Alameda County reopens transitional shelter care, cites shortage of high‑needs placement capacity
April 27, 2026 | Alameda County, California
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Alameda County foster care staff briefed the Social Services Committee April 27 on current caseloads, resource family approvals and the reopening of the county's transitional shelter care facility.
"We have around 700 children... who are in foster care in Alameda County," said Jess Sapp, program manager for resource family approvals. Sapp said about half of children in care are placed with relatives or extended family members and that the county is working to recruit more resource families.
Sapp and other staff highlighted the recent reopening of the county's transitional shelter care facility: the department received a provisional license on March 24, 2026, conducted a soft opening on March 27 and held an orientation for law enforcement on April 3. The facility was not yet serving youth at the time of the presentation because county staff must demonstrate to Community Care Licensing that all other placement options have been exhausted before placing a child there.
County staff described the broader placement landscape and gaps for high‑needs youth: statewide changes that narrowed group‑home capacity have left fewer options for children with complex behavioral and clinical needs, and the county reported active use of short-term emergency beds (28 dedicated beds) and partnerships with foster family agencies and small family homes to cover urgent needs. Supervisors asked about screening and vetting of resource parents; staff explained the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process includes background checks, fingerprinting, psychosocial assessments and interviews with adults and minors in the home.
Staff also described assessment tools used to match children with placements, including structured decision‑making tools, the CANS (Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths) and qualified individual assessments for STRTP placements.
The committee did not take action on the report; staff said recruitment and quality-of‑care monitoring remain priorities as the county seeks to expand stable placements for high‑needs youth.
"We have around 700 children... who are in foster care in Alameda County," said Jess Sapp, program manager for resource family approvals. Sapp said about half of children in care are placed with relatives or extended family members and that the county is working to recruit more resource families.
Sapp and other staff highlighted the recent reopening of the county's transitional shelter care facility: the department received a provisional license on March 24, 2026, conducted a soft opening on March 27 and held an orientation for law enforcement on April 3. The facility was not yet serving youth at the time of the presentation because county staff must demonstrate to Community Care Licensing that all other placement options have been exhausted before placing a child there.
County staff described the broader placement landscape and gaps for high‑needs youth: statewide changes that narrowed group‑home capacity have left fewer options for children with complex behavioral and clinical needs, and the county reported active use of short-term emergency beds (28 dedicated beds) and partnerships with foster family agencies and small family homes to cover urgent needs. Supervisors asked about screening and vetting of resource parents; staff explained the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process includes background checks, fingerprinting, psychosocial assessments and interviews with adults and minors in the home.
Staff also described assessment tools used to match children with placements, including structured decision‑making tools, the CANS (Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths) and qualified individual assessments for STRTP placements.
The committee did not take action on the report; staff said recruitment and quality-of‑care monitoring remain priorities as the county seeks to expand stable placements for high‑needs youth.
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