Agenda

Return

C. 31

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Alison McKee, County Librarian
Date:	October 12, 2021

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Bella Vista Foundation Grant

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 10/12/2021

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Walt Beveridge 925-608-7730

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: October 12, 2021
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Librarian, or designee, to apply for and accept a grant in the amount of $149,750 from the Bella Vista Foundation to provide resources towards an Early Literacy Outreach program for the period November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no County match required as a condition of the grant. However, in order to make the Early Literacy Outreach program feasible, the Library will dedicate $173,301 annually in Library Funds for staffing and administrative support.

BACKGROUND:

The Bella Vista Foundation was founded in 1992 to support literacy, healthy living and youth development and empowerment. Based in San Francisco, previous grant recipients have been located primarily in San Francisco and Marin counties. They are expanding their reach into other parts of the Bay Area, and invited Contra Costa County Library to apply for funding.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Receipt of this grant will allow the Library to place a priority on providing library services to children 0-5 years-old in impacted communities through an Early Literacy Outreach program. Grant funds will be used to develop a formalized mobile unit that uses dedicated staff to make scheduled stops in areas consistent with the County Library's "Lunch at the Library" summer program. To date, the Library has attempted to provide these services in an informal fashion out of existing Library branches, but has lacked the branch location staffing and resources to implement and offer a complete program. With a formalized, structured mobile unit program, the Library seeks to take its services beyond the branch locations and into the community.

Over the course of the three-year grant cycle, grant funds will be focused on one-time purchases, such as a specially equipped vehicle, and operating supplies, such as educational kits and books to give away. Grant funding will be supplemented with additional funds to provide dedicated staff to operate the program, in addition to program marketing and graphics. While staff will continue to explore alternative funding sources to cover the [program's supplemental costs, there is sufficient Library Fund balance available to complete program funding for the three-year grant cycle. At the end of the grant cycle, the Library would assess the program's effectiveness and determine next steps.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the proposal is not approved, the Library will have fewer opportunities to engage with young children and their families located in impacted communities who are unable to utilize a physical library.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

The Early Literacy Outreach program will meet all five community outcomes established in the Children's Report Card. Research shows that early and positive experiences with books set the stage for a child's success in learning to read. Additionally, literacy skills are a strong predictor of health and employment status. Providing storytimes and crafts for young children will encourage regular exposure to reading and books, thus improving the quality of life for children and families in impacted communities.