Polinsky Children’s Center – 10-Day Temporary Shelter Care Facility Model

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

The Child Welfare Services (CWS) division of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency adopted a trauma-informed process to improve the length of stay experienced by children and youth served at Polinsky Children’s Center (PCC). On October 1, 2015, CWS piloted a 10-Day Temporary Shelter Care Facility (TSCF) Model at PCC, serving children 0-17 years-old who have been removed from their families due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. The 10-Day TSCF Model was implemented in response to pending Continuum of Care Reform (CCR) mandates, effective January 1, 2017. Through collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, a comprehensive and creative approach was initiated to reduce each child’s length of stay at PCC to ten days or less. The goal is to ensure children are healthy, safe and thriving by addressing the individual needs of each child in a trauma-informed manner, while effectively streamlining their release. This was accomplished by conducting a thorough needs assessment and collaborating with HHSA staff and community partners to identify placement options to transition the child with necessary support services. Implementation began 15 months in advance of the CCR effective date and resulted in a decrease of stay for children at PCC from 11 days in Fiscal Year 2014/2015 to 9 days in Fiscal Year 2015/2016. The 10-Day TSCF Model at PCC has gained attention from the California Department of Social Services and is being reviewed as a best practice model for 9 other counties aligning their emergency shelter facility protocols to meet CCR directives. The 10-Day TSCF Model contributes to Live Well San Diego, the County of San Diego’s vision of a region that is Building Better Health, Living Safely and Thriving.