SONOMA COUNTY

 

  • For their pilot project, Lifelong Connections, Sonoma used child welfare improvement funds for a half-time Permanency Specialist (formerly retired social worker)
    • January 1 - June 30, 2006
    • Territorial issues arose; the Permanency Specialist was not fully integrated into permanency planning and the regular business of the agency.

  • Sonoma is using more child welfare improvement funds to hire a staff person who will have both permanency specialist and other responsibilities. The idea is that this person will coordinate with, and be better integrated with, workers in other areas such as Independent Living Program (ILP), licensing, and relative home approvals.

  • Sonoma borrowed Stanislaus County's database for their permanency work. Clerical workers are assigned for the technical work of database maintenance and searches.

  • From the 235 connections identified for the target youth, 14 have become permanent connections.

  • The Steering Committee is a partnership effort:
    • Internal partners include management, supervisors, social workers, clerical
    • External partners include state adoption representatives, an education liaison, Mental Health, minors' attorneys, the Santa Rosa Junior College, True to Life Children's Center, and Alternative Family Services.
    • The Steering Committee helps coordinate relative and connection identification and permanency planning for mutual client youth, and also assists with strategizing.

 

Download Sonoma Second Year Plan

 

Contact:
Mignon Evans
707.565.4348

evansma@schsd.org

11-03-06