Cultural Brokers

Services are designed to raise awareness of disproportionality and disparities that exist in the child welfare system.

Services are designed to raise awareness of disproportionality and disparities that exist in the child welfare system. Family Advocates increase the quality of the relationship between Fresno County Department of Social Services child welfare staff and the families they serve. The Family Advocate provides brokering, advocacy and support to families who are involved, or at risk of involvement, with the child welfare system.

The Family Advocate receives referrals from Department staff and coordinates with the DSS Social Worker to jointly respond to reports of potential child abuse. The Family Advocate will provide additional support to the family through short term case management services and, where appropriate, assist families with identifying relatives for placement of their kin. The Family Advocate will provide support and technical assistance to families seeking legal guardianship of related youth within Fresno and the surrounding community as set forth in subrecipients’ Response to County’s RFP No. 19-024, including Addendum No. One and Addendum Two.

A Variety of Services

CBI advocate/liaisons may offer a variety of services including referral, linkage, information and technical assistance depending on the needs of the families being served. CBI is expected to serve a total of 560 families annually

465 Joint Responses

465 Joint Response (Face-to-Face Contact – 14 days average service time)

35 On-Going Case

35 On-Going Case Management (not to exceed 90 days)

60 Guardianships

60 Kinship/Guardianship (completed)

Goals & Outcomes

Identified outcomes are considered preliminary and may be modified as required by mutual written consent of the Department of Social Services (DSS) Director, or designee, and the Subrecipient during the contract term. Subrecipient will report outcomes in a method determined by DSS.

Engagement

OUTCOME TO BE REPORTED

A Family Advocate will coordinate with a Social Worker and perform a joint response.
Families referred to CBI for on-going services will accept services.
Families receiving CBI services will be satisfied with the services provided by the CBI services.

OUTCOME INDICATOR

70% of joint response referrals will be contacted by a CBI case manager.
70% receiving a joint response will have an increased knowledge and utilization of community resources.
70% of families will agree to accept on-going CBI services and complete a family service advocate plan within 14 days of referral.
60% of families who have received 60-90 days of ongoing services will report improved communication and trust with DSS staff.

Intermediate

OUTCOME TO BE REPORTED

Parents will gain a better understanding of the Child Welfare system.
Families will have an increased knowledge and be linked to community resources to strengthen the family’s circle of support.
Parents receiving CBI on-going services will reunify with their children.

OUTCOME INDICATOR

70% of families receiving a joint response will not enter the Child Welfare system within 6-months of receiving a joint response.
70% of families receiving on-going CBI services will understand risk factors and behavioral changes needed to reunify.
70% of participants will demonstrate an increase in knowledge of parenting as measured by a pre/post survey.

Long-Term

OUTCOME TO BE REPORTED

Families receiving Joint Response services will not re-enter the Child Welfare system.
Families receiving CBI services will have increased knowledge and utilization of community resources.
CBI advocates/liaisons will provide technical assistance to families seeking guardianship of related youth.

OUTCOME INDICATOR

75% of families receiving Joint Response services will not re-enter the Child Welfare system at 6-months from completing CBI services.
75% of the families will have increased knowledge and utilization of community resources and will have identified circles of support as demonstrated by the FDM Matrix Tool.
90% of families referred for Guardianship/Kinship technical assistance will complete the process.