To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Authorization for the Department of Health and Human Services - Director of Social Services to Sign Grant Agreements with Community/Family Resource Centers for CalWORKs and CalFresh Outreach and Support Activities for Fiscal Year 2019-20
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the proposed grant agreement amounts, totaling $1,059,645, with the Community/Family Resource Centers (CRCs/FRCs) participating with CalWORKs and CalFresh outreach and support activities for fiscal year (FY) 2019-20 (Attachment 1);
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Director of Social Services, or their designee, to sign individual grant agreements with the CRCs/FRCs participating with CalWORKs and CalFresh outreach and support activities substantially in the form of the attached sample grant agreement upon proof of insurance;
3. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Director of Social Services or their designee to amend the grant agreement as necessary for FY 2019-20 after review and approval by County Counsel and Risk Management; and
4. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one executed Board agenda item to the DHHS-Contract Unit for transmittal to DHHS - Social Services Administration.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund
DISCUSSION:
On March 22, 2005 (item D-4), the Board approved the plan to allow the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to finance child welfare improvement activities through grant funding to CRCs/FRCs. Funding to CRCs/FRCs increases the county’s ability to provide situation appropriate responses to reports of child abuse and/or neglect as defined in the county’s departmental differential response (DR) goals and objectives.
Since FY 2007-08, DHHS has offered grant funding to eligible CRCs/FRCs from the DHHS CalWORKs allocation. CalWORKs is California’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. These funds were made available to the resource centers to allow them to undertake activities to support DHHS in achieving successful implementation of its CalWORKs county plan addendum while supporting the primary goals of the TANF program, which includes 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.
Since FY 2011-12, DHHS also has offered grant funding to the CRCs/FRCs to undertake and support ongoing CalFresh outreach activities. The CalFresh program helps low-income people purchase food they need for good health. DHHS is committed to linking the CalFresh program to good nutritional practices and habits through informational outreach. The CalFresh portion of the funds supports the resource centers’ participation in CalFresh outreach and nutritional education training. Staff at the various centers serve community members by assisting with CalFresh applications.
The integration of goals between CalWORKs and CalFresh allows for the most efficient use of resources in the community.
DHHS’ plan for FY 2019-20 is to award grants totaling $1,059,645 to the Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers (HNFRC), the organization that administers the CRCs/FRCs for individual locations. HNFRC has worked with the CRCs/FRCs to determine the amount of funds that will be distributed to each center (Attachment 1). With the execution of these grant agreements (Attachment 2), DHHS would like to continue funding these projects with the participating CRCs/FRCs.
The requested CalWORKs and CalFresh grant funding for FY 2019-20 of $1,059,645 is the same amount approved for FY 2018-19. This funding will assist a large network comprised of 16 sites. This model of regionalization to provide needed and localized services throughout the county has proven to be a highly effective model that serves the geographically diverse communities well.
Therefore, DHHS - Social Services recommends the Board approve the grant agreements, totaling $1,059,645 with the CRCs/FRCs participating with CalWORKs and CalFresh outreach and support activities for FY 2019-20, authorize the DHHS - Director of Social Services or their designee to execute these grant agreements substantially in the form of the attached sample copy of the grant agreement upon proof of insurance, and authorize the DHHS - Director of Social Services or their designee to amend the grant agreements as necessary for FY 2019-20 after review and approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The grant funding for these grant agreements will be drawn from a combination of CalWORKs and CalFresh allocations. CalFresh outreach funding for these grant agreements is included in fund 1160, budget unit 511 for FY 2019-20. The total amount of funding for the CalFresh outreach activities will reflect actual costs invoiced (in conjunction with CalWORKs, not to exceed a total of $1,059,645). CalWORKs funding for these grant agreements is included in fund 1160, budget unit 505 for FY 2019-20. The total amount of funding for the CalWORKs activities will reflect actual costs invoiced (in conjunction with CalFresh, not to exceed a total of $1,059,645). There is no impact to the county’s General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by creating opportunities for improved safety and health.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board can choose not to approve these grant agreements for the CalWORKs and CalFresh outreach and support activities. This is not recommended by DHHS because this funding is critical to the participating CRCs/FRCs to assist them in providing valuable services in their communities.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. List of participating Community/Family Resource Centers with the amount of CalWORKs and CalFresh outreach and support activities grant funds each center is scheduled to receive
2. Sample grant agreement for the CalWORKs and CalFresh outreach and support activities
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D-4; E-1; E-2; E-1; D-12; C-36; C-11; C-22; C-22; C-28, C-12; C-17; C-24
Meeting of: 3/22/05; 4/11/06; 5/22/07; 5/20/08; 5/12/09; 6/22/10; 6/14/11; 6/12/12; 6/25/13; 6/24/14; 5/5/15; 8/9/16; 6/27/17; 6/14/18
File No.: 19-760