HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY - J. RYDINGSWORD

Sitting As the Authority For In Home Supportive Services, Consideration of Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) and San Benito County Public Authority (PA) Agreement for Conducting Required Provider Background Checks and Orientations for In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program, and Authorize Chair to Sign.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 130.1

The Board will adjourn as the IHSSW Public Authority and reconvene as the San Benito County Board of Supervisors re:

In FY 09/10, State legislation required that In Home Supportive Services providers complete a criminal background check and fraud-awareness orientation.  The Board of Supervisors and the IHSS/PA Governing Board entered into a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) at that time for the Public Authority to conduct background checks and provider orientations.  The MOU needs to be re-implemented per State regulations.  The proposed MOU for these services will cover the period July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019, and thereafter, the term of this agreement shall automatically renew for additional periods of twelve (12) months, unless terminated by either party in accordance to section 5 of General Provisions .  This proposed MOU has been incorporated into the IHSS/PA FY 18/19 approved budget.

The IHSS program allows elderly and disabled persons to remain in their homes rather than to go into more costly skilled nursing facilities by having paid providers perform assistance with daily living needs such as personal hygiene, meal preparation, domestic services, transportation to medical appointments, assistance with administration of medications and other identified needs.  Providers may be family members or may be unrelated to the recipient.  The Public Authority maintains a provider registry and if a recipient does not have a family member that can provide their care, the PA can let that recipient select a provider from said registry.  Counties are provided additional funding to conduct new background checks and orientation requirements.  Staff processes an average of 2 to 3 providers a day at an average of approximately 2 hours for each provider.  The costs for staff have been budgeted in the IHSS fiscal year 2018/19 budget.  There is no impact to the county general fund.

It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adjourn and reconvene as the IHSS Public Authority:

1. Approve MOU Between HHSA and the PA, for the term to July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019; and

2. Authorize the Chair to sign said MOU.