Supervisors OK Contract With Casa Pacifica

Showing a renewed commitment toward Casa Pacifica, Ventura County supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a $1.2-million contract with the embattled shelter for abused and neglected children.

The one-year contract includes $340,000 more than the county’s previous agreement, with the additional money to be used for increased supervision and crisis intervention services at the shelter’s Camarillo campus. The county will also lend $400,000 to Casa Pacifica to pay its debts.

In addition, the new arrangement calls for increasing the number of county staff who work at the facility from 20 to as many as 35 to improve social and mental health services.

“We need to start rebuilding the credibility of Casa Pacifica . . . and the credibility of the county in taking care of our high-risk children,” Supervisor Judy Mikels said before the board’s vote.

Less than two months ago, the state Department of Social Services recommended revocation of Casa Pacifica’s license, citing supervision and disciplinary violations. A county grand jury report released at the same time concluded that the facility is hindered by funding and supervision problems.

Casa Pacifica officials welcomed the supervisors’ support.

“I see this vote as both supportive and as a challenge to repair the problems that have been plaguing the system,” said Casa Pacifica’s executive director, Steve Elson, who submitted a settlement proposal to the state last week.

“The increased funding will be going to direct services so we can improve our ability to respond to some of the behavioral problems we see here.”

Despite recent criticism of shelter operations by some supervisors, the board also approved a children’s services work-group report that states that Casa Pacifica is widely recognized as a “state-of-the-art model of comprehensive care.”

The report listed 31 recommendations, including one that calls for developing legislation “to correct and revise outdated licensing regulations” that now govern Casa Pacifica’s operations.

Although licensed through the state Department of Social Services as a group home, officials say the facility is unique because it operates as an emergency shelter, as well as a residential treatment center for as many as 78 children, most of whom are severely emotionally disturbed.

The report, compiled after a two-month review of the facility’s programs, calls for more county involvement in Casa Pacifica’s operations.

Recent changes in the leadership at several county social service agencies are expected to improve communication with Casa Pacifica officials, said Randy Feltman, co-chairman of the work group and a county administrator.

“We now have people in key county agencies who are communicators and are committed to working closely with Casa Pacifica,” he said.

The report also urges that children under 24 months of age be placed directly in approved foster homes rather than at Casa Pacifica--a change that is expected to occur within the next month.

“The reason for Casa Pacifica in the first place is to have a single service center where children can get medical, mental health and educational assistance, and the infants fit this purpose the least,” Elson said.

The supervisors also decided Tuesday to add $54,000 to the county’s $324,000-a-year contract with the Ventura County Community College District to train county and Casa Pacifica staff.

“The emphasis will be on increased clinical training for the care and supervision staff, directly responding to some concerns expressed by the grand jury and the state licensing people. . . ,” Feltman said.

Prior to approving the new agreement, Supervisor Frank Schillo expressed concern about whether Casa Pacifica would be able to repay the $400,000 loan and about the lack of communication that has existed between county and Casa Pacifica officials.

To keep tabs on the shelter, Schillo said he wants Casa Pacifica to submit monthly financial statements and reports of incidents involving children.

The new $1.2-million contract will actually cost the county only $61,000, with the remainder of the money coming from state and federal entitlements for abused children.