To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Grant Agreements with Community and Family Resource Centers Regarding the Provision of Community Outreach and Support Services Related to the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and CalFresh Programs
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the proposed grant of $1,212,627 to the Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers in order to allow for the provision of community outreach and support services related to the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and CalFresh programs for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute individual grant agreements with participating community and family resource centers, in the amounts set forth in the attached Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers’ funding request, that are substantially similar to the attached sample grant agreement template, and any and all subsequent amendments thereto, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one fully executed copy of this agenda item to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund
DISCUSSION:
On March 22, 2005 (item D-4), the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors authorized the Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services (DHHS - Social Services) to finance child welfare improvement activities through grant funding to various local community and family resource centers. Providing community and family resource centers with grant funding increases DHHS - Social Services’ ability to provide situation-appropriate responses to reports of child abuse and/or neglect as defined in the County of Humboldt’s departmental differential response goals and objectives.
Since fiscal year 2007-2008, DHHS - Social Services has offered grant funding to eligible community and family resource centers from the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) funding allocation received by DHHS - Social Services. CalWORKs is California’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. Grant funds were made available to participating community and family resource centers in order to allow for the provision of community outreach and support services that are designed to assist DHHS - Social Services in achieving successful implementation of its CalWORKs county plan addendum while supporting the primary goals of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, which include providing assistance to needy families in achieving unsubsidized employment so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives.
DHHS - Social Services has also offered grant funding to participating community and family resource centers to provide community outreach and support services related to the CalFresh program since fiscal year 2011-2012. The CalFresh program helps low-income individuals and families purchase food they need to maintain good health. DHHS - Social Services is committed to linking the CalFresh program to good nutritional practices and habits through informational outreach. The CalFresh portion of the grant funds supports the community and family resource centers’ participation in CalFresh program outreach and nutritional education training. Staff at the various participating community and family resource centers serve community members by assisting with the CalFresh application and enrollment process.
The integration of goals between the CalWORKs, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and CalFresh programs allows for the most efficient use of community resources. DHHS - Social Services’ plan for fiscal year 2022-2023 is to grant $1,212,627 to the Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers as the organization that will administer the grant funds awarded to each participating community and family resource center. The Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers has worked with each individual community and family resource center to determine the amount of funds that will be awarded thereto.
The amount of grant funding requested for fiscal year 2022-2023 is an increase of $152,982 to the amount approved for fiscal year 2021-2022. This reflects a 5% increase as well as a one-time increase of $100,000 in residual funding related to the Assisting Families to Access Change Through Resources (AFACTR) program. Such funding will allow 16 participating community and family resource centers to provide community outreach and support services related to the CalWORKs, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and CalFresh programs for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. This model of regionalization to provide needed services throughout the geographically diverse communities of Humboldt County has proven to be highly effective.
Accordingly, DHHS - Social Services recommends that the Board approve the proposed grant of $1,212,627 to the Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers in order to allow for the provision of community outreach and support services related to the CalWORKs, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and CalFresh programs for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. Staff also recommends that the Board authorize the DHHS - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute individual grant agreements with participating community and family resource centers, in the amounts set forth in the attached Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers’ funding request, that are substantially similar to the attached grant agreement template, and any and all subsequent amendments thereto, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in the provision of needed community outreach and support services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
As noted above, the total amount of grant funding that will be awarded to participating community and family resource centers for the provision of community outreach and support services related to the CalWORKs, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and CalFresh programs will not exceed $1,212,627.
Expenditure appropriations related to the individual grant agreements with the participating community and family resource centers have been included in the proposed fiscal year 2022-2023 budget for DHHS - Social Services budget unit 1160-511. Funding for the individual grant agreements with participating community and family resource centers is available through CalWORKs and CalFresh program revenues received by DHHS - Social Services. As a result, approval of the proposed grant of funding to the Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations, creating opportunities for improved safety and health, and providing community-appropriate levels of services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to approve the agreement or allow the Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to sign such agreements, however this alternative is not recommended as it will not allow participating community and family resource centers to provide valuable services in their communities.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers’ Funding Request for Fiscal Year 2022-2023
2. Community and Family Resource Center Grant Agreement Template
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-22; C-28, C-12; C-17; C-24; C-5; C-25; D-10
Meeting of: 6/24/14; 5/5/15; 8/9/16; 6/27/17; 7/10/18; 6/4/19; 6/23/20; 4/6/21
File No.: 14-0430; 15-464; 16-5594; 17-2041; 18-826; 19-760; 20-716