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MINUTES - 08052003 - C.132
FHS # 2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ` Contra FROM: FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE •?• - `j '•• an r Costa DATE: AUGUST 5 2003 CountySUBJECT: OVERSIGHT OF SERVICE INTEGRATION SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION Recommendation: ACCEPT the attached report on the activities and achievements of the Contra Costa County Service Integration Program. Fiscal Impact: None Background: Contra Costa County's Service Integration Program is a multi-disciplinary collaboration of staff from the County Departments of Employment and Human Services, Health Services, Probation, County Administrator's Office, Mount Diablo Unified School District, West Contra Costa Unified School District, community-based organizations and neighborhood residents. Over the past nine years, the Service Integration Program has emerged as a leader at achieving measurable improvements in the lives of children and families through the delivery of community- driven family support services. The Service Integration program was designed to take an innovative approach to working with families that historically have posed some of the greatest challenges to service providers: multi-problem families involved in two or more County programs who live in the County's lowest income, highest risk communities. This report to the Family and Human Services Committee describes the Service Integration Program's approach to working with families, recent recognition and awards earned by the Service Integration Program, and activities and outcomes achieved during 2002. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:x YES SIG TURF: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ., J ' .� F DERAt D. GLOVER J HN GIOIA ACTION OF BOARD ON AUGUST 5, 2003 APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT NONE ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD AYES: NOES: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED JOHN SWEE EN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Contact Person: Dorothy Sansoe(5-1009) CC: CAO HSD EHSD BY: Cj I DEPUTY TO: Family and Human Services Committee Supervisor F eral Glover, Chair SupervisorZGioia, Member FROM: Nina Goldmogram Manager, Service Integration Program { SUBJECT: Report on th Contra Costa County Service Integration Program (revised) DATE: July 21, 2003 RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPT the attached report on the activities and achievements of the Contra Costa County Service Integration Program. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Contra Costa County's Service Integration Program has been providing inter-agency, family- focused services to the communities of Bay Point and North Richmond since 1994. Due to the effectiveness of this model, the Service Integration Program has received national, statewide and local recognition. In 2002: 4-a Service Integration's Verde Involving Parents (VIP) Program received the prestigious ""California Gold Community "Award from the Counties, Cities and Schools Partnership and won a National Association of Counties Achievement Award. Service Integration's Bay Point Teen Video Project earned "Best Documentary" at the "Berkeley Film and Video Festival". Articles highlighting the Service Integration Program appeared in the Contra Costa Times, the San Francisca Chronicle and Western Cities magazine. The success of the Service Integration model is evident in the measurable improvements achieved in the lives of children and families. In the Service Integration neighborhoods: more parents are working; more children are remaining with their families; more children are attending school regularly; and more families are gaining access to medical care. Service Integration outcome measures include: An average of 38% of the CaIWORKs participants served by the Bay Point Service Integration Team (SlTeam) and 35% of those served by the North Richmond SITeam were working in 2002 versus 28% countywide. Service Integration's VIP Program has increased school attendance at North Richmond's Verde Elementary School from 88.9% in 1999/2000 to 93.4% in 2002/03. Page 1 Over 94% of the 320 children served by the SITeams'Child Welfare Workers in 2002 remained safely in their homes. The Service Integration Program budget is secure through FY 2003-04 due to substantial funding from private foundations and other agencies. However, as public and private budgets continue to constrict in upcoming years, the obstacles associated with maintaining the Service Integration Program -- ,and, in particular, Its neighborhood-building projects, Bay Paint Works and the North Richmond Empowerment Collaborative -- will continue to grow. We will continue to seek new and creative approaches to supporting these important neighborhood programs. BACKGROUND Contra Costa County`s Service Integration Program is a multi-disciplinary collaboration of staff from the County Departments of Employment and Human Services, Health Services and Probation, the County Administrator's Office, the Mount Diablo Unified School District, the West Contra Costa Unified School district, community-based organizations and neighborhood residents. Over the past nine years, the County's Service Integration Program has emerged as a leader at achieving measurable improvements in the lives of children and families through the delivery of community-driven, family support services. Established in August of 1994, the Service Integration Program was designed to take an innovative approach to working with families that historically have posed some of the greatest challenges to service providers: multi-problem families involved in two or more county programs who live in the County's lowest income, highest risk communities. In 1997, in response to Welfare Reform, the Service Integration Program integrated community-building activities into the daily operations of its two Family Service Centers, with the establishment of Bay Point Works (BPW) and the North Richmond Empowerment Collaborative (NREC, formerly the North Richmond Employment Collaborative). Consequently, two essential components now drive the success of Contra Costa`s Service Integration Program strategy: (1)Strengthening and sustaining the symbiotic relationship among county agencies, CBO service providers and neighborhood residents; and (2)Developing and supporting exceptional community leaders. This report to the Family and Human Services Committee of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors describes the Service Integration Program`s approach to working with families, recent recognition and awards earned by the Service Integration Program and activities and outcomesachieved primarily during 2002. The final section of this report describes the Service Integration Program's efforts to balance its budget and diversify its funding base. Page 2 THE SrTeam APPROACH TO WORKING WITH FAMILIES Housed in neighborhood-based Family Service Centers, the approximately 50 SITeam staff members include; Employment Specialists, Medical and Food Stamps Specialists, Children's Mental Health Counselors, Juvenile Probation Officers, Child Welfare Workers, Public Health Nurses, Adult Mental Health/Substance Abuse Counselors, School/Family Resource Specialists and community residents, who staff the SlTeams'two neighborhood-building projects. Approximately one-third of the SITeam staff reside in and/or have children who attend elementary school in the SIT neighborhoods. The Service Integration Program strives to achieve the following three goals: L 50 Increase family economic self-sufficiency tJ Improve family functioning Expand community capacity to support children and families The SITeams'approach is based on the premise that the challenges facing multi-problem families are inter-related. Consequently, the SITeams take a holistic approach in their work with these families. SITeam members work with the participant families using an integrated case management process, developed specifically for the SITeams. Focusing on the whole family unit, rather than just the individual, the SITeam staff builds upon family strengths to provide services driven by and tailored to each family's unique needs. Staff and family members together develop a comprehensive plan for addressing issues in a range of interdependent life domains, such as child care, child and adult health, transportation, social supports, school and employment. The SITeams not only provide families with more accessible, personalized services in the communities where they live, but the multi-disciplinary and inter-departmental collaboration among staff members also allow the team of service providers involved to establish a comprehensive, consistent strategy for each family, avoiding conflicting expectations and demands by different programs. Currently two SITeams provide intensive case management services to approximately 700 families in Bay Point and North Richmond/„Old Town" San Pablo. In addition, BPW and NREC's community-building projects touch the lives of hundreds of other neighborhood residents each year. RECENT RECOGNITION AND AWARDS Due to the effectiveness of this county-community partnership model, the Contra Costa Service Integration Program has received national, statewide and local recognition and attention. During 2002: Page 3 Contra Costa's Verde Involving Parents (VIP) Program received the prestigious "California Gold Community "Award from the Counties, Cities and Schools (CCS)l Partnership over 9 other finalists and 53 applicants statewide. This award honors communities most successful in delivering programs and services through collaborative efforts. Contra Costa received a *"'2002 Achievement Award"from the National Association of Counties in recognition of innovative programming that contributes to and enhances county government in the United States. 10 The second production of the Bay Point Teen Video Project, "An Exploration of Our History: the Story of East Contra Costa" won "Best Documentary" at the 2002 Berkeley Filar and Video Festival, During 2002, the work of the Service Integration Program's VIP Program and Bay Point Teen Video Project was featured in local newspapers and other publications, including: "Doing What it Takes to Turn a School Around" (Sari Francisca Chronicle, November, 25 2002, p. Al). "Verde Elementary Exercises Initiative, Draws State Praise" (Contra Costa Times, September 26, 2002, p. Al). "Teen Film Chronicles History of East County" (Contra Costa 71mes, June 16th, 2002). "Building Communities through Collaboration: California Community Partnership Awards" (Western City Magazr`ne, December 2002). Copies of the full articles are contained in Attachment A. Service Integration Program staff also have been asked to present at a number of conferences throughout the year, including the Sierra Health Foundation's Building Community to Improve Health: the Power, the Proal the Promise Conference held in Sacramento in September 2002 and the California School Boards Association's Annual Conference held at San Francisco's Moscone Center in December 2002. ACnVITY NIGHUGHTS AND OUTCOMES A critical aspect of the Service Integration program is its emphasis on tracking participant outcomes. Through outcomes, the SITeams are able to evaluate their effectiveness based on measurable improvements in the lives of children and families. The outcome data and activity highlights that follow are primarily for the 2002 calendar year. The SITearn outcome data for the years 2000-2002 are summarized in Figure 1. ' CCS is a partnership of the California Mate Association of Counties,the League of California Cities,the California School Boards Association and the Center for Civic Renewal. Mage 4 FIGURE 1. SERVICE INTEGRATION PROGRAM OUTCOMES REPORT 2000, 2001 & 2002 Summary (revised 71 bw11.I) Indicator 2000 2001 2002 % of SIT CalWfl.RKspartiripants BP STT: 37% BP SIT: 34% BP SIT: 38%t working(Monthly Average) NR SIT: 36% NR SIT: 29% NR SIT: 35% % of SIT CaIWORKs participants entering employment o BP SIT: 7%(13) BP SIT: 4% (7) BP SIT: 4% (5)t (/o entering employment/ NR SIT:10%(13) NR SIT: 5%(5) NR SIT: 4%(3) #entering employment) Monthl Average) % of SIT CPS cases that require BP SIT: 8% BP SIT: 12% BP SIT: 0% court involvement(# of cases (4/48) (7/59) (0/22)2 involving court/total cases) NR SIT: 11% NR SIT: 15% NR SIT: 17% Annual Total 13/120 21/137 19/112 % of SIT CPS children who remain BP SIT: 96% BP SIT: 89% BP SIT: 100% safely in their homes (128/133) (129/145) (54/54) (#of children who remain safely in NR SIT: 94% NR SIT: 90% NR SIT: 86% their homes/total children served) Annual Total (301/320) (281/312) (230/267) # % of SIT CPS families whose BP SIT: 92% BP SIT: 88% BP SIT: 100% children remain safely in their (44/48) (52/59) (22122)2 homes (#of families whose children NR SIT: 92% NR SIT: 84% NR SIT: 87% remain safely in their homes/total (110/120) (115/137) (97/112) families served Annual Total % of school days attended by youth BP SIT: 87% BP SIT: 77% BP SIT: 87% on SIT Probation .1l2'onthly Avera e NR SIT: 67% NR SIT: 67% NR SIT: 69% #of violations Fled on youth on SIT BP SIT: 18 violations BP SIT: 4 violations BP SIT: 2 violations probation(#of violations/# of youth (10 youth)4 (4 youth) (2 youth) committing violations) NR SIT: 5 violations NR SIT: 39 violations NR SIT: 5 violations Annual Total 5 oath a 12 outh 4youth) Level of violations filed on youth on BP SIT: 3 Tech., BP SIT: 3 Tech., BP SIT: 1 Tech., SIT probation{Technical, 11 Mis, 4 Fel.4 1 Fel. 1 Mis. Misdemeanor or Felony) NR SIT: 4 Tech., NR SIT: 34 Tech.., NR SIT: 2 Tech., Annual Total 1 Mis.d 1 Mis.,4 Fel. 2 Fel. % of SIT participants served by the o SIT PHN with a"medical home"s BP SIT: 83 Jo BP SIT: 79% BP SIT: 96%2 Monthl Avera-e NR SIT: 96%s NR SIT: 91% NR STT: 96%2 % of SIT participants served by the BP SIT: 32%6 BP SIT: 74% BP SIT: 81%2 SIT PHN utilizing their`medical o home"7 (Monthly Average) NR SIT: 56/o NR SIT: 70% NR SIT: 88%2 1 Excludes Bay point data for February 2002 due to technical inaccuracies. 2 Partial year data. Position was unfilled for part of the year. 3 Excludes school attendance of probationers whose whereabouts are unknown. 4 July-December 2000 data. SIT began tracking this outcome in July 2000. s A patient with a medical home is defined as a patient with access to care that is known to him or her. 6 October-:December 2000 data. SIT began tracking this outcome in October 2000. "Utilization of a Medical Home"is defined as(1)for the well population:within periodicity for their age group;(2)for he unwell population:following through with recommendations from their medical home. a"eae,Ira��'. . '1 emmenic sett-�� c. The framework for Service Integration's self-sufficiency services pre-dates both federal and state welfare reform legislation. Since late 1995, the Service Integration Program has focused on strategies that increase employability and self-sufficiency of families receiving welfare, with all staff members across a//disciplines embracing employment-focused approach to working with families. In 1997, SIT expanded its effort to support all community residents in their search for employment, through BPW and NREC. Both BPW and NREC involve community residents and agencies in planning and implementing employment services, resulting in increased neighborhood capacity. The joint successes of the Service Integration Program's multi-disciplinary team approach and neighborhood-involvement strategies are highlighted below: since adopting a oro-active, community-driven approach to employment services, the S1Teams consistently have maintained the highest employment rates of CalWORKs participants across the County (Figure 2). In 2002, the Bay Point SITeam continued to lead all EHSD District Offices with 38%2 of its CalWORKs participants reporting earnings; the North Richmond SITeam held a close second, with 35% of its CalWORKs participants working. 7 once on oar with the Antioch District Office and the County average, the work participation rates of Ca[WORKs participants served by the Bay Point 5IT have consistently surpassed rates at all other County offices for 5 years running (Figure 3). After experiencing a dip in 2001 as a result of the economic downturn, the workforce participation rates of North Richmond SIT CalWORKs participants rose notably in 2002 and continued to surpass the empl©yment rates of CaIWORKs participants served by all ather-Counly offices, except the Bay Point SIT (Figure 4). During the first five months of 2003, the SITeams'work participation rates have remained consistently high. 37% of North Richmond SIT_CalWORKs participants and-390/o.-of Bay Point SIT CWWORKs participants reported earnings from employment from January to May 2003 (compared to 28% countywide). Designed and fully staffed by neighborhood residents, the Bay Point Community Career Center continues to serve as a vital community hub both for unemployed Bay Point residents seeking work and working neighborhood residents striving to advance their careers. Five days and one evening per week, neighborhood residents can search through numerous up-to-date job listings, learn how to do job searches on the internet, create their own high-quality resumes with the technical guidance of BPW community staff, develop their typing or computer software skills by doing self-paced tutorials and conduct 2 This figure excludes Bay Point data for the month of February 2002, due to data inaccuracies. Page 5 N % iVE %L`K 00`� N i C /00`0 0 0 CL iu j E 0 % 6 ` co CD cc . , tJ o %9Z �! C3 x / 9z C14 (� N � � C (� ,tri i � % `qz t 0 Cli CN 70 m 4.a 2 CL cu . i 5 aQ a 2 s 21 %0' co -cu o %L`0 -ie 0C) aI c� /aL` C ca %9`0 ' 0 CD / 0 t ii 0 .. „ i BuiNjoM sluedio:ed SNJ MPO 10 % Cts � � f co 0) CV r - t7 tp "" CO o r� •i �- � ' -a -. k ' CD N Cd t13 CO to 1 ! CS> ' CD � � � cE co .� N c5 00 CS o M `i N a� taN o t� V N c �s 1:3 co o �' * s 1 In c a. �ii7 N C4 iJ c practice interviews with BPW staff. The Greer Center also sells U.S. Postage stamps and Tri-Delta bus tickets and passes. usage numbers in Bay Point indicate the tremendous acceptance and success of the Career Center (Figure 5). Since opening its doors to the public in May 1998, the Bay Point Community Career Center has developed a membership base of over 3,000 neighborhood residents. On average, 58 new members joined the Career Center each Math in 2002,-u12 from a_monthly average of 45 in 2001. The Career Center enjoyed an average of 591 member visits per month and 29 member visits per day in 2002 (an increase of 25% relative to 2001). Employment rates of Career Center members collected 30-,90- and 180-days after their visits to the Bay Point Community Career Center indicate that many community residents are warkino as a direct result of visiting the Career Center -- and they are keeping the jobs they find. The Career Center staff has become increasingly successful at following up with Center members. The following data were collected for 2002: • 34% of the members that the Career Center successfully contacted 30 days after their visit to the Career Center in 2002 reported that they were employed (835 members were successfully contacted; 282 members reported that they were employed). • 412/b of the members that the Career Center successfully contacted 90 days after their visit to the Career Center reported that they were emoloyed (578 members were successfully contacted; 280 reported that they were employed). • 54% of the members that the Career Center successfully contacted 180 days after their visit to the Career Center reported that they were employed (525 members were successfully contacted; 286 reported that they were employed). On May 7"' 2002, 19 workingmothers partigipated in the second annual Bay Point •`Working Mothers' Day"celebration. This year's celebration was a collaboration among Bay Point Works, the Ambrose Head Start Program and the Employment and Human Services Department's Read to Work Clothes Closet. Participants enjoyed a delicious dinner, inspirational speakers and a fashion show featuring professional dress. Ambrose Head Start provided free childcare for the event. Each participant received a personalized gift from BPW and a goodie bag from the Clothes Closet. On May 18t`, 2002 NREC held its 3rd annual "Working Mothers' Day'•event. 26 North Richmond and San Pablo women who are balancing the challenges of raising a family and maintaining paid employment outside the home had an opportunity to get pampered, receiving a manicure, pedicure or massage. An estimated 75 women and their family members participated in the luncheon, music and inspiration speeches that followed. The North Richmond Family Service Center's"Family Apparel Shop"continues to-provide community residents of all ages free clothing for work and play. Staffed by a North Page 6 E C 0 Q 1 {'t) CN 0 f C" N �. E .� C) C C:) LO CL E SI j E ! E 0 c) CN #+ . + C ca i cu � . a c ! > > i Richmond resident, the Apparel Shop receives a great deal of support and donations from FHSD's Volunteer and Emergency Services team. On May 14t , 2002, an estimated 90 adult and youth job seekers participated in BPW's fourth job fair. A total of 16 employers were represented, including the United Parcel Service, Longs Drug Store, Federal Express and the U.S. Army and Navy. BPW staff received very positive feedback from employers and jobseekers alike. Improve frt functioning The Service Integration approach emphasizes earlier intervention and greater client contact, allowing the SITeam staff to get involved with families before situations reach crisis levels. In addition, SITeam staff' members typically stay involved with families longer, providing .'informal" services to ensure that families safely make the transition to better functioning. Through intensive contact with other community service providers, SITeam staff= is able to keep a closer eye on participant families to make sure that children are obtaining needed health care services, attending school and are living safely in their own homes. Family functioning outcomes indicate the continued success of this approach: 10 A notable percentage of children served by the SIT child welfare workers have been successfully_maintained in their homes. In 2002, 86% of the 267 children served by the North Richmond SITeam's two child welfare workers remained at home and 100% of the 54 children served by the Bay Point SITeam's child welfare worker remained at home.3 The Bay Point figures are higher and the North Richmond figures are lower than SIT data for the prior year (see Figure 1). EY 'During 2002. Bay Point SIT youth on probation attended school on average 87% of school days each month. North Richmond SIT youth on probation attended school on average 69% of school days each month. These figures are higher than the 2001 averages of 77% in Bay Point and 67% in North Richmond. 10 In 2002, 96% of the SIT clients served by the Bay Point and North Richmond SITeams' Public Health Nurses had a "medical home".� In 2002, 81% of all clients served by the Bay Point Public Health Nurse and 88% of all clients served by the North Richmond Public HealthNurse utilized their medical homes5 (up from 74%v and 70% of Bay Point and North Richmond STT"clients respectively in 2001). 3 Please note that the Bay Point child welfare worker position was unfilled for more than half of 2002. 4 Having a"medical home"is defined as having medical insurance and/or having a regular medical provider. Also, this is partial year data, as both positions were unfilled at different points throughout the year. S "Utilization of a Medical Home" is defined as(1)for the well population: within periodicity for their age group; (2)for the unwell population: following through with recommendations from their medical provider. Page 7 EXPaftd COMM=4 CapadW to supper: dk#drm and :t es In addition to maintaining a community-driven approach to service development, the Service Integration Program has provided substantial training and mentoring opportunities to community staff hired through the neighborhood-building collaboratives. In addition, Service Integration is spearheading a number of other community-building projects and local efforts that meet the broader needs of families within Bay Point, North Richmond and Old Town. Both neighborhood-building collaboratives continue to be overseen by community residents, Since January 1999, NREC has been run by Annie King-Meredith, a lifelong North !Richmond resident, who successfully completed an intensive mentorship program. After two years on staff with Bay Point Works (BPW), Eva Garcia, a neighborhood resident succeeded the original Project Manager to become the first community member to run Bay Point Works in January 2000. During 2002, Bay Point Works had a staff of seven community residents. NREC has a staff of eight community residents and/or parents of students at Verde Elementary School. We are proud to announce that with the institutionalization of these two neighborhood projects, approximately one-third of Service Integration Program staff members are neighborhood residents. After two and a half years, NREC's VIP Program continues to dramatically improve school attendance rates at North Richmond's Verde Elementary School. The VIP Program is a joint initiative of NREC and North Richmond's Verde Elementary School aimed at increasing student's attendance, improving student behavior and enhancing parent involvement at one of the lowest performing elementary schools in the State of California. Verde teachers and parents alike have expressed great appreciation for the VIP Program's attendance and behavioral interventions. While attendance rates among all elementary schools in West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) have remained relatively stable over the past few years, hovering at around 94%, Verde's average monthly attendance rate rose from 88.9% the year prior to VIP implementation to 93.4% during the past school year (Figure 6). In total, the VIP Program's Family Partners have decreased fut day absences by 46% and unexcused absences by 87% (Figures 7 and 8). As a result, the VIP grogram increased Verde's Average Dai Attendance (ADA) revenue by almost L190,000 between February 2001 and May 2008 {Figure 9). As a result of VIP and the many other excellent efforts underway at Verde, Verde's 2002 Stanford-9 test results showed the school's greatest improvement in years®gains across almost all subjects and grade levels (Figure 10). In August 2002, Bay Point Works once again offered the Youth Activities Program YAP to assist working parents during the 4-week period between the end of summer school and the beginning of the regular school year. YAP provided provided 30 Bay Point children and youth with light instruction on basic life skills, such as hygiene and safety, and opportunities to go on field trips to places such as Water World and Marine World. In Page 8 1 or) (D 0 0) —00 }' -w N t!� ot- 04 o U Cl C$) , co C C-4 -�. co 04 CO co a } 1 N 0 c> co It � it U c D 0 't c� unt` �r 00 q 1 C-A i o t It IS c <- 'OW ° lop ss r tl to IdOG tp co to c� o 't unf M Pei CIO Cej ddb yevi to S Uie CO 0 o W , AT cs ', NON .. , loo 1 m 0 ,�.. v IdOS 00 cXt;1UO co end a � x 0,, c0 c Figure 9. flue to increased attendance, the VIP Program generated almost $190,000 in additional Average Daily Attendance (ADA) revenue for the WCCUSD between February 2001 and June 2003 $200,000 A.D.A. 189986 i $180,000 i $160,000 0 Jun-03 May-03 j N Apr-03 1 Mar-03 i $140,000 , E Feb-03 :....;f I Jan-03 0 Dec-02 L i L Q Nov-02 a $120,000 0 Oct-02 0 Sep-02 I �- M Aug-02 $100,000 N Jun-02 W May-02 W Apr-02 ®Mar-02 i $80,000 C Feb-02 I=I Jan-02 E Dec-01 0 Nov-01 6m,000 0(pct-01 E Sep-01 l Aug-01 $40,000 ®Jun-01 May O Apr-01 8Mar-01 $20,000 R'Feb-01 $0 Note: Increased ADA is calculated as the difference in ADA between the current school month in a given year and the same month in 199912000 (before VIP implementation). C N U) 0') (n (0 0)M r 06 C r r N C? 'fit' 4i C5 CD »r iv NT- T- M ' ' NCIO (DNtRt ami c C3 r IN r N a CS 4t It It It a Z { cri � � C) C-14 U) 0) Je- 0) INdr0 4 � C:arrrr Qce) ctd" d' (D 0) *'' N 00 Co N CSS *1'C13 N C e) t� t` 0) � .mac C `! (ZrrNce) C) Lf3 `tItIt o C C: M It (D cm C cm cu CL N E`- It m t `C:3 N co C+3 co 0 0 � U) (DCLQ -� Ca W %— r t37 CiC7 CSS N t` - 0) CD � c00-1 u O � sem, cn u> � r� C) t`C$ W CU N IN I NO 04 C4 N C17 CU { Ct} CU CU ( 5 C cu of L CU c W -0r-_ = � C cf) 'fit LO (D C� '� LO 0 I U) t 4- �— r r r r m r r - r tm 0 (D C7C.) C7C ) 0007C7 („ NNNN NIN C14IN ui W � 4 � -2 > Ncy'7ItU) NmItLO W 2002,'BPW offered two 2-week sessions -- the first targeting youth ages 12-17 and the second focused on 7-11 year olds. %O The Bay Point and North Richmond SITeams held a number of community events throughout the year, all of which were widely attended and well received. VIP events included a "Family Awards Night" in June 2002, the "Verde is on the Rise" Family Celebration in October 2002 (which was attended by over 400 parents and children) and several family reading nights and family dinners. Both the Bay Point and North Richmond SITeams worked hard to ensure that the 2002 holidays were safe and joyful in the SIT communities. The Family Service Center's contributions included: • The Noah Richmond SIT sponsored Halloween day activities, including pumpkin decoration, a Candy Corn Guess-O-Rama game and a costume contest at the North Richmond SIT(approximately 50 children served). • Bay Point SIT staff helped supervise a Halloween Haunted House sponsored by the Sheriff's department at the Ambrose Park and Recreation Center (over 200 children served). • The North Richmond SIT distributed holiday backpacks stuffed to the brim with brand new toys, clothes and school supplies to 71 students at Verde School. These gifts were all donated to the VIP Program by the Head-Royce School in Oakland. In partnership with Volunteer Services, the North Richmond SIT also distributed Christmas toys to approximately 50 needy families in North Richmond/San Pablo. • Bay Point SIT staff collaborated with the Sheriff's Department to supervise a "Thanksgiving Appreciation Dinner" sponsored by community youth from Bay Point's new Teen Center. An estimated 250 community members and service providers enjoyed this feast. Bay Point staff oversaw the preparation of all food by the teens, including: 5 turkeys, 8 hams and 80 pounds of potatoes! In collaboration with Mount Diablo Healthy Start, the Bay Point SIT gave away 75 Thanksgiving baskets. In August of 2002 and June of 2043, four more of VIPs community staff graduated from the two—semester long Family Development Program. Three of these staff members also earned a credential in Family Development, as well as community college credits. An E loration of Cour Histo , 717o S=of fast Contra Cos Caunty, the second dgcumentaty produced by the W Point Teen Video Project, premiered on June 11, 2002, at the Ambrose Park and Recreation Center. The documentary, which focuses on the history of Fast Contra Costa County from 1900-1944, received a very enthusiastic response from the audience of over 100 people. The film is a product of the work of 11 Bay Point teens who participated in Bay Point Works 10-week media arts program during the summer/fall 2001 (conducted in partnership with Athletes United for Peace). Page 9 The Bay Point Works Community Advisory Board continues to meet 10 times aey ar to ensure a consistent level of community input and control over the programs that Bay Point Warks implements. The Community Advisory Board oversees the planning and implementation of BPW`s major community events. SECURING FUNDING IN LEAN TIMES The State's and, consequently, the County's current fiscal circumstances continue to pose on-going challenges to the Service Integration Program— in particular, to its community- building projects. Similar to other county programs, the Service Integration Program has lost several permanent positions. Most recently, we are struggling to maintain Spanish interpretation services at the North Richmond Family Service Center. While we cannot predict the overall impact, we anticipate that the budget crisis will continue to tax the already stretchedCounty resources invested in the Service Integration Program. The outlook is particularly uncertain for the Service Integration Program's two neighborhood- building projects, BPW and NREC. BPW and NREC's projected budget for FY 2003-04 is approximately $540,000. Historically, the Service Integration Program's community-building efforts have been funded through two key mechanisms: (1) discretionary county funding; and (2) a small number of grants from private foundations. With the recent economic downturn, discretionary county funding has been severely reduced and many private funders are contracting their investments. Of particular concern, the Service Integration Program lost an annual contribution of$156,000 in TANF Performance Incentive funding this year. In addition, a multi-year grant that has supported BPW and NREC since these projects were first established in 1997 was scheduled to sunset in FY 2002-03. To address this challenge, the Service Integration Program staff has worked hard to secure private and public funding to sustain program operations: To date, the Service Integration Program has secured $312,300 for FY 03-04 through FY 05-06 from the S.H. Cowell Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation and the Vanguard Public Foundations. Three of the four foundations are first funders of the Service Integration Program. The Service Integration Program also has secured a $125,000 commitment from the West Contra Costa Unified School District for operating the VIP Program in FY 2003-04. This will be the first time that the District provides direct support for VIP. The Service Integration Program has secured $33,000 in funding for the upcoming year from the Contra Costa Community Development Block Grant Program. CDBG has supported SIT operations for a number of years. In FY 2002-03, the Service Integration Program's Bay Point Works Community Career Center and Teen Video Project received first time funding of$60,000 from Keller Canyon Mitigation Funds. We will be submitting a similar proposal for FY 2003-04. Page 10 MJ Finally, the Service Integration Program has submitted a proposal for$101,000 to the Zellerbach Family Foundation for integrating a "Student and Family Peacemaker" component into the VIP Program over the next two school years. Initial response to the proposal has been very positive. The Zellerbach Board of Directors will issue a decision in September 2003. Assuming all anticipated funding comes through, in FY 03-04, the Service Integration Program will face a relatively small funding gap of approximately$30,400. We hope to make up this shortage in upcoming months through additional fundraising efforts. While our good fortune should allow us to sustain the neighborhood-building projects through FY 2003-04, as public and private budgets continue to constrict in upcoming years, we know that the obstacles associated with maintaining these projects will continue to grow. We will continue to seek new and creative approaches to supporting these important neighborhood programs. Page 11 ATTACHMENT A; SERVICE INTEGRATION PROGRAM ARTICLES Page 12 - lots 4 all it-It f4 ORTHERN CAJ_lF0RNit;°S L.ARgvEST NEWSP,APER ge A MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2002 3 Doing what it ta to 1€ n. a school as 'un . s SCHOOL l+roni Page I 1 out of every 7 school days Now in her second year at Verde,a virtual feat in itself, Thompson welcomed a school survival plan,crafted by social workers from.the Contra Costa County welfare department, which has boosted attendance by 38 percent this year. Parent visits "Verde Involving Parents,"or rhwbltEptsoarTurn./The VIP,uses county welfare funds Fourth-grader Jazmin Madrigal collects a"Super Star"far attendance at forth Richmond's Verde Elamantary. and private grants to pay seven parents to go door-to-door and talk to parents of tardy and truant Riclunonc parents, principal Work on abbe '1te�'iSi�1 students.The paid parents have desks,an office and salaries of up flyltaaetlith Ilfal> to$12 an hour.In a neighborhood of grinding poverrty,the parent- GSiROlitCLL'S•rarr wxc7ffn workers need to be creative to erlyIrrtau*acastehelp get children to school,They its, offer everything from bus tickets fifth g,,dirNick i�an- and alarm clocks to rain gear and alai is rxow one of the Ffoiramt to tisxfvc at'Vrrde rides. Mementriry in North Richmond, "Parents have all kinds of rea- because lie's in charge of teacher sons:illness,asthma,no clothes or traffic into the lrrrkirg lot. . "I move tine orange tones.It's shoes for their child,no transpor- an important job,begause it's for tation, said VIRcoordinator Au- the safety of the kids,"said flick, nie Icing-Meredith,who graduat- e,ho especially likes that his work ed from Verde in 1963, requires a safety vest and a ivalkie- Some parents keep their older talkie. Nick's jab is just one of many children out of school to baby-sit strategies social workers and Rathelle Gipson(left)and Emilla Mancillas,both parent volunteers, younger sibling's,and others sim- school leaders are trying out to visit Alicia Salazar to ask why her son,Jose,was not In school. ply area°t around to wake their slowly overhaul a long-standing' children up and get them to culture of defeat at Verde, Goemty.trtrde's test scores were flection of Verde's abysmal atter- school. Ill the last eight years,five priu-, so bad«-among the bottom three dance,said Principal)anice cipois have thrown in the towel• elementary schools in gallfwnia Thompson.She once marked 923 "Some parents just need a There is no PTA,teacher turnover .for the last three pears—luit the., absencea in a month,which is the wake-up call,"said VIP Rochelle i5 high,and the school has one of school's unofficial motto is"No- equivalent of every child missing Gipsom the h'sg zest ratesoi-absent and tar- whwe to Go Rut Up" "1 walk to work,so I just pick dy students ill all of Contra Costa' Its lest scores are in part a re- a SCHOOL;PageA9 Col.I 5 s North, Ricrind turn school around* fi G. F�. 3 'N `.x�3 Yr•Y ,� . .. _ Vy p�tOt08.by j�R8Y TF6LS.dStI�hBL'hl0it7Cla P�renf:i`r.�c}r M��aw�I(�startssttitdents:�singinga:ro�nd:rt ars as��rribiy at U�rd�:Ele�tiarttary�inxFti�tond.. them to school." y S ted$100,000 rsresre rrt state er= u- " and u the kids on m wa and bran p p She carne to livewith us, " " pil funding fear Verde. we-didn't have any clothes,sir we �" x Nock Donald needed an.alarm 'The;turnaround has earned the dressed her in our son's clothes," clock school a statewide"California . +fold Community"award and bats McI3owell said."As adults,we for- No alarm clock of interest from other strugglingSet that peer pressure about .: clothes.ICs_ds were teasing her." On a recent day of visits,Gip- schools looking for hope.PBS son and another parent,Emilia producers are also calling,for a VEP parents talked with the - Mancillas,discovered from one story about struggling schools on girl,figured out the source of her mother that her child was absent the rise. playground arguments and took f because he had steppe-ffon a nail f Designers of the plan say all her shopping for new clothes. in an abandoned lot.Another they're really doing is marketing Nine-year-old Steven Mason, mother with a long track record school to kids. of VM visits said her daughter i "I liken myself to the new CEO who was caught reading cartoons didn't come to school because she' brought in to save a sagging com- instead to his schoolbook,went to had woken u with a headache. the center and wrote, 1 m sorry p �pony,"said Thompson,who was She will get a yellow form.—the # recently chosen by her peers as that 1 was playing in class,"on an dreaded request to have a sit- ! the best principal in West Contra ; apology form for his teacher. down with Principal Thompson Costa County Unified. Twenty Yo class a later, o iz .after tots many VEP inquiries. turned to class and apologized to Goad deeds rewarded his teacher in front of his class- about her children. PfIticipal.Jan}ce Thompsen: VIP has shown results:Tardiiess The Verde redesign also in- mates have dropped in.half,and month- dudes a net'Student Improve- At monthly school dinners, ly unexcused absences have meat Center,where doers of bad children life Steven are rewarded Nick Donald has been prom- dropped by 75 percent.That has deeds are sent to work out their for improvements 3n their behav- ised.a Christmas present if he con- translated into better test scores, problems with adult help.Kids ior.Only 15 parents showed'up to tinues to show up on time for his which are inching up in every who do good deeds,such as break the first dirmer last year.Last job. grade for the first time ever.The ing up a fight or helping a teach month,150 came. He asked for dog food for his increased attendance has also net- er,are also sent there to pick up Puppy. prizes. One girl who was sent to the E-mail Meredith May at center for acting out was Tracy mmay6dichr©nicle.com. McDowell'g stepdaughter. * Contra Costa Times, p• AlTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2002 r DUFRENEMMB J, s s; , f Y - MI IA MA# CILiAS,.left,a6d C8cilla0rn9laA:-vls#t fe#low,Varde parents to obtain authorization for student absences Tuesday: -- veme- exemses initiative, &MWS state prmse U'Pint hone.sk&, Verde's students have a long t GREGORYlouAsn apology;S�II�EI`t�fISC3fd Shanita Bradford helps a student fill out an apology boost-achievement at way to go. Most ranked below for class disruption at Verde Elementary School on Monday.The Nom Richmond school basic or far below basic in math low-ranked§chool has won an award for recent improvements. and reading on the 2002 Califor- p By Kaa,Shire nia Standards Test. Most live in poverty. "They said nobody had everTIMES STA"WRITER "Kids model behavior they see They also miss school more cared about their child,"she said. „ NORTH RICHMOND---For often than students at any other VIP employees will pick up at home, said Mandl Lee, a the teachers and students at school in the West Contra Costa children whose parents can't get third-grade teacher at'Verde. Verde Elementary School, the them to school.If the problem is "And they have parents who "sweet smell of success"has been school district rd I v least they used to.The Verde Involving Par- rainy weather,they give the kids are under a lot of stress,they're hard to come by.. This month, ents program is changing that. min gem barely making ends meet, so they got a whiff.: The county-led initiative, And if more help is needed, they're often communicating in Their small North Richmond funded primarily through grants the "VIP workers can connect abusive ways------they're shout- campus,ranked the second low- that run out in dune,hires North families with county services, ing,they're yelling. est elementary school in the Richmond parents to reach out such as food stamps, Spanish Disruptive students are sent state,beat out 50 other schools to families to improve classroom translation services or free bus to the "Student Improvement to win the"California Gold Com- behavior and attendance. ,passes Center," where they write an munity"award. , Parent workers track which County and school officials apology note to their teacher and' The statewide honor was students are tardy or not in said the program gives its par- class and do homework. given to the school's "Verde In- school. They also call and visit ent�employees much-needed job Parents staff the center and volving Parents"program,which homes to get a mom or dad to skiffs:The parents then help the help kids relax and work out began 18=months=ago to boost explain why the child was absent. school by approaching families their anger before they return to student attendance and parent Since the program began in as concerned neighbors, not as class. participation. February 2001, attendance has outside authorities, VIP also rewards positive be- For a school considered by increased to 02.3 percent,com- Tracy McDowell, a Verde : havior. Students "caught in the some to be a lost cause, the pared to 88.0 percent in the mother of two boys who began E act" of doing a good deed are award has been an enormous i 1999-2000 school year. Unex- working at VIP in August, said given small prizes. boon.And it comes as the strums cased absences have dropped 75 many of the parents she contacts The school also holds monthly gling-campuswitnesses the first! percent. about their absent or tardy chil- assemblies to further reward kids signs of a hard-won revival, The school's attendance boost dren are people she already ; and their parents for good stu- Though Verde test scores re- and drop in unexcused absences knows, dent attendance and behavior. ;Hain very lore,attendance is up, generated an extra $94,5+40 in "I think they are comfortable � Parents increasingly flock to expulsions are Clown and teach- state funding between February because we're parents,too,"Mc- these events, with adult partici ars have finally stopped running 2(301 and June X3Dowell said. "These are people pation jumping from 15 to 150 in for the door. "when we firstt started, pec- that we see every day." ' the past year. "We're sitting on a hidden di- ple were surprised,"said Cecilia arriond that is going to come Crnelas,a mother of four Verde Getting V students to school is out," Verde Principal Janice students who works at VII' Car- key, but VIP doesn't stop there. Reach Imo. e@c at 5I0com, Banks-Thompson said."Chir chit- nelas visits homes and talks to Once e;rids are in class, the pro- 2798 0t ?zshireC�cctimes.com. dren will do better. They will parents about their children's gram works to improve their be- make it. We want that sweet school attendance. havior. smell of success to be all over the school." r en nim chronicles history of E. county An Exploration of Our Histor/delights audiences at a screening in Bay Point By Carolyn Lucas 'nnrrs STAPF W RnT r BAY POINT--The ukulele strummed one last note. Port Chicago in black and white flashed across the screen one Inst time.And a survivor of the 1944 explosion had one last remark. Morris Soublet sat up straight in a plastic school chair and raised his right index finger in the air. "One thing I remember most, was how we were treated.When . loading the ammunition, we couldn't go up the holds,"he said. "Why couldn't you?"asked a voice on the left side of the au- ditorium. Slowly, Soublet raised his right arm. "Skin color,"he said. Discussion,awareness and a sense of pride filled the Ambrose Recreation Center Auditorium on Tuesday night. About 100 people watched the screening of the documentary film titled"An Exploration of Our History:The Story of)cast Con- tra Costa County." The 62-minute film was pro- duced by 11 teens participating in the Digital Technology Acad- emy,and by Doug Harris;exec- utive director of Athletes United for Peace. Bay Point Works and AUP coordinated and funded the film that highlights events from. 1849 to 1944. In 1997,AUP established the academy to provide multimedia. skills training to teen-agers from; low-income families. Over 10 weeks, the teens learn the basic fundamentals of digital video production such as lighting, script writing and re- search. During the last three weeks,the teens and Harris be- gin chronicling the history of dif- ferent communities with help from librarians, residents and, historical society members. At the end of the program,the teens receive a$500 stipend. "These films are vitally impor- tant because No. 1,it's never been done, and who wants to spend how aid hours ung some- thing:: r villa has time?W%11,-: i i ' SKRRv,ayaasmMrs.RHOT0s 0OU HARA1S;.executfva director of Athletes United for Peace,acknowiedges applause at a s6reening.of the Bay Point Teen Video Projects An Exploration of`Our History:The Story of East.Contra Costa County"at the Ambrose Recreation Center in Bay Point on Tuesday, we do,"Harris said. "No. 2, it's in the beginning and the end, l' community documentation by the wouldr t have thought it was pro- community.We run around talk- duced by them.It was great." ing to people,some who are 50, In the past,three films pro- 70,80,who live to the community, duced by the academy have wort lived through certain events or awards in the Black Filmmakers their lives devolved around the his- Miall of Fame's International Film tory of the comjxtunt and Video Festival. In addition; ` Throughout them,there is one film received the Western tV-. no narration,just voices of the €iance Video Excellence Award.' a cast scrapbooking the events and people.While the film ran,audi-. But to continue the program. enee members often whispered next year,officials say,they need in the dark about their connec- $35,000 or it probably will be dis- ._ tions to the event or laughed continued. about the facts. Although 17-year-old Leon "It was fun.to share what I Currie;who worked on the film, know with everyone,"said 1(ath- does not4now if this year's film teen Mero, a Contra Crista 'wilf ie&4fiii kri award, he plans County Historical Society mem- to take something else away ber and cast member."Usuaify,l �I•pUt.my heart and a lot of share my knowledge with my time,and.patience in(the film}.l boreilyd with it."members,who are;usually just�ttoped fbr the best and it did bcome out good,"he said. Many were impressed by the film's quality. -The documentary films can be "I was impressed how the film found in historical societies,mu- incorporated youth to investigate seums.and public libraries. the history of the community," said John Kraft of Oakland."If it Reach Carolyn Lucas at 779- FILMMAKER MARYCRUZ ROMERO, 14,of Bay Point giggles " 8141ding Communities Through Collaboration: California Community Partnership Awards Page 1 of 2 city December 2002 Building Communities Through Collaboration: California Community Partnership Awards by David C. Wheaton David C.Wheaton is executive director of the Cities, Counties& Schools„(CCS) Partnership. Innovative approaches to sharing community resources were recently recognized at the statewide 2002 California Community Partnership Awards conference in Santa Barbara. Sponsored by the Cities, Counties& Schools (CCS)Partnership and California Center for Civic Renewal, the award program honored six communities that maximized their limited resources through collaborative efforts to successfully deliver programs and services. "The creative partnerships of cities, counties, schools and community agencies resulted in unique ways of meeting residents' needs,"said CCS Partnership Chair and Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill. The winning communities were selected from 13 sernifinalists, which were chosen from 53 entries.The semifinalists presented their collaborative projects to a panel of judges, who determined the recipients of the two top prizes,the California Gold Community Award and Youth Violence Prevention Excellence Award, Four California Community Partnership Awards were also given. "The partners in the winning projects are working across bureaucratic boundaries to improve the social equity of program delivery, maximize community development, and provide for quality educational and life-long learning opportunities to.4nprove the quality of life for all community residents,"said Steven Szaiay, California State Association of Counties`executive director. Award-Winning Combinations California Gold Community Contra Costa County, West Contra Costa Unified School District and the North Richmond Empowerment Collaborative earned the distinction of being the 2002 California Gold Community for their Verde Involving Parents (VIP) program. According to VIP Program Manager Nina Goldman, VIP pooled resources and aligned services to better support Verde Elementary School students and their families,which improved student attendance, increased student involvement and enhanced academic achievement. Youth Violence Prevention Excellence Award The Youth Violence Prevention Excellence Award was presented to the Riverside Police Department, Riverside County, Riverside Unified School District,Youth Service Center and the University of California, Riverside for their Healthy People-Healthy Places Wellness Centers initiative. The wellness centers were established to promote http://www.westemeity.com/Dec02BuildingCommunities.htm 7/l/2003 . '`Building Communities Through Collaboration: California Community Partnership Awards Page 2 oft healthy lifestyles and lower the rata of violence and drug and alcohol abuse by providing a safe school environment that offers alternatives to gang participation and substance abuse. California Community Partnership Awards The four California Community Partnership Awards were presented to the City of San Jose's Smart Start initiative, SacramentoCounty's Birth & Beyond, Yolo County's Lazarus Project: Restoring Life to Cache Creek, and the San Diego San Pasqua[Academy. Merit awards were presented to Chino's AIM Higher program, Paramount GRIP (Gang Resistance Is Paramount), Pasadena LEARNS,Claremont Senior Master Plan,the Fullerton Collaborative, Roseville Volunteer Collaborative, and Santa Clara County's Artemis-inmate Substance Abuse Recovery Program. For more information on the awards and successful joint efforts occurring throughout the state, contact the CCS Partnership at(916)323-6011 or visit www.ccspartnership.org. About the CCS Partnership Established in 1997, the CCS Partnership is a joint effort of the League, California State Association of Counties and California School Boards Association. The partnership promotes the development of public policies that build and preserve communities by encouraging local collaborative efforts among California's 477 cities, 88 counties and more than 1,000 school boards and districts that the partners represent. about Western City articles subscribe advertise job opportunities municipal marketplace search home http://www.westemeity.com/Dec02BuildingCommunities.htm 7/l/2003