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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10031995 - SD3 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Costa ,< DATE: September 29, 1995 �'`"' r'r-'-•-- --•''.•�r County T� CUUN'"1 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPLORING A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE VOLUNTARY PARENTING CLASSES AVAILABLE TO MUNTY EMPLOYEES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. ACKNOWLEDGE that one of the single biggest problems facing society today is the dysfunctional family and that the County, as the level of local government which is most responsible for addressing these problems, should set the example as an employer in trying to address the problems faced by the children of dysfunctional families. 2. ACKNOWLEDGE in addition that the County is in a unique position to work with private sector employers in an effort to address the problem of dysfunctional families. 3. RECOGNIZE that in addition to the purely humanitarian interests the County and private employers may have in trying to help those of their employee who are living in troubled family situations, both the County and private employers also have a perfectly legitimate economic incentive to successfully confront this problem since dysfunctional families cause a disproportionate drain on local government's resources and contribute to troubled employees who are less productive to their employer than they could be. 4. CONCLUDE that programs that prevent the need for more drastic interventions allow the family to address its own problems with minimal outside intervention, prevent more intrusive and expensive intervention by government and contribute to happier, less troubled and more productive employees. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): E • b n 199 v, vvv ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED Zoe OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED ✓�dJy-3�/9%S Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OFF H'f E BOARD OF cc: County Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Director of Human Resources Director, the Training Institute BY ,DEPUTY I 5. AGREE that classes which are supportive of parents, which help to prevent the breakup of the family, which allow parents to raise their children in a supportive, loving climate and which reduce the need for more drastic intervention by government represent a positive role which government can legitimately play both as an employer and as a partner with the private sector. 6. In view of this, AUTHORIZE the County Administrator to explore the possibility of making parenting classes available to County employees on a voluntary basis. 7. In addition, AUTHORIZE the County Administrator to study the feasibility of exploring a public/private sector partnership which might allow the availability of parenting classes to be extended to the employees of private sector employers. BACKGROUND; We are all aware that one of the greatest tragedies facing American society today is the breakdown of the integrity of the family. The cost in human terms is one we see on the front page of the newspaper each and every day. It is one with which the schools, social workers, probation officers, physicians, drug counselors and, yes, police officers and judges deal every day. These problems are overwhelming the institutions we have charged with addressing the problems which are created by the inability of the family to prevent its own premature demise. The County sees these problems in two very different and yet related roles. The County is charged by the larger community with providing the vast majority of welfare, social service, public health, mental health, probation and law enforcement services to the community. At the same time, County government is the third largest employer in the County and sees the problems of the family in many of its employees' daily problems. In its role as a provider of services, the County is constantly overwhelmed by the demands for services which result from the breakdown of the stable nuclear family. Too many families lack a system of values, are unable to successfully address alcohol and drug problems, successfully grapple with unemployment, underemployment and related economic pressures, and provide the support necessary to allow their children to become successful, contributing members of the community. In its role as an employer, the County deals with the same problems other employers have to confront - the employee who is distracted by problems with children who must be left at home alone, who is fearful of an angry spouse, who needs help but is unable to ask for help or to know where to turn. It is well established that the problems workers have at home are often brought to work and can interfere in the employee's productivity and ability to concentrate on the job. One thing the County might explore is providing parenting classes to employees on the job. This could have great humanitarian benefit to County employees by helping them to prevent the pain and suffering which tend to accompany dysfunctional families. In addition, it could assist the County to alleviate some of the outside pressures troubling its employees and thereby make those employees more satisfied and productive. In addition, in its role as the provider of services, the County could explore a public/private partnership with private sector employers which could relieve some of the pressures on the services the County has to provide and be of assistance to the other employers in the County. This is not an entirely new idea. At least one private sector employer we are aware of in another area of the country has implemented a program where voluntary attendance at parenting classes can be credit against the employer's requirement that all employees participate in at least 40 hours of training each year. With the emphasis the Board of Supervisors has placed on the family and the needs of children, this might be an innovative concept which could be explored both for County employees and, through the business leaders forums we have undertaken with Supervisor DeSaulnier's leadership, for the private sector. 2 Obviously we would need to get additional information on exactly what kinds of parenting courses might be most helpful, determine what the most pressing needs are facing our employees and talk with the leaders in the private sector regarding their interest and willingness in working with the County on this concept. With the Board's approval, we will discuss this with our Training Institute staff, Human Resources Department staff and will also discuss it with the business leaders in the community with whom we are currently working. We will make a further report to the Board following the initiation of those discussions to test how receptive employees and the private sector are to looking in more detail at this concept. 3