To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with Humboldt County Office of Education Regarding the Provision of Community Outreach and Support Services Related to the CalFresh Program
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with Humboldt County Office of Education regarding the provision of community outreach and support services related to the CalFresh program in an amount not to exceed $331,150 for the period of Oct. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with Humboldt County Office of Education, 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 original copy of the attached professional services agreement with Humboldt County Office of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund - Fund 1160
DISCUSSION:
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) administers all United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds. Focusing on the important role SNAP plays in access to nutrition and the relation of nutrition to overall wellness, CDSS renamed and re-branded food stamps as CalFresh in California. Beyond the name and image changes, CDSS also made significant program changes to increase CalFresh use by reducing enrollment and retention barriers. Many low-income individuals and families continue to lack awareness of the program and do not apply for CalFresh benefits. Many others are not aware of program changes that can make it easier for them to receive CalFresh benefits.
USDA and CDSS have encouraged counties to work with community partners to help reach and inform community members who might be eligible for CalFresh benefits. Continuing work through outreach partnerships with community-based organizations has led to a significant increase in CalFresh enrollment within Humboldt County and throughout the state.
The Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) provides collaboration, management and support, including, without limitation, fiscal oversight and staff development and training, to 32 school districts serving approximately 18,000 students throughout Humboldt County. Additionally, HCOE provides direct services in the areas of nursing, psychological and behavior health services, nutrition education and school food service as well as a variety of other mandated services that smaller more rural school districts are unable to access within their district or community.
HCOE has an ongoing partnership with the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services (DHHS - Social Services) for the development and maintenance of a direct certification data system. This confidential data system allows school districts to directly certify children at the free meal category who come from families receiving CalFresh benefits. The creation of this data system utilizes the expertise of both parties, helps streamline the free and reduced price meal process and eliminates the need for qualifying families to complete a school meal application. HCOE also conducts CalFresh outreach, which focuses on increasing CalFresh enrollment and improving access to healthy meals, to parents with children in after-school programs, preschools and other educational settings.
The attached professional services agreement will allow HCOE to continue providing community outreach and support services that are designed to increase utilization of the CalFresh program by eligible households, raise awareness of the nutrition benefits of the CalFresh program, promote healthy food choices, reduce hunger amongst those experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity and help dispel program myths and misperceptions. The attached professional services agreement with HCOE will also allow the promotion of CalFresh enrollment to be linked with the promotion of free and reduced school meals. Increasing the number of students receiving CalFresh benefits provides an added benefit to the community by positioning local schools to participate in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. The CEP program enables schools with high direct certification percentages to serve breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge regardless of their family income level. Nine schools in Humboldt County, including six schools in the Eureka City School District, were approved to operate the CEP program for the 2018-2019 school year. In addition, the Rio Dell, Peninsula and Orick school districts had direct certification rates high enough to meet CEP program requirements, which allows these school districts to serve breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge starting with the 2019-2020 school year.
Accordingly, DHHS - Social Services recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with HCOE regarding the provision of community outreach and support services related to the CalFresh program for the period of Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021. Staff also recommends that the Board authorize the DHHS - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with HCOE, 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:
The attached professional services agreement with HCOE has a maximum amount payable of $331,150 for the period of Oct. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021. However, in the event local, state or federal funding is reduced or eliminated, the County of Humboldt may reduce the above-referenced maximum amount payable or terminate the attached professional services agreement with HCOE in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached professional services agreement with HCOE have been included in the approved fiscal year 2020-2021 budget for DHHS - Social Services budget unit 1160-511. Funding for the attached professional services agreement with HCOE is available through CalFresh revenues received by DHHS - Social Services. As a result, approval of the attached professional services agreement with HCOE will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations, creating opportunities for improved safety and health, providing community-appropriate levels of service and facilitating public/private partnerships to solve problems.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
HCOE; Humboldt County Schools; CDSS; USDA
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached professional services agreement with HCOE regarding the provision of community outreach and support services related to the CalFresh program. However, this alternative is not recommended since it will limit DHHS - Social Services’ ability to increase CalFresh participation and thereby improve the health and economic stability of children, families and other individuals in Humboldt County.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with Humboldt County Office of Education Regarding the Provision of Community Outreach and Support Services Related to the CalFresh Program
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-25; C-8; C-7; C-13; C-16; C-17
Meeting of: 06/25/13; 10/13/15; 09/06/16; 10/17/17; 10/02/18; 09/17/19
File No.: 15-1112; 16-1246; 16-6387; 17-2464; 18-1200; 19-1255; 20-1160