Agenda

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C. 38

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Date:	May 17, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract Amendment with Lutheran Social Services of Northern California for Transitional Housing Assistance for Emancipated Youth

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/17/2022

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:

L. Pacheco (925) 608-4963

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: May 17, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, in an amount not to exceed $295,596 to provide transitional housing assistance for emancipated youth to increase the monthly per emancipated youth rate, pursuant to state law, with no change to term July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No additional fiscal impact to department expenditures.

BACKGROUND:

Lutheran Social Services provides Transitional Housing Program (THP) – Plus housing and support services to emancipated foster youth up to age 24 who have been referred by Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) Children and Family Services Independent Living Skills Program staff. AB 427 authorized THP-Plus funds to reimburse counties that provide transitional housing services to emancipating foster youth. Contra Costa County elected to participate in the program. The passage of AB 153 allows funding if the fair market rent, as defended in paragraph (4) of subdivision (i) of Section 11403.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, for a two-bedroom apartment in the county is one of the eleven (11) most expensive in the State of California during the 2020-2021 federal fiscal year. Contra Costa County was deemed one (1) of the eleven (11) most expensive counties. According to AB 153, payment of a rate to THP-Plus providers should be no less than $2,882 per young adult per month effective July 1, 2021.

The effective date of the amendment is June 1, 2022 with no change in original term dated July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The approval of the contract amendment will allow the County to facilitate implementation of AB 153 whereby increasing the monthly per emancipated youth (i.e., young adult) THP-Plus rate from $2,737 to $2,882 retroactively to July 1, 2021. The original contract limit of $295,596 is unchanged given an underspending of the available contract balance. In exchange for the increased rate amount, Contractor will agree to the maintenance of the bed capacity in accordance with AB 153.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Housing and support services for youth transitioning from foster care to independent living will be hindered.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

This contract supports all of the community outcomes established in the County's Children's Report Card: 1) "Children Ready for and Succeeding in School"; 2) "Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood"; 3) “Families that are Economically Self Sufficient”; 4) “Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing”; and 5) “Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families”. This is accomplished by providing safe housing and support to assist youth transitioning from foster care to independent living.