be a part of their children’s lives as they strive to become better parents. “Although the goal of the child welfare system is to strengthen and preserve families, we recognize that the process can feel overwhelming and even frightening,” said Lisa Walcker, regional manager for the Program Development Region at DPSS Children’s Services Division. “Through the Parent Partner program, we are able to connect families who are newly involved with the child welfare system with parents who have successfully navigated through the process in order to give support along the way.” A small but growing number of studies are showing that parent peer-to- peer programs are producing higher rates of reunification and lower rates of child reentry into the child welfare system, according to Casey Family Programs, a national foundation that focuses on safely reducing the need for foster care and strengthening families. “Our parent partners are able to mentor, encourage and instill hope in other parents, often resulting in better outcomes for families,” Walcker added.

“Wearing a facial covering is a sign of respect and consideration for the health of our colleagues and our clients,” Baldwin says. “ We a r e g r a t e f u l f o r t h e handmade facial coverings which are each so beautiful and unique. This outpouring of love and s u p p o r t p r o t e c t s o u r own fie l dwo r ke r s and ou r mos t vulnerable neighbors.”

Irene Capen, manager of Faith in Motion, picks up a mask donation at Crossroads Christian Church in Corona.

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

SELF-SUFFICIENCY HELPS SERVE UP GREAT PLATES TO SENIORS

S elf Sufficiency workers regularly go the extra mile to connect clients to the resources and support they need; and nothing, not even a coronavirus pandemic, will stand in their way of lending a helping hand when called upon. “This what our county badge is for—to serve the public,” said Anna Sifuentes, support supervisor in the Cathedral City office. In addition to processing tens of thousands of new applications for benefits over the past four months, members of the Self-Sufficiency team are helping get the word out about Great Plates Delivered, a statewide meal delivery service designed to keep older adults safe and healthy at home during the coronavirus pandemic. The Riverside County Office on Aging administers Great Plates in collaboration with dozens of partners and local eateries. Since its launch in late April, the Great Plates program has served 75,516 meals countywide. “This was a great opportunity to help reach people who qualify and who might not have been aware of this program,” said Kasey Rogers, supervisor program specialist. “The challenge was letting eligible customers without online or social media access know the program is available. Self-Sufficiency teams helped identify thousands of eligible clients 60 and older. Flyers were printed. Frontline workers stuffed almost 5,600. Sifuente’s team of three in Cathedral City printed, stuffed and mailed flyers to hundreds of eligible seniors. “We made the time to get it done right away so that those who needed the assistance could benefit from the program as soon as possible,” Sifuente says. “It’s what we do.”

Employees at the Fieldhouse Restaurant and Bar at the SilverLakes Sports Complex in Norco prepare meals for the Great Plates Delivered program. Courtesy of Fieldhouse in Norco.

Countywide, ‘Great Plates’ has delivered meals to 2,906 older adults and 51 local restaurants have participated. Although the statewide program was set to sunset on July 10, it will continue locally until August 10. Since the program launched, 76,516 meals have been served.

Parent partner programs are also beneficial to mentors like De Leon because they provide career opportunities that help lead others to change in themselves and their families. Peer-to-peer support is also designed to help the social workers who are managing their cases by connecting parents with resources and giving a warm hand off to the service providers when those first steps can be intimidating. In addition, parent partners have the flexibility to spend more one-on-one time with clients. Meetings can last from 30 minutes to two hours. They check in regularly to make sure their parents have the information and resources they need to complete their court-mandated programs, such as substance abuse treatment, counseling services, health care, parenting classes, housing or rental assistance. “We are always expecting for parents to reunify with children,” De Leon added. “Sometimes it may take longer than we might expect but we are there every step of the way to make sure that progress is being made.” MEET A DAD HELPING OTHER DADS IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4)

10 Ways to be a Better Dad:

1. Respect your children’s mother 2. Spend time with your children 3. Listen first, talk second 4. Discipline with love 5. Be a role model 6. Be a teacher 7. Eat together as a family 8. Read to your children 9. Show affection 10.Realize a father’s job is never done

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES