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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 08061996 - D1 '1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS F&HS-02 *�-- Contra FROM: FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Costa 7, ��..,: �=:=f-• County p _- ,•CPv, DATE: July 8, 1996 rTq cduci REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF WELFARE REFORM, HEALTH CARE SUBJECT: REFORM, FEDERAL JOB TRAINING LEGISLATION, AND PROPOSED REORGANIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. DIRECT the County Administrator to continue to prepare organizational options for the Community Services Department and other human services departments, focussing on ways in which support services, such as contracts administration, training, personnel and similar services might be better coordinated among departments and return to the Family and Human Services Committee with his recommendations. 2. AUTHORIZE the County Administrator to explore, through the Executive Committee of the Policy Forum, ways in which family and children's services might be reorganized to better coordinate similar services (such as child care programs, or employment and job training programs) which are now provided in different departments and return to the Family and Human Services Committee with his recommendations. 3, DIRECT the County Administrator to continue to monitor activities at the State and Federal level having to do with welfare reform, health care reform, changes to employment and job training programs, the Head Start Program, Community Services Block Grant and other major family and children's services programs and provide updates to the Family and Human Services Committee as events warrant such reports. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD CO MITEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): &AVIAP-SAI 11 NIER IF= AITW ACTION OF BOARD ON August e, 1996 1 APP OVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: I , I V,V d n d II NOES: III AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: N o n e ABSTAIN: None OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED August 6, 1996 Contat' PHIL B TC LOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF cc: dee Page 3 P ORS AND COUNTY A RATOR I F&HS-02 BACKGROUND: On March 5, 1996, the Board of Supervisors referred to our Committee a report from the County Administrator and a consultant. The consultant's report recommended the following: 1. Combine the Department of Community Services, Department of Social Services and other social service program providers into one unit. 2. Begin now to plan for restructuring of social service programs. 3. Include Job Training in the Temporary Assistance program. In discussing the consultant's report, the Board of Supervisors took the following actions: 0 Accepted the report of Paul McIntosh. 0 Directed the County Administrator to prepare organizational options. 0 Referred the organizational options to the Family and Human Services Committee for coordination of information and public meetings in the community prior to bringing the options to the full Board. On April 2, 1996, the Board of Supervisors approved plans suggested by our Committee to hold three community forums to receive input on these subjects. These forums were held May 8, 1996 in Bay Point, May 15, 1996 in Pinole, and May 29, 1996 in Concord. Valuable input was received from the community and interested citizens. On July 8, 1996, our Committee met with the County Administrator, the Health Services Director, the Social Service Director, the Community Services Director and Rita Hays, representing the Executive Director of the Private Industry Council. This effort was undertaken earlier this year when we expected welfare reform to be enacted almost immediately. It now appears that there will be no major Federal initiatives in this area until after the November 1996 election, with the possible exception of changes to the Private Industry Council legislation in order to combine and block grant employment and job training programs and funding to the states. As a result, much of the pressure to immediately undertake some type of reorganization of the Community Services Department has been removed. Scott Tandy reported to our Committee on some of the problems he is uncovering in the Community Services Department following the intensive effort that has been made over the past few months to salvage the Head Start Program. He noted that there is a deficit in the Weatherization Program which will only grow unless something is done almost immediately to either obtain new sources of revenue or reduce expenditures. Issues have also been raised by the Economic Opportunity Council about the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds and how they are being used. The issue of the use of the CSBG and oversight of the Head Start Program are separately on referral to our Committee and we will be providing other reports on these subjects next month. -2- F&HS-02 Supervisor DeSaulnier asked why we would not want to undertake some type of reorganization if the consultant's comments are true that the way we have the Community Services Department organized in this County is somewhat unique. Mr. Tandy responded that it is true that the County operates some programs in Contra Costa County that are not typically operated by the county in other areas in California. Few counties operate the Head Start Program. It is more typically administered by school districts. Many counties do not directly administer the CSBG and serve as the community action agency; this is often done through a nonprofit community-based organization in other counties. Few other counties operate the extensive complex of Child Development Programs which we operate. However, Mr. Tandy suggested that it might be important for the near future to let him try to work through some of the problems the department is facing rather than simply breaking up the department and transferring its parts to other County departments. Mr. Tandy has undertaken meetings with his program chiefs in the department to educate them on some of what is going on financially so they are more aware of the problems the department is facing. Supervisor DeSaulnier asked about a Human Services Agency which might serve as a coordinating and administering agency between the separate departments and the County Administrator and Board of Supervisors, somewhat along the lines of the Growth Management and Economic Development Agency (GMEDA). As we discussed this possibility with the department heads, two possibilities emerged that we would like to explore. There was some real interest in trying to combine or better coordinate similar support services which otherwise each department must provide for in some manner itself. These can include contracts administration (RFP issuance, contract monitoring, contract preparation), personnel and training functions. The other possibility is to look at those aspects of family and children's services where two or more departments overlap with each other, provide similar services, or where two or more departments provide services which are dependent on each other. We are, therefore, recommending that these two options be explored. Mr. Cullen noted that we already know enough about what is likely to be included in any welfare reform package that we can begin to do some planning so we are ready to move quickly when welfare reform is enacted. We will continue to explore these possibilities with the departments and will make further reports to the Board as developments at the State and Federal level dictate and as the departments are able to work through some of the organizational issues we have discussed. cc: County Administrator Social Service Director Health Services Director Executive Director, Private Industry Council Community Services Director Sara Hoffman, CAO -3-