Report 2005-129 Recommendation 12 Responses

Report 2005-129: Department of Social Services: In Rebuilding Its Child Care Program Oversight, the Department Needs to Improve Its Monitoring Efforts and Enforcement Actions (Release Date: May 2006)

Recommendation #12 To: Social Services, Department of

To improve its enforcement actions in order to effectively address health and safety violations by child care facilities, the department should ensure that regional office staff consult with legal division staff early in the process when circumstances warrant it by clarifying its policies as necessary and following up to determine that the policies are complied with.

1-Year Agency Response

The department reported that the legal division’s early consultation pilot project in Southern California was well received, yet significant operational changes were made because of staff turnover. It reevaluated areas of assignment and sent legal staff to regional offices to be readily available for consultation. However, the department stated that it was doubtful it would expand the pilot project to Northern California, in part because the diversion of legal counsel to full-time consultation did not seem likely. Still, the department stated that it has continued to stress the need for early legal consultation. Finally, the department indicated that it requires monthly legal consultation on all cases that may result in an administrative action. (2008-406, p. 192)

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

All Recommendations in 2005-129

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.