HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08081995 - PC3 PC.3
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
DATE: August 8, 1995 PUBLIC COMMENT
At the August 8, 1995, Board of Supervisor meeting Rev. Curtis
Timmons Commented on the block grant funding program in Contra
Costa County and services for African American and Hispanic
children.
THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY
NO BOARD ACTION TAKEN
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LC0NTRACOSTA'CO:-1
D
MULTI-CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, INC. (MCDA, INRVI
THE REV. CURTIS A. TIMMONS, BA. , TH.D. , EXECUTIVE DIRE TO
301-WEST TENTH STREET, SUITE SIX
ANTIOCH, CALIFORNIA 94509
AUGUST 3, 1995
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT
.40-DOUGLAS DRIVE
MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA 94553
SIGNATURE: 7
RE: MCDA, INC. CONTRACT PROPOSAL WITH SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT
ATTENTION: DANNA FABELLA, ASSISTANT COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTOR
DEAR DANNA FABELLA,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER DATED JULY 31, 1995 WHICH WAS RECEIVED
IN MY OFFICE AUGUST 3, 1995. IN YOUR LETTER YOU STATED THAT YOU
HAVE NOT RECEIVED COPIES OF ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM MY OFFICE
SINCE MY LETTER DATED JUNE 6, 1995. I HAVE SENT SEVERAL LETTERS
BY (MAIL AND FAX) TO ROBERT HOFMANN, ACTING COUNTY WELFARE
DIRECTOR SINCE JUNE 6, 1995, INCLUDING MY AGENCIES PROPOSAL TO
THE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
MCDA, INC. CONTINUES TO RUN WEEKLY SPOT ANNOUNCEMENTS ADVERTISING
FOR NEW FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. WE CONTINUE TO RUN THESE
URGENT & MUCH NEEDED SPOTS WITH FULL EXPECTATION OF THE SOCIAL
SERVICE DEPARTMENT REIMBURSEMENT TO MCDA, INC. FOR THE FULL COST.
WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM LEGAL DOLLAR AMOUNT THE DEPARTMENT CAN
CONTRACT WITH AN AGENCY FOR SERVICES WITHOUT BEING REQUIRED
TO PUT THE CONTRACT OUT FOR BID? SO WE CAN BEGIN RESOLVING
THE FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION CRISIS, MCDA, INC. IS WILLING TO
CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY FOR THE MAXIMUM DOLLAR AMOUNT BEFORE
OUTSIDE BIDDING IS REQUIRED. HOWEVER, I DO STRONGLY URGE THE
DEPARTMENT TO PUT OUT AN ADDITIONAL CONTRACT BID FOR A MINIMUM
OF $100, 000. TO A MAXIMUM OF $200, 000. TO MORE ADEQUATELY
COVER THE COST OF ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR REACHING MORE
MINORITY FOSTER AND ADOPTION FAMILIES.
I HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY CHARLES & CARLA HALL WHO ARE (AFRICAN-
AMERICAN) AND ARE LICENSED FOSTER PARENTS FROM BAY POINT,
CALIFORNIA. THEY STATE THAT THEY ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO TAKE
TWO FOSTER CHILDREN (WHO THEY HAVE ALREADY SEEN) AND ARE IN NEED
OF FOSTER PARENTS. THEY HAVE INFORMED THE SOCIAL SERVICES FOSTER
CARE ACCORDINGLY, BUT THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING CO-
OPERATION AND THE NEEDED HELP FROM THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY NEED
TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED CARE FOR THE TWO CHILDREN IN QUESTION.
�IL
�- PAGE TWO
THESE ARE PERSONS WHO APPLIED FOR FOSTER CARE LICENSE THROUGH
THE URGING OF "THE URBAN GOSPEL MUSIC EXPERIENCE" RADIO PROGRAM
ON STEREO AM 990 KATD RADIO. I ASK THAT YOU DO ALL WITHIN YOUR
POWER TO _ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THIS FAMILY, THEIR PHONE NUMBER
IS 458-4767, 1948-CALAVERA DRIVE, BAY POINT, CA. 94565. I WOULD
LIKE TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE PERSONS CONTACTING FOSTER CARE
THROUGH THE URGING OF OUR PROGRAM ARE TREATED WITH THE UTMOST
CARE AND THAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE BEING ADDRESSED.
NUMEROUS PERSONS ARE REGULARLY CALLING ME ON SUNDAY EVENINGS AT
KATD RADIO STATION TO INFORM ME THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY OR ARE
PLANNING TO APPLY FOR FOSTER CARE LICENSE BECAUSE THEY HEARD OF
THE UGENT NEED ON KATD RADIO.
MCDA, INC. ASK AND STRONGLY URGE THE DEPARTMENT TO BE AS FAIR IN
PROVIDING APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO AGENCIES WHO ARE REACHING OUT TO
HELP RESOLVE AND ADDRESS THE URGENT NEED FOR MORE FOSTER AND
ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AS YOU ARE IN PROVIDING SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING FOR
CONSULTANTS WHO ARE IDENTIFYING AND DOCUMENTING THE PROBLEMS
WITHIN THE COUNTY ' S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
TO SUBSTANTIALLY PAY CONSULTANTS TO IDENTIFY AND DOCUMENT THE
COUNTY'S FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION PROBLEMS AND NOT AMPLY PROVIDE
FUNDING FOR RESOLVING THE PROBLEM WOULD BE A TOTAL WASTE OF
COUNTY FUNDS AS WELL AS AN INSULT & INJUSTICE TO THE THOUSANDS OF
CHILDREN IN OUR COUNTY WHO ARE DEPENDING ON THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE
THEM SAFE, CARING, STABLE FOSTER/ADOPTION FAMILIES THAT THEY SO
DESPERATELY NEED.
THE $50, 000. FUNDING PROPOSAL FROM MCDA, INC. TO PROVIDE OUTREACH
TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS NOT CLOSE TO THE AMOUNT THE
COUNTY HAVE SPENT PAYING FOR REPORTS FROM CONSULTANTS WHO HAVE
IDENTIFIED AND DOCUMENTED THE FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION PROBLEMS
WITHIN THE COUNTY. THE DATA CLEARLY CONFIRMS THAT THE AFRICAN-
AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY IS IN GREAT TURMOIL
& MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF BLACK INNOCENT CHILDREN ARE IT'S VICTIMS.
BLACKS MAKE UP ONLY ( 9 . 1% ) OF THE COUNTY' S TOTAL POPULATION, BUT
DISPROPORTIONATELY ( 58% ) OF THE CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM ARE BLACK. THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS INDEED IN
GREAT TURMOIL, MCDA, INC. STRONGLY APPEAL TO THE COUNTY TO HELP
"EMPOWER THE BLACK COMMUNITY TO 'REACH & AID THE BLACK COMMUNITY"
SO WE CAN "SAVE OUR CHILDREN" AND BEGIN THE HEALING OF OUR
COMMUNITY. IT IS A FAR BETTER INVESTMENT TO REACH AND HELP
OUR CHILDREN "NOW" , THAN TO INCARCERATE THEM IN JUVENILE HALL
AND THE COUNTY JAIL LATER.
THE CALIFORNIA STATE BUDGET HAVE BEEN APPROVED. I HOPE THAT YOU
ARE NOW IN POSTION TO QUICKLY ALLOCATE FUNDING TO MCDA, INC. SO WE
CAN SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR IN REACHING OUT TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
PAGE THREE
THE ONE YEAR MCDA, INC. BUDGET BREAKDOWN IS AS FOLLOW:
ONE YEAR CONTRACT $50, 000.
$9,360. KATD SPOT ADVERTISEMENT
$24, 000. DEVELOPMENT & DISTRIBUTION OF A MUCH NEEDED CULTURAL
NEWSPAPER FOR THE EAST & CENTRAL COUNTY BLACK COMMUNITY
TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
$12, 000. CONDUCTING ( 3 ) COMMUNITY FOSTER CARE ADOPTION FORUMS IN
EAST, WEST AND CENTRAL COUNTY
12 APPEARANCES AT 12 BLACK CHURCHES IN CONTRA COSTA TO
ADVOCATE FOR MORE FOSTER PARENTS AND ADOPTION FAMILIES
TRANSPORTATION & GAS EXPENSE
$4, 640. PRINTING COST FOR DEVELOPING CULTURAL FLYERS TO HAND OUT
IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY ADVOCATING FOR MORE FOSTER AND
ADOPTION FAMILIES , PAPER, OFFICE SUPPLIES, ETC.
I HOPE THAT THIS PROPOSAL MAKES CLEAR TO THE DEPARTMENT WHAT
SERVICES MCDA, INC. WILL PROVIDE AND THE COST. WE ARE PREPARED
TO GO TO WORK AS SOON AS A CONSULTANT CONTRACT IS APPROVED BY
THE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
CC: COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
ROBERT HOFMANN, ACTING COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTOR
LINDA CANAN, CHILD WELFARE DIVISION MANAGER
ESMERALDO OKENDO, RECRUITER
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•. March 29, •
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TALKING BACK ;
County faces crisis
t�,G inloster.:care system .
Editor; is
According to the State of California
Health:and Welfare Agency; Depart=
_:rnent:`of..'S6cia.1".Services, during the..
1994 fiscal year there were 2,307 chit-
dren within the care of the Contra Cos
to County foster care system. These
were`children who for various reasons
had to be removed from the homes of
their biological parents.`The reasons .
;,,�for:�removal vary from having parents.,,;%
who are drug addicts or drug dealers
i to ue ephysical-abuse;child neglect,,sexual
t ab
`,•"It's° alarming '-that, just in' 1994;
of 2,307 children were removed from
their homes and placed into the county
. .foster. care'system.' The number of
children coming into the system is rap-
idly.growing;"creating a major short-
,,age'and';urgent need.for more'foster
_parents.' andAicensed foster care'
homes:. At' present. there are'only
about'450.Ucensed foster care homes
in Contra Costa. If'you are willing to
open your heart and your home to a '
`child,please call the county foster care
YJ 24-hour hotline ,toddy,at 3134760 or
.313-77gg.'
;t Foster`parents are paid from$345
1.4484.per month per child depending:.''
on, the child's. age. Additionally they
receive an annual clothing allowance of, .
{r$79-$187:,:.;•';'• :...... ..... .... .:.....
:•`Thousands.'of precious children-are-
presently,within the Contra Costa fos-
ter care system.Fifty-seven percent of €
these children.are'African-American, '
a. If we neglect, -now,we:all pay:the,,;;,,Multi-Cultural : Development
t 34 percent are white and 8 percent are ,,,price later.:,.,! Ass'n
Hispanic. Blacks are only 9.1 percent: There is an urgent-need-for more
of the total county population, yet 57 .foster parents, especiallyAfrican-„
�.percent of all children removed from American foster parents who are:will- 't'
`:homes:of their biological& parents are., ing to provide these*children,a caring," !
black.:It is urgent that we address this stable home.'Some of these,children,;a�.
crisis"now.' a lives-and future of. are cleared for adoption. : ;
: thousandg of our:children are at stake. �y� TheRev.;,Curtis Timmons;,;i
pEVEIOP,yF l00
•
CORPORATE • ,,nes
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• 29. THE MULTI-CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INC.
•'••.19;x;•.••• •` 301-WEST TENTH STREET, SUITE SIX
,'••Cq(�F�RN\P .•'� ANTIOCH, CALIFORNIA 94509
''�•���„���U Y 14, 1995 ( 510) 753-1830
EDITORIAL BY THE REVEREND CURTIS A. TIMMONS, BA. ,TH.D.
"CONTRA COSTA'S CHILDREN IN CRISIS”
SIGNATURE: azln 7����
ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND WELFARE AGENCY,
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (DURING THE 1994 FISCAL YEAR)
THERE WERE 2, 307 CHILDREN WITHIN THE CARE OF THE CONTRA COSTA
COUNTY FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. THESE WERE CHILDREN WHO FOR VARIOUS
REASONS HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE HOMES OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL
PARENTS. THE REASONS FOR REMOVAL VARY FROM HAVING PARENTS WHO
ARE DRUG ADDICTS, DRUG DEALERS TO PHYSICAL ABUSE, CHILD NEGLECT,
SEXUAL ABUSE & ETCETERA.
IT'S ALARMING THAT JUST IN 1994 ( 2, 307 ) CHILDREN WERE REMOVED
FROM THEIR HOMES AND PLACED INTO THE CARE OF THE COUNTY FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM. THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN COMING INTO THE SYSTEM IS
RAPIDLY GROWING & IS CREATING A MAJOR SHORTAGE AND URGENT NEED
FOR MORE FOSTER PARENTS AND LICENSED FOSTER CARE HOMES. AT
PRESENT THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 450 LICENSED FOSTER CARE HOMES IN
CONTRA COSTA. IF YOU ARE WILLING TO OPEN YOUR HEART & YOUR HOME
TO A CHILD, PLEASE CALL THE COUNTY FOSTER CARE HOTLINE TODAY,
CALL 24-HRS. A DAY, ( 7 ) DAYS A WEEK, ( 510) 313-7760 OR 313-7788.
FOSTER PARENTS ARE PAID FROM ( $345-$484 ) PER MONTH PER CHILD
DEPENDING ON THE CHILD' S AGE. ADDITIONALLY THEY RECEIVE AN
ANNUAL CLOTHING ALLOWANCE OF ( $79-$187 ) .
THOUSANDS OF PRECIOUS CHILDREN ARE PRESENTLY WITHIN THE CONTRA
COSTA FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, ( 57% ) OF THESE CHILDREN ARE AFRICAN-
AMERICAN, (34% ) WHITE & ( 8$ ) HISPANIC. BLACKS ARE ONLY ( 9 . 1$)
OF THE TOTAL COUNTY POPULATION, YET ( 57%) OF ALL CHILDREN REMOVED
FROM HOMES OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS ARE BLACK. IT IS URGENT!
THAT WE ADDRESS THIS CRISIS NOW, THE LIVES & FUTURE. OF THOUSANDS
OF OUR CHILDREN ARE AT STAKE. IF WE NEGLECT THEM NOW, WE ALL PAY
THE PRICE LATER.
THERE IS AN URGENT! NEED FOR MORE FOSTER PARENTS, ( ESPECIALLY)
AFRICAN-AMERICAN FOSTER PARENTS WHO ARE WILLING TO OPEN THEIR
HEARTS AND HOMES TO CHILDREN AND PROVIDE THEM A LOVING AND CARING
STABLE HOME. SOME OF THESE CHILDREN ARE CLEARED FOR ADOPTION.
SINCERELY YOURS,
THE REV. CURTIS A. TIMMONS, BA.TH.D. ,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
REVEREND CURTIS A. TIMMONS, BA.TH.D.
301-WEST TENTH STREET, SUITE 6
ANTIOCH, CALIFORNIA 94509
( 510) 753-1830
'FEBRUARY 1, 1995
SIGNATURE:
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
651-PINE STREET
MARTINEZ, CALIFORNAI 94553
RE: BLOCK GRANT FUNDING
DEAR SUPERVISOR GAYLE BISHOP, CHAIRPERSON AND THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS,
I ADDRESSED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DURING YOUR BOARD MEETING ON
JANUARY 31, 1995 ABOUT THE CONCERN OF MANY SMALL AND MID-SIZE
COMMUNITY BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT FEEL THAT THEY ARE
NOT RECEIVING A FAIR AND EQUABLE SHARE OF THE ALLOCATION OF BLOCK
GRANT FUNDS.
THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS ARE THAT SOME LARGER NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION'S WITH ANNUAL MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET'S ARE YET
BEING FUNDED WITH BLOCK GRANT MONEY WHILE THE SMALL TO MID-SIZE
COMMUNITY BASED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FUNDING REQUEST ARE
OFTEN REJECTED. SOME OF THESE LARGER ORGANIZATION'S HAVE PAID
PROFESSIONAL GRANT WRITER'S ON STAFF WHICH GIVES THEM AN
ADVANTAGE OVER MANY SMALLER ORGANIZATION'S. IN SOME CASES JUST
THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S OF THESE
ORGANIZATION'S IS LARGER THAN THE TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET OF MANY OF
THE SMALL TO MID-SIZE ORGANIZATION'S.
MANY OF THE UNFUNDED SMALL TO MID-SIZE ORGANIZATION'S HAVE
PROPOSED EXCELLENT PROJECT'S THAT COULD GREATLY BENEFIT THEIR
COMMUNITIES, BUT ARE NEVER FUNDED SO THEY .ARE UNABLE TO EXECUTE
THE PROJECT'S. IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZEN'S
OF OUR COUNTY IN ANY AREA OF OUR COUNTY TO PLACE ALL OR THE
GREATER PART OF OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF BLOCK GRANT FUNDING OVER
THE LAST . FIVE YEARS OR MORE TO SEE WHAT ORGANIZATION'S (WITH
REGULARITY) HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED FUNDING. IT WOULD ALSO BE OF
GREAT INTEREST TO SEE THE PERCENTAGE OF BLOCK GRANT FUNDING
GRANTED TO ORGANIZATION'S MAKING REPEATED REQUEST COMPARED TO
THOSE FIRST TIME QUALIFIED NEW ORGANIZATION'S THAT ARE REJECTED
FOR FUNDING ONE OR MORE TIMES. WHAT IS THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF
THESE FUNDED ORGANIZATION'S? WHAT IS THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THEIR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF?
FINALLY, ANY COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD OR COMMISSION THAT HAVE THE
TASK OF MAKING FUNDING ALLOCATION -RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR ANY COUNTY AGENCY, SHOULD REGULARLY BE
ROTATED A MINIMUM OF EVERY TWO YEARS TO HELP PREVENT THE
ESTABLISHING OF BONDS TO SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION'S AND THUS BEING
TEMPTED TO GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.
PERSON'S IN AN ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICE, PERSON'S WHO HAVE DECLARED
AN INTENT TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE OR WHO HAVE RAN FOR PUBLIC
OFFICE WITHIN ONE YEAR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SERVE ON ANY
- COUNTY ADVISORY BOARD OR COMMISSION THAT MAKE RECOMMENDATION'S
FOR THE ALLOCATING OF PUBLIC FUNDS. THE TEMPTATION IS TO GREAT
? FOR THOSE CANDIDATES TO REWARD THEIR SUPPORTER'S AND TO SEEK
REVENGE OF THOSE THAT DID NOT SUPPORT THEIR POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.
SINCERELY,
„ THE REVEREND CURTIS A. TIMMONS, BA.TH.D. ,