Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02051991 - H.B THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on February 5, 1991 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Fanden, Schroder, McPeak, Torlakson, Powers NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: County Volunteer Programs Fredette Pardini, representing the Volunteer Program Administrators, presented the attached report on seven of the thirteen County volunteer programs. She commented on the cost effectiveness as well as other benefits to the County, and expressed appreciation to the Board for their support of the volunteer programs. Supervisor Sunne McPeak referred to a recommendation received from a former County employee that the County make a greater effort to recruit retired County employees who are trained in the human services field. She requested that the Volunteer Administrators review the issue of recruiting retired employees and report back to the Board. Supervisor Robert Schroder commented on the growing need for services in all areas of County government and the diminishing resources to meet the needs. He recommended that the Volunteer Administrators work with the County Administrator to review volunteer programs in all areas of County government. Board members being in agreement, IT IS ORDERED that the report on the County Volunteer Programs is ACKNOWLEDGED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Volunteer Program Administrators, together with the County Administrator, are REQUESTED to review the feasibility of recruiting retired County employees for volunteer programs. cc: Fredette Pardini, Hlth Svcs Health Services Director County Administrator 1 hereby certify that this Is a true and correct Dopy o1 an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supw Woo s�an the date shown. ATTESTED: PHIL BATCHELOR,&f ri of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator P By .Deputy REPORT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON CONTRA COSTA COUNTY VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1990 The following seven programs, administered by Contra Costa County, have demonstrated cost effectiveness, financial benefit, and extraordinary service to the citizens of the County as well as departments and agencies. The programs are noted for their preventative aspects and quality of their service. . Total Costs to Contra Costa County . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 647,380 * . Total Financial Benefit. to the County . . . . . . . . . $ 5,172,477 . Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . 334,709 . Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 The Programs represented are: Court Appointed Special Representative Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Library Merrithew Memorial Hospital and Clinics . Project Second Chance, Library Adult Literacy Program Retired Senior Volunteer Program Sheriff - Coroner Social Services Volunteer Program - Central/East County . Social Services Volunteer Program -West County County volunteer programs not included in this report are: Animal Services Juvenile Hall.Auxiliary Office of Emergency Services Probation Department * includes: donations (cash, in-kind, equipment and space), value of volunteer hours,and grants See attached for detailed information on programs Court Appointed Special Representative Total Costs to Contra Costa County . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 28,000 Total Financial Benefit.to the County .. . . . . . . . . . . . $ 349,000 Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . .15,600 Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program CASK has 145 volunteers who provide approximately 120 hours per year each in volunteer time. CASR supports the child and Courts in making decisions regarding permanent placement or Family Plans for Reunifying abused children with their families. We are supporting an over-burdened, over-worked. Social Services and Juvenile Court system, therefore preventing future abuse or neglect of children. Health Insurance. Counseling and Advocacy Total Costs to Contra Costa County . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 642597 Total Financial Benefit to the County . . . . . . . . . . . $ 207,120 Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,914 Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) under the Office . on Aging provided free counseling and education to nearly 5000 Contra Costa seniors in 1990. Highly trained volunteers .provided individual help with Medicare concerns, insurance claims and the selection of supplemental insurance to 1350 county seniors. Documented savings of $90,600 to seniors is attributed to the successful efforts of HICAP in 1990. The program protected seniors from fraudulent insurance companies and agents and strengthened the independence of seniors through education. It has served as a model for a national insurance counseling program funded by the federal government. HICAP volunteers were recognized as Contra Costa County Government Volunteer Group of the Year for.1988. Library Total Costs to Contra Costa County . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5,750 Total Financial Benefit to the County . . . . . . . . .$ 70,600 Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,525 Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program The Library's volunteer program enhances library service to the public in a variety of ways. Volunteers offer library service to patients in convalescent hospitals and to the homebound by delivering books. Volunteers assist with organization of local history files, updating community resource files, clipping and filing newspaper articles and pamphlets, processing paperbacks for circulation, assisting with genealogy research, arranging bulletin board displays and other exhibits, creating and maintaining picture files, cleaning and retaping phonograph records, serving as hosts/hostesses at library programs, designing flyers and other publicity, distributing flyers and posters in the community and helping with the registration of new borrowers. Merrithew Memorial Hospital and Clinics Total Costs to Contra Costa County . . . . . . . . . . . . .$.51,227 Total Financial Benefit to the County . . . . . . . . . . $ 278,041 Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,811 Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.6 Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program The preventative, beneficial aspects of volunteer work are seen daily. In service and community out-reach volunteers work with staff and visitors to support patient care, freeing up staff time to do the work they were trained to do. The volunteers' commitment is a daily inspirational and morale boost to staff, patients and visitors. Volunteers at the gift shop/information desk are the first people seen. They are the P. R. people for the hospital. Volunteers manage and staff a gift shop - a daily fund-raising effort in addition to many other fund-raising activities. The Auxiliary's non-profit corporation allows them to raise $10,000 in United Way funds. The Auxiliary purchases equipment for Hospital, Clinics and Mental Health on request: * $13,136 in equipment and supplies. * $18,000 Emergency Room monitoring system is on order with a larger screen allowing monitoring from a distance while attending to other patients. Volunteer efforts are seen'daily. Pre-surgery anxiety is greatly reduced when stuffed animals are given to "open"when they"wake-up". Warmth and caring are felt when desperately needy babies are given complete layettes. Hope is felt when mental health patients can participate in the art mural and garden projects sponsored by. the Auxiliary. Addicted moms are encouraged to stay clean and sober with incentives provided by volunteers. Volunteers' work, fund-raising'; efforts, contributions, inspiration and improved morale are immeasurable.. Project Second Chance,. Library Adult Literacy Program Total Costs to Contra Costa County . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 98,117 Total Financial Benefit to the County . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 632,287 Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . 375276* Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 18 Approximately half of actual hours expended. These are only reported hours. Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program Project Second Chance affords low-literate adults the opportunity not only to improve their basic skills, but their very lives, and the lives of their family. One-on-one tutoring fosters a relationship in which a team works together to gain knowledge, to set and obtain goals, to improve or secure employment, to develop parenting skills and strengthen family relationships, to become a better informed and therefore more productive member of one's community , and to enhance one's self-worth. Programs include one-on-one tutoring, Families for Literacy, a computer-assisted Learning Center in East County and two other computer sites, Detention Facility tutoring, referrals and some special assessments, when needed. Retired Senior Volunteer Program Total Costs to Contra Costa County . . . . .. . . . . . . . .$ 95,473 Total Financial Benefit to the County . . . . . . . . $ 21310,591 . Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . 199,506 Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program RSVP recruits retired volunteers over 60 to work.in 90 community agencies and county offices. 701 Volunteers perform a wide variety of jobs which enhance the well-being of our citizens and prevent costly problems. They deliver Meals on Wheels, serve at nutrition sites and deliver brown bags which prevents premature institutionalization and health problems due to poor nutrition. They teach literacy which prepares people for jobs. They provide health insurance counseling which saves elderly citizens money and prevents fraud. They operate senior centers and serve on numerous boards and commissions. They serve as representative payees, tax counselors, and educators. RSVP provides a productive outlet for the talents and experience of our County's older citizens. Volunteers report that they benefit from volunteering with personal .satisfaction and better health. Sheriff - Coroner Total Costs to Contra Costa County . . . . . . . .. . . $ 100,000 Total Financial Benefit to the County . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 422,060 Total Hours.Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . .33,000 Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program The keynote of all governmental .programs in the 90's and particularly law enforcement, which is traditionally a high-budget program, will be getting the most service out of.the least money. The Reserve and Search & Rescue Units provide exactly the kinds of service that we cannot afford to pay for, that are required at the most critical times. They do it for no salary or benefits and often absorb many of the expenses with their own finances. These are certainly the kinds of programs that must increase. Social Services Volunteer Program- Central/East County • Total Costs to Contra Costa County . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 105,321 • Total Financial Benefit to the County . . . . . . . . . . . $ 541,823 • Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . .13,500 Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program Much of the.work done in Volunteer Services is preventative in nature. They administer the Season of Sharing funds for the San Francisco Chronicle. Central-East County's budget for 1990 was $86,025. Seventy-five percent of those dollars were used on agency clients. The majority of that money was used for rental assistance which prevented homelessness thereby saving County dollars. Funds were also spent to prevent children from entering foster care or being placed for adoption. Often the maximum grant allowed by SOS was inadequate to meet the need so Volunteer Services supplemented with its own funds. Some examples of assistance include: $276 spent on airfare to send an elementary school child to live with a grandparent rather than being placed. * $133 spent on medication not covered by Medi-Cal for an infant who had previously been hospitalized with the same condition after a Medi-Cal approved substitute drug failed to curb the infection. * $650 spent on rental assistance for a family of four preventing eviction. $800 spent on rental assistance allowing four children to return home from foster care. Social Services Volunteer Program - West County Total Costs to Contra Costa County . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 981895 Total Financial Benefit to the County . . . . . . . . . $ 360,955 Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,577 Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .5 Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program 2,580 West County families were assisted this year by Volunteer Services Programs. Social Services workers and referral agencies utilized these programs to assist clients and needy families with emergencies and with special needs. xHousing Assistance Driver Escort Emergency Assistance * Kamps for Kids Holiday Assistance A total of $157,487 was given in cash and In-kind.donations which reflects a 62% increase from 1989. Public support and awareness of the Department's need to serve West County families has increased. 444 churches, organizations and individuals participated in this year's Christmas Adopt-A-Family Program 3,018 children received new toys, clothing and gifts through the Holiday Assistance program. * 250 families received Rental Assistance .and Critical Family Needs Assistance * 226 children attended camp last summer * 1189 homeless persons were assisted with getting identification cards and birth certificates.