Guiding Principles
In early 2019, executives from the three counties created Guiding Principles to frame the exploration of regionalizing the Colusa, Sutter and Yolo Departments of Child Support Services. After review of the Guiding Principles with the three unions in May 2019, they were edited slightly, becoming parameters for future discussions and decisions. The Guiding Principles were provided to and reviewed with the staff of the three agencies in July 2019. The Guiding Principles are:
- There shall be no layoffs of represented employees resulting from regionalization.
- There shall be a physical presence in all three counties.
- Yolo County is the lead agency for the region.
- Existing Sutter and Colusa County child support employees will have choice through [date TBD] whether they remain an employee of their current county employer or become an employee of Yolo County. All new hires and promotional hires, as of [date TBD], will be Yolo County employees. Commencing the first pay period following [date TBD], all Sutter and Colusa employees assigned to child support will become employees of Yolo County and will be assigned to the regional child support agency.
- Employees shall retain seniority based on service date.
- Management rights shall be governed by the employer of record.
- Decisions should result in increased efficiency and improved delivery of services; improved customer service.
- Employees shall be oriented to the expectations of the regional child support agency and will receive ongoing training to enable them to perform all duties necessary to fulfill the tasks and functions of their jobs.
- The regional model supports integration of the child support structure and operations in areas including but not limited to, workforce, caseload and allocation.
- The organizational structure of the regional agency is accountable to all three Boards of Supervisors and County Administrative Officers.
- Decisions should be cost effective; fully reimbursable through the state allocation.
- The regional child support agency reserves the right to develop, implement and oversee any program improvement and operational changes.
- Travel between offices of the regional child support agency or to other business required locations during regular business hours will be by use of an agency vehicle when possible. When an agency vehicle is not available, mileage will be reimbursed for personal vehicle use per the agency travel policy.
Operational Assessment
We contracted with the Center for Support of Families (CSF) for an Operational Assessment of the three LCSA’s and for a recommendation as to whether the three agencies should regionalize. CSF understood that it was equally important to not directly replicate other regionalized efforts but rather approach this assessment objectively, recognizing the unique attributes of each county that have developed to serve their specific communities in partnership with judicial and other agencies and stakeholders. The CSF Operational Assessment presents a comprehensive set of interrelated recommendations that provide the blueprint for a single, efficient, and effective regional child support agency. CSF assessment states, “Underpinning the recommendations in this report is our foundational belief that the Colusa, Sutter, and Yolo LCSAs combine to become a single, regionalized entity that provides child support services to children and families in Colusa, Sutter, and Yolo Counties.” The CSF Final Report was provided to the Board in June 2020.
Labor
After the June 2020 Board of Supervisors presentation, the three counties began the meet and confer process. While meet and confer continues, Colusa and Sutter employees have stated they support regionalization but have not supported the concept of joining Yolo County as employees. In addition to the tenants in the guiding principles it was important from all three counties perspectives that employees not lose any salary during the transition to Yolo County and that they would transition into the step at Yolo County that most closely approximates their current salary without resulting in a reduction in pay. Each Sutter and Colusa Child Support employee received a paycheck comparison that compares gross and net pay, with detailed income and expenses, between Colusa/Sutter and Yolo. Each Sutter and Colusa Child Support employee also received a tri county benefits comparison. The Assistant Director for Yolo County HR made herself personally available to all Colusa/Sutter child support employees to schedule personal meetings to answer individualized benefits questions.
The transition period for current Colusa and Sutter child support employees to become Yolo employees as defined in the proposed MOU commences January 2, 2021, when the administrative functions of each LCSA are consolidated with and managed by Yolo. The employees of Colusa and Sutter LCSAs shall each have a choice to remain an employee of their respective county or to request to become an employee of Yolo through the final pay period of calendar year 2023. After the initial transition effective January 2, 2021, employees will have the option to transition every six months during the three-year window.
Prior Board of Supervisors presentations (specific dates vary slightly by county)
| January 15, 2019 |
Consider Exploration of Regionalization |
| March 26, 2019 |
Interim Director MOU |
| September 24, 2019 |
Contracting for Operational Assessment |
| November 5, 2019 |
Interim Lead Attorney MOU between Sutter and Yolo |
| January 28, 2020 |
Regionalization Update & Extend Interim Director MOU |
| June 26, 2020 |
Report on the Final Report from CSF |
| November 3, 2020 |
Recommend regionalization |
Approval of the MOU creating the Colusa, Sutter, and Yolo Regional Child Support Agency makes obsolete the following existing agreements:
- MOU for Yolo County to provide Interim Director services to Sutter and Colusa counties
- MOU for Yolo County to provide attorney supervision and lead attorney services for Sutter County
- MOUs for shared services for fiscal work and COAP (Compromise of Arrears Program) eligibility between Yolo and Colusa Counties
Timeline
| November 2020 |
Colusa and Sutter Child Support employees interested in transitioning to Yolo effective January 2021 notify Yolo HR |
| January 2021 |
Commence the Colusa, Sutter and Yolo Regional Child Support Agency |
| January – June 2021 |
Transfer assets of Colusa and Sutter Child Support Agencies to the Regional Agency |
| January – June 2021 |
Yolo to invoice Colusa and Sutter for any costs associated with transitioned employees |
| January – September 2021 |
Finalize organizational structure, make policy and procedure decisions for Regional Agency, and train staff |
| June 2021 |
Second opportunity for Colusa and Sutter staff to express interest in transitioning to Yolo effective July 2021 |
| July 2021 |
Yolo to receive the regional child support allocation from the California Department of Child Support Services |
| July 2021 – December 2023 |
December 2023 Colusa and Sutter Counties to invoice Yolo for costs associated with non transitioned employees |
| October 2021 |
Integrate child support caseload (concurrently with the start of the Federal Fiscal Year) |
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