Chair Stevens on streamlined referral timing, providers report 30-day delays

And in real time, as per usual, my providers are texting me in real time around a follow-up question that they want me to bring up because...

They're asking around the streamlined referral process.

And so for young people who come in seeking shelter that day, how quickly can they bypass the intake process of the intake assessment that they have to be placed in?

Because it sounds like, yeah, we have this bypass process, but it always isn't as seamless as it's being presented here today.

So just how, like, what does that look like?

So how soon?

If they come in, they can bypass this process.

I'm going to allow Tracy to.

Hi, I'll take the question.

So we have a process with DHS that offers DHS up to 20 days to place a young person from our programs to their programs.

To find an appropriate fit.

So where do they go for those 20 days?

They're in our shelter program.

So they'll stay with you guys for 20 days.

So they have up to 20 days to stay with you guys while DHS is looking for shelter.

So the streamlined process is for young people who are currently in our residential program.

So they're in our residential programs.

The providers look at all the different discharge opportunities for them.

And if DHS is the discharge decision, then that's the streamlined process.

And that could take up to 20 days.

Real-time feedback.

They said it takes 30 days for them to hear back.

Usually when they hear back, it's a placement.

So it could take...

No, no, no.

Listen, if y'all turn around, the heads are shaking.

I see.

They are shaking.

I probably know.

Well, my people back here are like, mm-mm, that's not what's happening.

So it might be what we have on paper, but that is clearly a place that we need to look.

Into because they're saying they're not hearing back for 30 days and you're saying it's 20 days for them for a placement.

That's not what's happening.

So, and listen, I believe it.

Have you ever been to DHS?

Because if you think they get back in 20 days, that don't even sound believable.

And why would you believe that?

The DHS intake team has been really...

It's overwhelmed.

Okay for us.

They're doing a great job with this.

Yes, I will say.

That system is overwhelmed on so many capacities.

Absolutely.

And it's not for the lack of work that they're doing.

It is a system that is overwhelmed.

So we can't pretend like that's not true.

Right.

We all know that.

And so this is not a hit at them saying that they're not doing their job.

But we know that they don't have a lot of staff because, well, I'm not in general welfare anymore.

But I had been for four years.

They've been understaffed.

They're under-resourced and all the things.

So that's why it's really hard for me to believe that in this instance that they have all their stuff together.

And I won't deny that maybe it does take 30 days sometimes.

But that's what the policy says.

So immediate isn't in the policy, just so you know.

I just want to say it's on paper.

It's on paper.

But that's not what's happening.

Yes.

They're saying it's taking 30 days for them to hear it back.

So what's the escalation?

They can email me and I email the intake team and we help support them.

They're supposed to have 20 days to stay with the providers and it's 20 days.

But if they're not hearing back for 30 days, what's the process then?

I elevate the placement.

No, I'm just saying, so do they get to stay in the youth shelter?

Yes, yes, they can have an extension.

Absolutely.

Listen, and it's not a shot at anybody.

I think this is like the gaps that we need to talk about, which is why we have these hearings, so that we can have a moment to be like, wait, is this working?

Because, yes, on paper, it's obviously the policy, but...

It's taking longer.

And I'm sure it is.

Yeah.

Understand.