Between January and December 2012, the Board of Supervisors referred one new item to the Family and Human Services Committee (FHS) in addition to twenty referrals carried forward from the 2012 year. The FHS Committee heard twenty-two separate reports during the calendar year in addition to making recommendations for appointments to various County boards and commissions.
It is recommended that the Board carry forward the following sixteen referrals from the 2012 Family and Human Services Committee to the 2013 Committee:
a. Referral #1 – Child Care Affordability Fund
b. Referral #2 – Oversight of the Service Integration Team
c. Referral #5 – Continuum of Care Plan for the Homeless/Healthcare for the Homeless
d. Referral #20 – Public Service Portion of the CDBG
e. Referral #25 – Child Care Planning/Development Council Membership
f. Referral #44 – Challenges for EHSD
g. Referral #45 – Elder Abuse
h. Referral #56 – East Bay Stand Down for Homeless Veterans (Bi-annual)
i. Referral #61 – HIV Prevention/Needle Exchange Program
j. Referral #78 – Community Services Bureau/Head Start Oversight
k. Referral #81 – Local Child Care & Development Planning Council Activities
l. Referral #82 – Secondhand Smoke Ordinance
m. Referral #92 – Local Planning Council – Child Care Needs Assessment
n. Referral #93 – Independent Living Skills Program
o. Referral #101 – FACT Committee At-Large Appointments
p. Referral #103 – SNAP (Food Stamp Program)
It is also recommended that the following items be closed-out as noted:
A. Referral #95 – Child Welfare Improvement Plan
The State of California has changed the requirements for submission of this plan to once every five years. The Plan has been in place and functioning since this referral was first made in 2007. The Department feels that the Board of Supervisors can provide sufficient oversight directly when the five year plan update is due.
B. Referral #100 – Child Poverty
This referral was first made in 2009 at the request of the former Supervisor Susan Bonilla in response to the downturn in the economy and the impact on children in the community. The Department presented reports on April 12, 2010; April 11, 2011; and April 2, 2012. As the information presented is no longer changing as quickly as in the past, the Department would like to close this referral and report directly to the Board of Supervisor if additional significant information is obtained.
C. Referral #104 – Subsidized Employment Program
A review of this program was originally referred to FHS on March 22, 2011. Reports were provided to the Committee on August 17, 2011 and May 7, 2012. This program was made possible through special American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. Based on the success of this funding throughout the State, the Legislature passed SB 72 to allow counties to incorporate some of the services into the services provided to CalWORKs participants. This has been accomplished.
D. Referral #105 – Bed Bugs
This referral was made on July 26, 2011 at the request of Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. During the preceding years bed bugs had become a serious issue in a number of Contra Costa Communities. Since the date of the referral, the District staff gathered additional information on the infestation, health risks, prevention, and information dissemination. At this time District staff does not feel that a continuing referral and report to FHS is necessary.
E. Referral #106 – Foster Youth Services Between 18 and 21
This referral was an outcome of a report to the Board of Supervisors on June 5, 2012 regarding services to foster youth during the gap period some youth experienced between aging out of foster care at 18 and the date of implementation of AB 12 and AB 1712. A status report was provided to FHS on November 5, 2012. At that time the legislation had been implemented and the gap period has passed.