Extension of Shelter Contract Proposed

Ventura County’s Public Social Services Agency is recommending that the Board of Supervisors extend its contract with Casa Pacifica for its children’s emergency shelter services for another four months.

The county should continue to contract with Casa Pacifica for the emergency shelter while the board reviews the county’s system of care for abused and neglected children, as well as the roles and responsibilities of everyone in that system, said Barbara Fitzgerald, the county agency’s interim director.

“It would simply extend the existing agreement until the board makes some decisions about Casa Pacifica as a whole,” Fitzgerald said.

Supervisors will decide at today’s meeting whether to heed Fitzgerald’s recommendation.

“It’s less disruptive to continue care at Casa Pacifica than set it up somewhere else until the board decides what they will do,” Fitzgerald said.

The board has been undecided whether to continue its partnership with Casa Pacifica, especially since it has come under recent fire.

In May, a county grand jury report indicated that the facility is hindered by problems in funding, design and regulations.

One day later, the State Department of Social Services recommended revoking the facility’s license to care for abused and neglected children, citing 63 violations--most of which focus on inadequate staff training, care and supervision.

While Casa Pacifica officials prepare a plan of correction for the licensing agency, the Board of Supervisors has assembled an ad hoc committee composed of Supervisors Susan Lacey and Judy Mikels and other county and Casa Pacifica representatives to develop recommendations to unify those involved in this system of care.