HomeMy WebLinkAbout20232036.tiffRESOLUTION
RE: APPROVE STANDARD FORM FOR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
REGARDING SCHOOL STABILITY FOR STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE BETWEEN
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND VARIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND
AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN ANY MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
CONSISTENT WITH SAID FORM
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with a Standard Form for Memorandum of
Understanding Regarding School Stability for Students in Foster Care between the County of
Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on
behalf of the Department of Human Services, and various School Districts, with further terms and
conditions being as stated in said form, and
WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said form, a copy of
which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Weld County, Colorado, that the Standard Form for Memorandum of Understanding Regarding
School Stability for Students in Foster Care between the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by
and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of
Human Services, and various School Districts, be, and hereby is, approved.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chair be, and hereby is, authorized
to sign any Memorandum of Understanding consistent with said form.
Cc: HSt', Crf3(1E6/cw) CA(k. ), ACT(cP/cD)
08/05/23
2023-2036
HR0095
STANDARD FORM FOR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING SCHOOL
STABILITY FOR STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES AND VARIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS
PAGE 2
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 19th day of July, A.D., 2023.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: diavo
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Weld County Clerk to the Board
BY: C11--& t VL{,(}`rCt
Deputy Clerk to the Board
AP
County'' torney
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Date of signature: -9 123
eman, Chair
Perry
Saine
2023-2036
HR0095
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
EMORANDUM
DATE July 5, 2023
TO Board of County Commissioners — Pass -Around
FR Jamie Ulrich,' Director, Human Services
RE, Child Welfare SFY 2023-24 Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) Template and Provider List
for School Stability for Students in Foster Care
Please review and indicate if you would like a work session prior to placing this item on the
Board's agenda
Request Board Approval of the Department's Child Welfare SFY 2023-24 Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) Template and Provider List for School Stability for Students in
Foster Care. Ensuring school stability and academic success for children and youth in foster
care is an important joint responsibility of child welfare agencies and school districts Under
state and federal law students in out -of -home placements should remain in their school of origin
unless doing so is not in his or her best interest In these cases, the Department and County
School Districts must collaborate to provide necessary transportation when students remain in
their school of origin To support this effort, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) allows
child welfare agencies the use of ESSA transportation funds to transport eligible children and
youth, within reason, to their school of origin When this occurs, the Department and School
Districts may bill the Colorado Department of Human Services and one another for
transportation provided
The Department wishes to enter into Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with 12 Weld
County School Districts, listed below, to outline how school placement decisions will be made
through a Best Interest Determination (BID) process and how transportation cost sharing
between the County and School District will be reimbursed
C..,
LI -
-
_ ,
School' District • -` _
GrRE-1,(Gdcrest) _. f ' — 1'::: : ,-2-,-,
2
RE -2 (Eaton)
,3 T _
, RE -3 (Keenesburg)
4
RE -4 (Windsor)
5 s
—
, RE-5,(Johnstown Milliken)
6
RE -6 (Evans -Greeley)
7
, RE -7 (Platte' Valley) " , '
8
RE -8 (Fort Lupton)
Pass -Around Memorandum, July 5, 2023 - CMS ID Various
7/1q
2023-2036
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
9
RE
-9 (Ault
-Highland)
10
RE
-10
(Briggsdale)
11
RE -11
(Prairie)
12
RE -12 (Pawnee)
I do not recommend a Work Session. I recommend approval of the MOU template and list of providers
and authorize the Chair to Sign approved MOUs.
Approve
Recommendation
Perry L. Buck, Pro-Tem
Mike Freeman, Chair
Scott K. James
Kevin D. Ross
Lori Saine
Schedule
Work Session
Other/Comments:
Pass -Around Memorandum; July 5, 2023 — CMS ID Various Page 2
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
SCHOOL STABILITY FOR STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE
BETWEEN THE WELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
AND
SCHOOL DISTRICT NAME
This Memorandum of Understanding made and entered into the day of , 2023, by
and between the Board of Weld County Commissioners, on behalf of the Weld County
Department of Human Services, hereinafter referred to as the "County Department" and
SCHOOL DISTRICT NAME, hereinafter referred to as the "School District".
1. BACKGROUND
Ensuring school stability and academic success for children and youth in foster care is an
important joint responsibility of child welfare agencies and school districts. Under state and
federal law, when a student in an out -of -home placement (Student) changes foster care
placement, the Student should remain in his or her school of origin unless doing so is not in his
or her best interest, in which case the Student must be immediately enrolled in a new school.
Local child welfare agencies (County Department) and local education agencies (School District)
must collaborate to provide necessary transportation when Students remain in their schools of
origin.
2. BEST INTEREST DETERMINATIONS
When an out -of -home placement results in a potential school change for the Student, the County
Department will conduct a Best Interest Determination (BID). The County Department will give
the School District at least 3 school days' notice when possible. BIDs will be conducted by the
County Department in accordance with applicable statute and regulation. The School District
will provide the input of individuals who know the Student and can speak to his/her school
experience and needs prior to or by participating in BID. The School District will have the
opportunity to offer input regarding best interest, although the ultimate determination will be
decided by the County Department.
When the Student remains in his or her school of origin, which is the presumption, the School
District and County Department will collaborate to ensure that necessary transportation is
provided.
When the County Department determines that it is not in the best interest of a Student to remain
in his or her school of origin, the School District will transfer the education records of the
Student to the new school without delay.
3. TRANSPORTATION TO REMAIN IN THE SCHOOL OF ORIGIN
Short-term transportation to allow a Student to remain in the school of origin will be arranged by
the County Department. The County Department and School District will collaborate to provide
ongoing transportation to allow the Student to remain in the school of origin. Regardless of
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which party arranges, provides or funds the transportation (or any disputes pertaining thereto),
the parties shall ensure that transportation is provided when necessary for the Student to remain
in the school of origin.
4. COST SHARING FOR TRANSPORTAION TO REMAIN IN THE SCHOOL OF
ORIGIN
The provision of transportation to allow a Student to remain in his or her school of origin may
result in costs that exceed what the School District would otherwise pay to transport the student
to school if the student were not in foster care (Additional Costs).
The State Department of Human Services (State Department) will reimburse 80% of the
Additional Costs for Students to remain in their schools of origin. The County Department and
the School District will equally share the remaining 20% of Additional Costs (10% to each
party).
If the School District incurs the Additional Costs by providing transportation directly, the School
District will invoice the County Department to reflect the following:
a) 100% of the total Additional Costs.
b) 10% credit of the total Additional Cost for the School District's portion.
c) 90% Net Due to the School District from the County Department.
Invoices for the County Department should be sent to Doug Hainley at Hainlejd@weld.gov.
If the County Department incurs the Additional Costs by providing transportation directly,
paying mileage to a caregiver, or by providing another form of private transportation, the County
Department upon receiving an invoice from the transportation vendor will:
a) Invoice the School District for the 10% share of the Additional Costs.
Invoices for the School District should be sent to (Name and E-mail).
POINTS OF CONTACT
The primary point of contact for accomplishing the objectives of this MOU, including day-to-day
communications, are:
County Department
Doug Hainley
Mental Health and Support Services Supervisor
970-400-6210
Hainlejd@weld.gov
5. INFORMATION SHARING
School District
NAME
TITLE
PHONE
EMAIL
In addition to collaborating to make Best Interest Determinations and facilitate the immediate
enrollment of students in out -of -home placements through the transfer of education records, the
County Department and School District shall immediately disclose information that is relevant to
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the health and safety of the Student or anyone else to the fullest extent allowed by applicable
law, specifically including but not limited to C.R.S. § 19-1-303(2) (allowing "school personnel"
to obtain "any information required to perform their legal duties and responsibilities" from any
agency that performs duties under Title 19 of Colorado Revised Statutes) and 20 U.S.C §
1232g(b)(1)(I) (allowing schools to disclose confidential information to "appropriate persons if
the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or
other persons').
At a minimum, the County Department will notify School District within 3 school days when
children enrolled in the district enter or change out -of -home placements, so that the School
District can fulfill its other obligations toward students in out -of -home placements (which are
outside the scope of this agreement).
6. TERM
The term of this MOU shall commence on August 1, 2023 and shall be perpetual.
7. SIGNATURES
COUNTY:
ATTEST BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Weld County Clerk to the Board WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
By:
Deputy Clerk to the Board Mike Freeman. Chair
CONTRACTOR:
(School District Name)
(Address)
(City, State, Zip Code)
By:
(Name, Title)
Date:
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