BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
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 2019, the Family and Human Services (FHS) Committee received 16 referrals from the Board of Supervisors, made 11 reports to the Board of Supervisors (BOS), and made recommendations to fill 34 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 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 25, 2019. 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. The FHS Committee received a status report at its April 22, 2019 meeting, noting that in this transition year, participation has been, so far, lower than normal. Staff itemized certain actions for consideration by the Board of Supervisors, including approval of updated regional and local plan, approval of a regional MOU, and authorization to form a non-profit organization to serve as a fundraising arm of the Workforce Development Board. This report was shared with the BOS on May 7, 2019. This is a standing referral. REFER
3. 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 13, 2019, the FHS Committee approved FY 2019-20 CDBG Public Service allocations totaling $759,375 for 33 renewal Public Services projects, and $365,063 (reflecting an approximately 20% increase above the requested amount) for 5 renewal and 1 new Emergency Solutions projects. The Board of Supervisors approved these allocations on June 11, 2019. Additionally, on November 13, 2019, the FHS Committee reviewed and approved staff recommendations for the 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan priorities, which were subsequently approved by the Board on November 19, 2019. The final Consolidated Plan will be brought to the Committee in April 2020 along with the CDBG funding recommendations for FY 2020/21 This is a standing referral. REFER
4. 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 May 13, 2019, received a status report on EHSD's Innovative Community Partnerships program and forwarded this report to the BOS on May 21, 2019. This is a standing referral. REFER
5. 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 FHS Committee and the Local Planning and Advisory Council for Early Care and Education has provided annual reports. The FHS Committee, on June 10, 2019, reviewed and approved the proposed Local Child Care Policy and Evaluation Plan and forwarded the plan to the BOS on June 18, 2019. This is a standing referral. REFER
6. Youth Services Report (#93). An annual update of the Independent Living Skills 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 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and CalWorks youth services. The FHS Committee received and accepted a program update from EHSD on July 29, 2019. This is a standing referral. REFER
7. 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 29, 2019, received the FY 2018/19 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. This is a standing referral. REFER
8. 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 monitored the CalFresh SSI expansion implementation closely throughout the year, receiving reports from EHSD and hearing public testimony on April 22, June 10, July 29, September 23, and November 13, 2019. The FHS Committee provided status reports to the Board of Supervisors on May 7 and July 9, 2019. As the SSI Expansion is still in progress, this matter should remain on referral to the FHS Committee for ongoing monitoring. REFER
9. Homeless Continuum of Care (#5). The FHS Committee, on November 13, 2019, 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 December 10, 2019. This is a standing referral. REFER
10. 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 June 10, 2019 and forwarded the annual report to the BOS on June 18, 2019, requesting the BOS to engage in supporting and spreading awareness about these services. This is a standing referral. REFER
11. 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. Due to the prioritization of the CalFresh SSI implementation, FHS annual review of this program was rescheduled to the first committee meeting in 2020. This is a standing referral. REFER
12. Laura’s Law/Assisted Outpatient Treatment (#107). AB 1421 allows court-ordered intensive outpatient treatment called Assisted Outpatient Treatment 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 October 7, 2019, received and accepted the report on 2018 outcomes, which were generally positive, seeing a decline in crisis episodes, hospitalizations, incarceration, and homelessness, and an increase in patient satisfaction as evidenced through patient surveys. Staff reported that the "front door" model implemented by the County has been very successful, helping families to better navigate the array of available services and be directed to the most appropriate level of care for their family member. Staff cautioned, however, that more step down, e.g. Assertive Community Treatment, programming is needed. This is a standing referral. REFER
13. Employment and Human Services Department Challenges (#44). Due to the prioritization of the CalFresh SSI expansion, EHSD's report on this referral was postponed until Spring 2020. REFER
14. 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. FHS received the most recent follow-up report from the Health Services Department on October 7, 2019, at which time the Committee requested staff to develop a sample secondhand smoke clause for inclusion in Homeowners' Association Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. The Health Services Department reported out to the Board of Supervisors on this matter on November 12, 2019. It is recommended that this matter remain on referral to the Committee for continued monitoring. REFER
15. 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. Public Health staff provided a report to the BOS in March 2018, and status reports to the FHS Committee on December 3, 2018 and October 7, 2019 at which time the Committee expressed its support to expand a pending amendment to the smoking ordinance that would ban vaping to additionally ban flavored tobacco. On November 12 and 19, 2019, the Board of Supervisors introduced and adopted an ordinance to prohibit the sale of tobacco vaping products, flavored tobacco products, and menthol cigarettes, and to prohibit the sale or delivery of cannabis vaping products in the County unincorporated area. It is recommended that this matter remain on referral to the Committee for continued monitoring. REFER
16. Clarifying the Role of the Family and Children's Trust (FACT) Committee (#120). On December 10, 2019, the Board of Supervisors asked the FHS Committee to consider whether it would be appropriate to expand the charge of the FACT Committee to encompass public outreach, information, and/or advocacy on child abuse prevention. As the FHS Committee received the referral following its last 2019 meeting, it is recommended that this question be referred to the 2020 FHS Committee for examination. REFER
EXHIBIT A
LIST OF ITEMS TO BE REFERRED TO THE
2020 FHS COMMITTEE
Standing Referrals
1. Family Justice Center & Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (#111)
2. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (#109)
3. Community Development Block Grant Recommendations (#20)
4. Innovative Community Partnerships (#110)
5. Local Planning Council Countywide Child Care Pilot Plan (#92)
6. Youth Services Report (#93)
7. Child Care Planning/Development Council Activities Update (#81)
8. SNAP/CalFresh Program Update (#103)
9. Homeless Continuum of Care (#5)
10. Adult Protective Services (#45)
11. Community Services Bureau/Head Start (#78)
12. Laura’s Law/Assisted Outpatient Treatment (#107)
Non-Standing Referrals
13. Employment and Human Services Department Challenges (#44)
14. Second Hand Smoke (#82)
15. Protecting Youth from Tobacco Influences (#112)
16. Clarifying the Role of the Family and Children's Trust (FACT) Committee (#120)
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Should the Board not take definitive action, the 2020 FHS Committee will not have clear direction to guide its work plan.