To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Contract Private Adoption Agency Reimbursement Program
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Auditor-Controller, or designee, to issue reimbursement payments to private adoptions agencies approved by the Employment and Human Services Department, for a total amount not to exceed $800,000 to support the Private Adoption Agency Reimbursement Program pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code 16122 per California State Assembly Bill 1301 for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
50% State 2011 Realignment Funds, 50% Federal, of which $400,000 is budgeted for FY 26-27 and $400,000 will be budgeted for FY 27-28.
BACKGROUND:
California’s Private Adoption Agency Reimbursement Program (PAARP) as outlined in All County Letter 20-85 dated August 20, 2020, requires county child welfare agencies to provide standardized reimbursement payments to licensed private adoption agencies for costs associated with supporting families through the process of adopting children and non-minor dependents who would otherwise remain in foster care because of age, medical or psychological disability, or other circumstance that would make adoptive placement of these children especially difficult pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 16122 resulting from CA Assembly Bill 1301 (AB1301).
• The PAARP reimbursement for children adopted by resource families approved by dually licensed private non-profit foster family and adoptions agencies is $8,000 each.
• The PAARP reimbursement for dually licensed private non-profit foster family and adoption agencies that, upon the request of the County, provide adoption support activities for adoptive placement and/or finalization for resource families that were approved by the County or another Foster Family Agency, is $6,600 each.
The Board of Supervisors has approved prior staff reports supporting PAARP reimbursement payments on July 23, 2024 (24-2194); May 17, 2022 (C.39); June 8, 2021 (C.100); and October 13, 2020 (C.42).
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This payment supports all five of the community outcomes established in the Children’s Report Card: (1) “Children Ready for and Succeeding in School”; (2) “Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood”; (3) Families that are Economically Self-Sufficient; (4) Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing”; and (5) “Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families”.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County would not be in compliance with AB1301.