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C. 38

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David Twa, County Administrator
Date:	June 16, 2015

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

2015 CSAC Challenge Awards

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 06/16/2015

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor

ABSENT:

Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097

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: June 16, 2015
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

AUTHORIZE a letter of authorization from the Chair of the Board for the submission of applications to the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) 2015 Challenge Awards, as recommended by the County Administrator.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The entry fee is $75 for each application. The entry fee is paid out of the County Administrator Office’s budget.

BACKGROUND:

In April, the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) invited counties to enter their 2015 Challenge Awards competition. The program is intended to recognize the innovative and creative spirit of county governments, who look to find new and effective ways of providing programs and services to their constituents. The deadline for entry is a postmark of June 26, 2015.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

CSAC recognizes counties in four population categories. Challenge Award-winning programs receive state and national exposure, are highlighted in county best practices videos, and recognized at Boards of Supervisors meetings. This is a great way to let colleagues across the state and nation know about the innovative work we are doing.

Two levels of awards will be presented by CSAC in each category of population: Challenge Award Trophies and Merit Award Certificates. The judges have the flexibility to offer an optional top-level award: The California Counties Innovation Award.

Challenge Awards will be presented in person in the recipient’s county. Merit Awards will be mailed. Award recipients will also be featured on CSAC’s Web site at www.csac.counties.org.

Contra Costa County departments propose to submit the following applications for the 2015 CSAC Challenge Awards:

1. MoneyGram: In 2014, Contra Costa County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) made it easier for child support customers across California to pay by cash using MoneyGram. The solution allows customers to make cash child support payments at any of the MoneyGram 35,000 nationwide locations for a low fee of $1.99. DCSS discovered that two other states had begun using MoneyGram and engaged the California Department of Child Support Services and California State Disbursement Unit staff to come up with a solution. DCSS developed a comprehensive outreach plan and materials and piloted the project for three months. It was so successful that DCSS was asked to help bring Napa up on the solution after the earthquake. At the beginning of 2015 the rest of the California counties transitioned onto MoneyGram. The collections are rolling in, from the beginning of the pilot project through May 31, 2015; there have been a total of 7,094 payments for just over $1.8 million.

2. Giving the Natives a Chance (GNC): In 2014 the Flood Control District (District) partnered with local non-profits to create the Giving the Natives a Chance program (GNC). GNC is a program that restores native plants to flood control channels through volunteer efforts. It reduces pesticide use, minimizes fire risk, meets flood control standards, and provides positive public engagement while reintroducing drought-adapted plants to the creeks. The community has rallied behind this effort, and the program now includes three separate events with more planned in the comping year. In total, over 250 volunteers have contributed 800 hours of their time restoring native plants to our waterways. The project highlights the great things that can happen when the County and community get behind a cause and work together to find a solution. This project exemplifies the spirit of the CSAC Challenge Award, and the Board of Supervisors is proud to recognize this achievement.

3. Veterans Voices: A live monthly television program hosted by Veterans Service Officer, Nathan Johnson, connecting veterans and their families with resources available in the community. Brought to the community online and on cable TV by Contra Costa County's Veterans Service Office.

4. CLOUDS: CLOUDS is a management information system designed to provide increased safety for children in childcare centers and automated state reporting. CLOUDS was designed for the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) to provide increased safety for children, produce real-time data reports, and enhance staff productivity in child development programs. Secure technology ensures confidentiality and features remote access through a secure web-based program limited to the County’s computer system and a three digit encrypted central database which requires an authenticated profile. Through automation of many protocols that were formerly completed by hand such as head counts, meal counts, enrollment, attendance, staff-to-children ratio management, monitoring, and tracking, this technology produces a cost saving of $120,000 per month – a conservative estimate.

5. Contra Costa County Family Justice Alliance: Contra Costa’s Family Justice Alliance is a highly effective, innovative county-city-community partnership. With the Board of Supervisor’s foundational leadership, the partnership established multiple centers where victims of domestic/family violence, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking receive holistic, coordinated services through co-location of law enforcement, community and county agencies. Contra Costa is the first county in the nation to establish this type of regional model implementing a ‘best practice’ approach in the field of violence prevention.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without a letter of authorization to submit an entry, a department will not be able to compete for a CSAC Challenge Award.