There is no fiscal impact. This is an informational report.
On June 18, 2002, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 2002/377 and on December 11, 2017 the Board adopted Resolution Nos. 2011/497 and 2011/498, which require that each regular and ongoing board, commission, or committee shall annually report to the Board of Supervisors on its activities,
accomplishments, membership attendance, required training/certification (if any), and proposed work plan or objectives for the following year. This report fulfills this requirement for the Family and Human Services Committee.
During 2018, the Family and Human Services Committee (FHS) received 20 referrals from the Board of Supervisors, made 12 reports to the Board of Supervisors (BOS), and made recommendations to fill 50 seats for certain advisory bodies whose composition requirements must be monitored. Our Committee appreciates the time and effort taken by the staff to the Board’s advisory bodies to recruit, screen, and nominate individuals to our Committee for approval and appointment by the BOS. Their efforts in this regard allowed the FHS Committee to focus more of its time on the following subjects:
1. Family Justice Center & Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (#111). On January 6, 2015, the Board referred to the Family and Human Services (FHS) Committee oversight and monitoring of the Family Justice Centers and Commercially Sexually Exploited Children initiatives. The Employment and Human Services Department has since reported annually to the FHS Committee on the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative, Human Trafficking, Commercially Sexually Exploited Children, and the Family Justice Centers. The FHS Committee received and accepted the most recent report on February 20, 2018. This is a standing referral. REFER
2. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (#109). On January 6, 2015, the Board of Supervisors referred to the FHS Committee oversight and monitoring of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The FHS Committee received a status report at its September 24, 2018 meeting, highlighting the number of people served, and the specialized programs and business partners, advising that significant State funding would soon become available and that the Workforce Development Board (WBD) is updating the regional and local plan, which is due in March 2019. Four sites have grown to ten, and are being well-received by patrons and the press. This report was shared with the BOS on October 9, 2018. This is a standing referral. REFER
3. Child Care Planning/Development Council Membership (#25). No action was taken on this referral in 2018 nor since 2013. TERMINATE
4. Mental Health Services Act (#117). A recent state audit indicated that California counties are not spending money from a Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) tax on millionaires that should be spent on mental health programs. The audit found that county mental health programs statewide had accumulated $2.5 billion in unspent funds as of FY 2015-16, and had determined that keeping this amount in reserve was excessive. Furthermore, the audit determined that $231 million was subject to being reverted from the counties back to the State as of the end of the 2015-16 budget year. On March 20, 2018, the BOS referred this issue to the FHS Committee for study. On April 23, 2018, Health Services Department - Behavioral Health Services Division staff provided a briefing to the FHS Committee on the impact of the audit to Contra Costa County. The Committee provided feedback on these issues and shared the report with the BOS on June 5, 2018. TERMINATE
5. Community Development Block Grant Recommendations (#20). On February 11, 1997, the BOS referred to the FHS Committee examination of the Public Service Portion of the Community Services Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The Department of Conservation and Development reports to the FHS Committee at least annually regarding recommendations for the Public Services category and Emergency Solutions Grant funding allocations. On May 30, 2018, the FHS Committee reviewed and approved staff recommendations for FY 2018-19 Community Development Block Grant Public Service and Emergency Solutions projects and recommended grant projects totaling $769,375 for the Public Services and $340,595 for the Emergency Solutions categories to the BOS on June 26, 2018. This is a standing referral. REFER
6. Innovative Community Partnerships (#110). On January 6, 2015, the BOS referred to the FHS Committee oversight and monitoring of the Employment and Human Services Department's (EHSD) Innovative Community Partnerships, now including Whole Family Services. The FHS Committee, on June 25, 2018, received a status report on EHSD's Innovative Community Partnerships program and forwarded this report to the BOS on July 10, 2018. This is a standing referral. REFER
7. East Bay Stand Down (#56). The East Bay Stand Down (EBSD) is an event providing 450 homeless Veterans and their families from the San Francisco Bay Area an opportunity to receive invaluable and diverse services and care in a safe, secure environment. As a volunteer and member of the Executive Board for EBSD, Veterans Services Officer Nathan Johnson presented, at the June 25, 2018 FHS Committee meeting, the opportunity to discuss an event that has a strong positive effect on the county. Maj. General, USA (Ret.) Ron Lowe, EBSD Executive Board Chairman, described the various morale-boosting services provided at the stand down. The FHS Committee reported to the BOS on July 10, 2018 and the BOS endorsed the event. TERMINATE
8. Local Planning Council Countywide Child Care Pilot Plan (#92). California Education Code section 8231 requires that Local Planning Councils prepare a comprehensive countywide child care plan designed to mobilize public and private resources to address identified needs. On October 17, 2006, the Board of Supervisors referred updates on the Countywide Child Care Plan to the Family and Human Services Committee and the Local Planning and Advisory Council for Early Care and Education has provided annual reports. The FHS Committee, on June 25, 2018, reviewed and approved the proposed Local Child Care Policy and Evaluation Plan and forwarded the plan to the BOS on July 10, 2018. This is a standing referral. REFER
9. Youth Services Report (#93). An annual update of the Independent Living Schools Program administered by the EHSD was first referred to the FHS Committee by the BOS on October 17, 2006. On June 7, 2016, EHSD requested, and the Board approved, expanding the referral to include additional youth services updates and retitling the referral to “Youth Services Report”, so that the department can include reports on all youth services offered in the community through EHSD, including WIOA and CalWorks youth services. The FHS Committee received and accepted a program update from EHSD on July 23, 2018 and forwarded the report to the BOS on August 14, 2018. This is a standing referral. REFER
10. Child Care Planning/Development Council Activities Update (#81). The Board of Supervisors referred updates on the activities of the Local Planning and Advisory Council for Early Care and Education to the FHS Committee on January 17, 2006. The FHS Committee, on July 23, 2018, received the FY 2017/18 report on activities, key accomplishments, and proposed new year work plan of the Local Planning Council as they relate to membership and funding of local child care and development planning in Contra Costa County. The FHS Committee forwarded the report to the BOS on August 14, 2018. This is a standing referral. REFER
11. SNAP/CalFresh Program Update (#103). The SNAP Program was originally referred to the FHS Committee by the BOS in 2011. This program was formerly known as Food Stamps and is currently known as the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In California, the name of the program is CalFresh. The FHS Committee, on September 24, 2018, received a status update on the CalFresh Program and provided a status report to the BOS on October 9, 2018. The Committee was concerned about decreasing utilization and suggested broader outreach and networking. The CalFresh Partnership offered three recommendations in pertinence to the long wait times experienced by clients in County offices and call centers, which they attributed to a lack of frontline staff in County offices. The FHS Committee received a follow-up report from EHSD on December 3, 2018 in response to the CalFresh Partnership recommendations and directed the EHS Director to report back to the FHS Committee again in 2019. REFER
12. Homeless Continuum of Care (#5). The Family and Human Services Committee, on September 24, 2018, received annual status reports from the Health Services Department on the Continuum of Care Plan for the Homeless and Healthcare for the Homeless. These reports were forwarded to the BOS on October 9, 2018. This is a standing referral. REFER
13. Public Mental Health Care System (#116). On October 30, 2017, the FHS Committee accepted the report from the Health Services Department addressing various mental health service issues and concerns raised by the Committee, the BOS, in the Mental Health Commission’s White Paper, by the Civil Grand Jury, and by members of the public. These issues and concerns centered upon the difficulty in accessing mental health care, particularly for children and youth experiencing serious emotional disturbances. Indicative to this lack of access was the 1) increase in Psychiatric Emergency Services visits, 2) long wait times to access care, and 3) shortage of clinical staff, especially psychiatrists. Health Services provided a follow-up report to the FHS Committee on September 24, 2018, articulating a partnership plan between the Department and the Mental Health Commission to work together going forward to resolve these issues. This report was shared with the BOS on October 9, 2018. TERMINATE
14. Adult Protective Services (#45). On May 23, 2000, the Board of Supervisors referred to the FHS Committee an annual report on the progress made on the issue of elder abuse in Contra Costa County. The FHS Committee received the latest annual report on October 22, 2018 and forwarded the annual report to the BOS on December 4, 2018, requesting the BOS to engage in supporting and spreading awareness about these services. This is a standing referral. REFER
15. Community Services Bureau/Head Start (#78). Oversight of the Community Services Bureau and Head Start programs was originally referred to the FHS Committee on March 1, 2005. Since that time, the program has provided the Committee with annual updates on the programs and services provided. The FHS Committee received and accepted the most recent annual report on October 22, 2018 and forwarded the report to the BOS on December 4, 2018. This is a standing referral. REFER
16. Employment and Human Services Department Use of Technology (#114). On June 7, 2016, the Board of Supervisors referred to the FHS Committee oversight of the impacts of technology on access to public benefits, due to EHSD’s reworking of its business processes and development of technologies to make remote access of public benefits more common for its clients. EHSD reported to the FHS Committee on October 22, 2018 regarding some of the technological advancements EHSD has made, including: video conferencing for American Sign Language customers, redesigning the website, expanding video conferencing in lieu of in-person or over the phone for increased efficiency and effectiveness, using electronic signatures on certain forms, getting mobile devices to more in-home supportive services staff, and encouraging clients to use My Benefits in CalWIN for case updates. The FHS Committee forwarded this information to the BOS on December 4, 2018. TERMINATE
17. Laura’s Law/Assisted Outpatient Treatment (#107). AB 1421 allows court-ordered intensive outpatient treatment called Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) for a clearly defined set of individuals that must meet specific criteria. AB 1421 also specifies which individuals may request the County Mental Health Director to file a petition with the superior court for a hearing to determine if a person should be court-ordered to receive the services specified under the law. The law specifies various rights of the recipient as well as due process hearing rights.
In February 2016, Laura's Law was implemented in Contra Costa County and the Health Services Department provided the FHS Committee with periodic status reports. The Family and Human Services Committee, on December 3, 2018, received and accepted the recent Evaluation Report along with significant public dialogue generally supportive of the program, and recommended to the BOS on December 11, 2018 that the AOT Program be established as a permanent and ongoing County program. The Committee recommends annual reporting to FHS each December. REFER
18. Employment and Human Services Department Challenges (#44). The Department’s report on this referral was postponed until February 2019. REFER
19. Second Hand Smoke (#82). At the November 13, 2017 FHS Committee meeting, Public Health presented its annual report on the implementation of the County’s Secondhand Smoke ordinance with a recommendation that the Committee consider a proposed ordinance to strengthen the current smoking protections to prohibit smoking inside dwelling units of multi-unit housing, including condos and townhomes. That ordinance, titled Smoke-free Multi Unit Residences, was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on March 13, 2018 with implementation to begin for new and renewing leases on July 1, 2018, and for continuing leases and owner-occupied units on July 1, 2019. On December 3, 2018, the FHS Committee received a report from the Public Health Director on the implementation of the new Smoke-free Multi-Unit Residences ordinance, including information on the continued implementation of the broader Smoke-free Secondhand Protections Ordinance. The Committee accepted the report and requested a follow-up report in June 2019. REFER
20. Protecting Youth from Tobacco Influences (#112). The BOS approved two tobacco control ordinances in July 2017 to protect youth from tobacco influences in the retail environment: a zoning ordinance and a tobacco retailer licensing ordinance. The tobacco retailer licensing ordinance required extensive preparation for implementation, and tobacco retailers were required to be compliant with the new provisions by January 1, 2018. As requested, Contra Costa Public Health staff provided a report to the BOS in March 2018 on preliminary implementation efforts. On December 3, 2018, the FHS Committee received a status report on the continued implementation since March, as well as next steps, and directed the Public Health Director to report back to the Committee again in 2019. REFER
EXHIBIT A
LIST OF REFERRALS TO BE REMOVED
3. Child Care Planning/Development Council Membership (#25)
4. Mental Health Services Act (#117)
7. East Bay Stand Down (#56)
13. Public Mental Health Care System (#116)
16. Employment and Human Services Department Use of Technology (#114)
EXHIBIT B
LIST OF ITEMS TO BE REFERRED TO THE
2019 FHS COMMITTEE
Standing Referrals
1. Family Justice Center & Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (#111)
2. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (#109)
5. Community Development Block Grant Recommendations (#20)
6. Innovative Community Partnerships (#110)
8. Local Planning Council Countywide Child Care Pilot Plan (#92)
9. Youth Services Report (#93)
10. Child Care Planning/Development Council Activities Update (#81)
11. SNAP/CalFresh Program Update (#103)
12. Homeless Continuum of Care (#5)
14. Adult Protective Services (#45)
15. Community Services Bureau/Head Start (#78)
17. Laura’s Law/Assisted Outpatient Treatment (#107)
Non-Standing Referrals
18. Employment and Human Services Department Challenges (#44)
19. Second Hand Smoke (#82)
20. Protecting Youth from Tobacco Influences (#112)
Should the Board not take definitive action, the 2019 FHS Committee will not have clear direction to guide its work plan.