Chair Stevens asks about contract management frequency and provider utilization tracking

Is a lower number of young people than originally planned for being served by the program?

What specific steps is ACS taking to ensure providers are fully utilizing the funding in this program so that all eligible young people are receiving those vital supports?

So again, we have our contract management unit.

And in addition to, they're not just...

How often do they meet with the providers of the contract management unit?

We need to get back to you with an exact often, but like invoices come in monthly or, you know, within a certain, like a few times a quarter.

And there's a lot of conversations with those, you know, the finance teams at the agencies.

Now agencies have their allocations, at least for enhanced family foster care and specialized family foster care.

We're going to be looking for them to submit the budget.

So there'll be a lot of conversations now.

So I'll get an exact number I can get back to you.

I think I forgot your question, though.

What did you ask me?

I know.

Your original question.

We were just asking about, like, the utilization of the program.

Oh, yes.

So they submit, you know, and so we're able to look at the tracking and, like, basically on what they're submitting.

So let's say, you know, they're budgeted for X and then.

So far, they've submitted a number, you know, much lower.

We're going to have conversations about what's happening.

Is there like a trigger where it's like, okay, you don't see a number and you guys can reach out and say like, what supports do you need?

Exactly.

So that's the role of the contract management team is to look at like, hey, you haven't submitted invoices.

Are there vacancies?

Are there staff turnover?

Are there difficulties?

I think we want to refine and hone in.

More around the qualitative piece, not just look at the monetary piece, but the qualitative piece and how are you leveraging that information.

And then I think our partnership with the Center for Fair Futures will help intensify because they're working with the coaches regularly.

So it's really just about expanding and making sure new staff come on and they say, oh, you're this age, you should go to Fair Futures, let me make a referral, that type of thing.

Chair Stevens, just to add, you know, one of the things that I have throughout my career enjoyed is being able to spend time with young people and hear directly from them.

And so as I'm learning all of the parts and pieces that we have available in ACS, certainly wanting to ensure that we've got pathways for young people to engage and give us feedback directly

about what they need and how communication and information is best communicated to them from the various agencies that are serving them.

And so I'm looking forward to engaging with the young people around that issue as well.

And thank you for having a shadow day.

I think it's critical.

Well, if you...

You know me, and everybody knows this.

I only like kids, and I get all the information from them, which is why when I come back, I'm so passionate because I am translating.

I do.

I don't really like the adult.

But the young people are what I'm really focused on, and so a lot of the things that I'm coming back with is direct conversations that I have with them because I think it's so important that they have access to government and have conversations with them.

So I look forward to going out and hanging out with kids and changing the system to actually work for them.