Agenda

1.

Introductions

Chair Andersen call the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. and invites attendees to introduce themselves.

2.

Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes).

No one requested to speak during the public comment period.

3.

RECEIVE and APPROVE the draft Record of Action for the June 10, 2019 Family & Human Services Committee meeting.

The Committee approved the Record of Action for the June 10, 2019 meeting as presented.

AYE:	Chair Candace Andersen, Vice Chair John Gioia
Passed

Attachments:

DRAFT FHS Committee Record of Action for June 10, 2019

4.

RECOMMEND to the Board of Supervisors the appointment of David Boots to the Consumer 60 or Older - Seat 1 to the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Advisory Committee to a term ending on March 6, 2022, as recommended by the Authority.

Approved as recommended.

AYE:	Chair Candace Andersen, Vice Chair John Gioia
Passed

Attachments:

D. Boots Application

5.

RECOMMEND to the Board of Supervisors the appointment of Pearl C. Parmelee Cabrera to the Alternate seat on the Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County (AC5) to a term that will expire June 30, 2023, as recommended by AC5.

Approved as recommended.

AYE:	Chair Candace Andersen, Vice Chair John Gioia
Passed

Attachments:

AC5 Appointment Alternate Seat

P. Cabrera Application

6.

RECOMMEND to the Board of Supervisors the reappointment of Carol Carillo to the Sector Seat 4 - Child Abuse Prevention Council, Marianne Gagen to At-Large Seat 3, and Joseph DeLuca to At-Large Seat 4 on the Family and Children's Trust Committee for terms expiring September 30, 2021, as recommended by the Employment and Human Services Department.

Approved as recommended. Supervisor Gioia commented on need to enhance representation on the Committee in East and West County.

AYE:	Chair Candace Andersen, Vice Chair John Gioia
Passed

Attachments:

C. Carrillo Application

FACT Appointment Memo

J. DeLuca Application

M. Gagen Application

7.

RECEIVE report from the Employment and Human Services Department on the proposed closure of the Crescent Park Child Development Center in Richmond.

Camilla Rand presented the staff report. She reported that the facility closure is due to teacher shortages and low enrollment, which were attributed to low teacher salaries and community violence in the surrounding area of Crescent Park. Supervisor Gioia stated he will work with the City to develop strategies in that area. Supervisor Gioia also requested the Department to conduct and report back to the Committee on a salary study. The Department agreed and stated Associate Teachers are paid the lowest, with the highest turnover rate, so the Department is especially targeting research and efforts on that job class. The Committee accepted the staff report and the Department is targeting to report back to FHS in 3-4 months.

AYE:	Chair Candace Andersen, Vice Chair John Gioia
Passed

Attachments:

CSB Closure Update Memo

8.

ACCEPT status report on the Employment and Human Services Department's implementation of the CalFresh expansion. (Kathy Gallagher, Employment and Human Services Director)

Kathy Gallagher presented the staff report. As of Friday July 26, the Department had received 3,428 applications. The rate of receipt has leveled to about 200 per week. In July, 906 applications were received in contrast to 2,000 applications received in June. The Department has prioritized the 650 applications that have been pending more than 30 days; of these, most are 1-2 weeks over the 30-day processing deadline.

Chair Andersen asked about the expectations for application volume and associated need for more staffing come August. Kathy Gallagher anticipates a possible spike in applications in August due to increased outreach, and a correlating need for additional staff. She stated that workload was heavier than anticipated due to several factors, including: State misinformation that a client will receive substantially higher benefit amounts, a change in assumption that IHSS applicants would be enrolled at time of reapplying, the protracted timeline for onboarding eligibility workers, and staff turnover.

Larry Sly commented that EHSD should have anticipated the need for more staff last November. With the radio ads starting again in August, Caitlyn Sly expects this will be a large issue for backlog and suggested that Contra Costa County is singular with this backlog. She requested data to be provided by EHSD on a more regular basis.

Melanie commented that other counties are helping applicants with medical expenses. She urged our County to be more proactive in getting benefits for individuals, and objected to framing outreach as a contributor to the backlog. Rebecca Darnell noted that the Department is working to get the maximum benefits possible for each applicant. The Department is not holding up applications for the MediCal deductible, but instead incorporates that information when it is received.

Sandra Wall stated that Contra Costa County failed to competitively compensate and staff up as other counties did.

Steve Weiss commented that a high percentage of applications are not being processed timely, and that other counties are being more proactive and helping clients be considered as separate households to help them receive benefits.

Vice Chair Gioia commented that the county should have assumed the highest possible number of applicants to make sure we were prepared, and also observed that many other counties have a more robust property tax base and also local sales tax.

The Committee accepted the staff report and requested Kathy to provide an update at the Committee’s next meeting on September 23, 2019. Vice Chair Gioia directed staff to meet with outside stakeholders for assistance and to look at other counties for insight. He asked for a report back on plans to address long-term trends of this program; Plan A should be the plan with resources as currently allocated, Plan B should be a plan that contemplates additional resources.

AYE:	Chair Candace Andersen, Vice Chair John Gioia
Passed

Attachments:

EHS Report - CalFresh Implementation Update

9.

ACCEPT this report from the Employment and Human Services Department on youth services and the Independent Living Skills Program; and continue to support the Children and Family Services Bureau and its efforts to serve foster youth in the ILSP program.

Chair Andersen left the meeting. Supervisor Gioia accepted the staff report.

AYE:	Vice Chair John Gioia
Other:	Chair Candace Andersen (ABSENT)
Passed

Attachments:

#93 EHS - 2018/19 Workforce Investment Opportunity Act Youth Svcs Report

#93 EHS - 2018/19 Workforce Investment Opportunity Act Youth Svcs Report Powerpoint Presentation

#93 EHS - 2018/19 Workforce Investment Opportunity Act Youth Svcs Report Powerpoint Presentation - Supplemental Slides

#93 EHS - 2018/19 Independent Living Skills Program Report

#93 EHS - 2018/19 Independent Living Skills Program Powerpoint Presentation

10.

ACCEPT attached report on the activities and key accomplishments of the Local Planning and Advisory Council for Early Care and Education during fiscal year 2018-19.

Chair Andersen left the meeting. Supervisor Gioia accepted the staff report.

AYE:	Vice Chair John Gioia
Other:	Chair Candace Andersen (ABSENT)
Passed

Attachments:

2018/19 LPC Activities Report

Addendum to 2018/19 LPC Activities Report

11.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for August 26, 2019.

The Committee decided to cancel the August 26, 2019 meeting with the next meeting being scheduled for September 23.

AYE:	Chair Candace Andersen, Vice Chair John Gioia
Passed

12.

Adjourn

Vice Chair Gioia adjourned the meeting at 10:30 a.m.