To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Contract 20-170-15 (CFS) CocoKids, Inc., Contract Renewal
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract with CocoKids, Inc., a non-profit corporation, in an amount not to exceed $1,001,441, to provide Emergency Child Care Bridge Program Services for Foster Children for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funded by 85% State Capped Allocation and 15% Federal Title IV-E, all of which is budgeted in FY 25-26.
BACKGROUND:
Access to childcare for potential eligible families seeking to take in a foster child continues to be one of the top barriers to placing young foster children with families. The Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Bridge Program) was enacted through Senate Bill 89, (Chapter 24, Statutes of 2017) and implemented in January 2018 to reduce childcare barriers for children and parenting youth in the foster care system, their caregiver families, and non-minor dependent parents.
On April 24, 2023, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) issued Child Care Bulletin (CCB) No. 23-10 announcing the FY 2023-2025 Bridge Program Opt-In Notification. Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) Children and Family Services (CFS) Bureau opted in at the approval of the Board of Supervisors on May 23, 2023 (C.30). CDSS has submitted a CCB notification to Counties advising that effective July 1, 2025, Counties can Opt In for an indefinite period of time until such time the County chooses to opt-out. EHSD will choose to continue to Opt-In for the Bridge Program and seek Board of Supervisors approval to do so once the forms are available. As a result, and to ensure there is not a lapse in subsidized Bridge Program childcare services for Contra Costa County resource families and foster youth, this Contract will renew the prior approved contracts for a term of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 to provide Bridge Program Services.
The Contractor is the designated Child Care Resource and Referral Agency that provides Bridge Program services in Contra Costa County which includes a twelve-month payment (or voucher) for childcare, childcare navigator assistance, as well as trauma-informed care training and coaching to childcare providers who care for children in foster care. The contract terms and budget were negotiated with Contractor to allow the Contractor and County to continue to provide Bridge Program services delivering critical emergency childcare services to foster youth and their eligible families through June 30, 2026.
The Board of Supervisors approved recent prior contracts and amendments for Bridge Program services with CocoKids, Inc. on May 14, 2024 (C.47) for FY 24/25; June 27, 2023 (C.73) for FY 22/24 (amendment); January 10, 2023 (C.50) for FY 22/24 (amendment) and May 24, 2022, (C.41) for FY 22/24.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County may face an increased number of foster youth unable to be placed with eligible families due to lack of access to subsidized childcare and corresponding State/Federal funding will be lost.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This contract 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" by supporting families that provide safe housing and supports for youth in foster care.