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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200959.tiffRESOLUTION RE: APPROVE ADDITIONS TO SECTION 2.000 CHILD WELFARE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES POLICIES AND GUIDELINES MANUAL 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 additions to Section 2.000 Child Welfare of the Department of Human Services Policies and Guidelines Manual, and WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said additions, copies of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the additions to Section 2.000 Child Welfare of the Department of Human Services Policies and Guidelines Manual, be, and hereby are, approved. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 23rd day of March, A.D., 2020. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO ATTEST: dator46) ;Ok. Weld County Clerk to the Board BY: V Deputy Clerk to the Board AP o 1'D AS TO ounty orney Date of signature: 03/2442 Mike Freeman, Chair Steve oreno, Pro-Tem tt K. James Kevin D. Ross GC:HSD,CA(Kra/GK) 04/02/10 2020-0959 HR0092 PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM DATE: March 17, 2020 TO: Board of County Commissioners — Pass -Around FR: Jamie Ulrich, Director, Human Services RE: Addition to the Department's Policies and Guidelines Manual — Child Welfare 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 Additions and/or Revisions to the Department's Policies and Guidelines Manual — Child Welfare. The following policy (attached) has been developed by involved Department staff and were provided to Legal for review and comments. • 2.3,1 0, Child Welfare —Mileage Reimbursement for Child Welfare Clients (NEW), This policy outlines the criteria for the Weld County Department of Human Services (WCDHS) to reimburse mileage for families reuniting with their children or families/kin who need some assistance with getting to and from court ordered treatment and visitation. Reimbursement of mileage provides assistance so families can remain intact or work toward reunification. I do not recommend a Work Session. I recommend approval of these policy. Mike Freeman, Chair Scott James Barbara Kirkmeyer Steve Moreno, Pro -Tern Kevin Ross Pit Approve Schedule Recommendation Work Session Other/Comments: viArd,s1 Pass -Around Memorandum; March 17, 2020 —Not in CMS Page 1 2020-0959 PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM DATE: March 17, 2020 TO: Board of County Commissioners — Pass -Around FR: Jamie Ulrich, Director, Human Services RE: Addition to the Department's Policies and Guidelines Manual — Child Welfare and General Assistance 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 Additions and/or Revisions to the Department's Policies and Guidelines Manual — Child Welfare and General Assistance. The following policies (attached) have been developed by involved Department staff and were provided to Legal for review and comments. 4. • 2.3.200. Use of Social Media (NEW) The Social Media policy has been developed to protect the confidentiality of children in foster care and their foster families. • 5.1.20. Compromising Food Assistance Claim (NEW) The Compromising Food Assistance Claims policy has been revised to conform with, and as a supplement to, 7 CFR 273.18(e)(7) and State rule 4.801.3 (10 CCR 2506-1): Compromising Claims. Pursuant to these rules, a county must consider compromising an administrative error or inadvertent household error claim. Intentional Program Violation/Fraud (IPV) claims are not eligible for compromise. The Department will only consider a compromise on those claims coded as administrative or inadvertent household error. I do not recommend a Work Session. I recommend approval of these policies. Mike Freeman, Chair Scott James Barbara Kirkmeyer Steve Moreno, Pro -Tern Kevin Ross Approve Schedule Recommendation Work Session Other/Comments: Pass -Around Memorandum; March 17, 2020 — Not in CMS Page 1 3/-- 90@0-0`31.59 N-Re012 Department of Human Services Policies CHAPTER 2 — Child Welfare ARTICLE III — Foster/Kinship Sec. 2.3.190. — Mileage Reimbursement For Child Welfare Clients A. Purpose Weld County Department of Human Services' (WCDHS), Child Welfare Division, reimburses mileage for families reuniting with their children or families/kin who need some assistance with getting to and from court ordered treatment and visitation. Reimbursement for mileage is one of the ways WCDHS provides assistance so families can remain intact or work toward reunification. B. Mileage Reimbursement Criteria The Child Welfare Division is sometimes required to provide financial assistance to families who are involved in the family court system. Criteria for mileage reimbursement includes: 1. The rate of reimbursement will correspond with the County Code mileage reimbursement rate. 2. The primary reasons for approval of mileage reimbursement are therapeutic and visitation. a) Therapeutic: any form of therapy for a child/youth that is court ordered or considered prevention. b) Visitation: when the child/youth is placed out of the home of the custodial parent/caregiver and the court has ordered visits occur with the parents/caregiver. 3. Requests other than therapeutic and visitation will need to be approved by the Manager, Deputy Division Head or Division Head. C. Requesting Reimbursement for Mileage Reimbursement will be limited to the number of miles approved and the current annual rate. Once a caseworker has identified a parent or caregiver's need for mileage reimbursement, they will follow the steps below: 1. The caseworker will send an email requesting approval for mileage reimbursement to their supervisor, including client name, child name, Trails ID, purpose and travel details. 2. The supervisor will approve or deny the request. If approved, the supervisor will forward the email to the caseworker, HS-CWLeadership, and HS -Business Office, making sure the payee's name, address and pertinent details are listed. a) No W-9 will be needed, as this vendor number will only be used for mileage reimbursement. 3. After the supervisor approves the mileage reimbursement request, the caseworker will process the Client Mileage Reimbursement Form (H Drive: Department Common/Fiscal/Forms), as follows: February 2020 Department of Human Services Policies a) The caseworker will provide the Client Mileage Reimbursement Form to the parent/caregiver with the name and address of the person who will be identified as the payee, and the total number of miles approved. b) The caseworker will explain and complete the form for the total number of miles that have been approved for travel. c) The caseworker will ensure the Client Mileage Reimbursement Form is returned by the tenth (10th) of each month following the month of travel. i. Client Mileage Reimbursement Forms not received by the fiscal office within sixty (60) days of first travel date will not be eligible for reimbursement. D. Completing the Client Mileage Reimbursement Form Once the parent/caregiver completes the transport, they will fill out the Client Mileage Reimbursement Form, sign it and submit it to the caseworker. The caseworker and supervisor will process the Client Mileage Reimbursement Form as follows: 1. The caseworker will verify that the parent/caregiver attended the session via written notification from the therapeutic or visitation provider. 2. The caseworker will sign the Client Mileage Reimbursement Form and submit it to their supervisor for approval and signature. 3. The supervisor will assess the accuracy of the miles traveled, via a mapping website, prior to approval and signature. 4. The supervisor will open a service authorization in Trails under vendor #45062, Weld County. 5. Once all have signed the Client Mileage Reimbursement Form, it will be submitted to the Fiscal Office for processing. E. Mileage Reimbursement For Other Than Therapeutic or Visitation If the request is beyond the scope of therapeutic or visitation purposes then the caseworker's supervisor will ask their Manager, Deputy Division Head or Division Head, for approval. Once approved, they will follow the steps for completing the Client Mileage Reimbursement Form. F. Alternative to Mileage Reimbursement When all other methods of reimbursement have been exhausted, the caseworker may request a Gas Voucher (Exhibit A) from the Child Welfare Division Head. 1. If approved, the caseworker will be provided with a Gas Voucher, with a predetermined amount. 2. The caseworker will give the client the white and yellow copies and forward the pink copy to the Fiscal Office for processing. 3. The Child Welfare Division Head, or designee, will enter the service authorization in TRAILS. February 2020 Exhibit A — Child Welfare Services of Weld County Gas Voucher Child Welfare Services of Weld County Gas Voucher Department of Human Services Child Welfare of Weld County P.O. Box A, Greeley, CO 80632 Phone: (970) 4000-6570 Vendor: O Agfinity HWY Y 85 & 16th St Greeley, CO Client Name: o TJ's Express 804 Denver Ave Ft. Lupton, CO Gas Voucher #: Date: *For FUEL ONLY* *Voucher is void in 30 days* *Voucher cannot be replaced if lost or stolen* Funding: o Child Welfare o Other: Trails Client ID: Trails Case ID: The bearer of this voucher (client) is entitled to & 00/100 dollars in gasoline. $ *If the client uses less gasoline than is indicated above, please show total here: $ Vendor's Signature: To be used for transportation while participating in a Child Welfare Program. Client is responsible for any amount used ABOVE the stated amount. This voucher is for GAS ONLY and any balance may NOT be reimbursed in cash or any other product. Client's Signature: Child Welfare of Weld County Certification: I certify that the client named above is participating in Child Welfare and have been authorized for the expenditures listed on this voucher. Child Welfare Division Head or Division Deputy Signature: White: Fiscal Office - Returned by Vendor Canary: Vendor Pink: File Copy Department of Human Services Policies CHAPTER 2 — Child Welfare ARTICLE III — Foster/Kinship Sec. 2.3.200. — Use of Social Media A. Purpose The Weld County Department of Human Services (WCDHS) Social Media policy is intended to protect the confidentiality of children in foster care and their foster families. B. Social Media Practice 1. Foster families must not post any pictures of foster children on any social media site. This includes pictures with their faces blurred out or covered up in some manner. This also includes pictures that you might deem as non -identifying. 2. Foster families must not make any comments about foster children on any social media site, even when not using names. 3. Foster families must not reference any action taken by Weld County, including when custody is granted. 4. When contacted for a potential placement, all information regarding that placement must be kept private and not shared on any social media site. 5. Foster families must not make negative comments about the professional Child Welfare system on any social media site. 6. Sharing photos with a birth family must be approved by the foster family's Foster Care Coordinator (FCC) and the child's Caseworker. Photos cannot be shared with the birth family via social media. 7. Weld County staff must not accept foster parents as friends on any social media site. 8. Failure to adhere to the above requirements may result in a corrective action plan for the foster family and/or Weld County staff. March 2020 Hello