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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12161997 - D10 e D.10 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on December 16, 1997, by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Uilkema, Gerber, Canciamilla and DeSaulnier NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Departmental Performance Report Tony Collin, Executive Director, Community Services Department, provided the Board with a departmental performance report for the 1996/1997 Fiscal Year. Subsequent to the presentation by Mr. Co16n, the Board took the following action: 1. ACCEPTED departmental performance report from Tony Collin, Executive Director, Community Services Department. I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: December 16, 1997 Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator ois mpler, Deputy Cler cc: County Administrator Community Services Department e; i RPt a 1-1 �lv el -�R-Ilt", • C'-'b,n- -aunty. CQm�nunzt� ss"�^ic-ta s. D-,e-,,p. ,. rt; e�t • r • b-ID I COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT Senior Staff Executive Director Tony Colon Program Manager, Child Development Wilda Davisson .Program Manager, Child Nutrition Claire Maxwell E { Director, Head Start i Tony Colon Administrative Services Officer Al Prince • Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Chair Mark De Saulnier District 1 Jim Rogers District 2 Gayle B. Uilkema District 3 Donna Gerber District 4 Mark De Saulnier District 5 Joe Canciamilla K County Administrator Phil Batchelor Chief Assistant County Administrator Scott Tandy Report written by Department staff and coordinated by Stephan Betz, Head Start Family Services Specialist Table of Contents Mission Statement ..................................................................... i Organizational Chart .................................... .......................... iii Accomplishments ...................................................................... iv Challenges ......... ....................................................................vi SECTION l: DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW A. Departmental Responsibilities ........................................ ...................................... 1 B. Organizational Structure ................................................. 2 C. Partnerships with Community Based Organizations ....... 3 SECTION II RESOURCES A. Financial Resources ....................................................... 4 B. Personnel Resources ...................................................... 5 C. Trends in staffing ............................................................ 5 D. Affirmative Action ............................................................ 6 E. Sick leave ........................................................................ 7 F. Staff Development ........................................................... 7 G. Automation ....................................................................... 8 SECTION III CUSTOMER SERVICES A. Service Delivery System .................................................. 9 B. Customer Profile .............................................................. 11 C. Customer Relationships .................................................. 12 D. Funding sources .............................................................. 13 SECTION IV ANNUAL PERFORMANCE A. Performance Indicators ................................................... 14 B. Professional benchmarks ................................................ 14 C. Challenges ....................................................................... 15 D. Services / Costs ..............:........................................... 16 SECTION V CHALLENGES AND NEW DIRECTIONS A. Challenges Ahead ............................................................ 17 B. New Directions .................................................................. 18 MISSION The department's mission is to ".. provide comprehensive quality services to program eligible County families and individuals that over time: 1 . limit and/or prevent economic dependence 2. elevate individuals and families out of poverty into self- sufficiency, and I provide a comprehensive support environment to prevent families from falling into poverty. The department is moving towards a single point of access model: R mld- Dw, d, o pmmk 2h � * ' ry f 1 � IX.A,0 i The Community Services Department supports low income families in Contra Costa County to move from poverty to self-sufficiency. The Department is: • the largest provider of subsidized child care in the county; • the provider of nutritious meals for children in subsidized child care; • the provider of utility bill and weatherization assistance, • the designated Community Action Agency for the county. ii DO c� O m � r � n O C., m� N Ali -1% � roa. "--I- w N2 5. m Om a m M G �OR () O C C 4 O 0w 01 N. w d $. oam s� 2 �• n + G c7 �tOm m O p' � O r � � w� m� wa N ♦ t� °moomm O O cg, �i O N N m N m I• �4M} O ON y.o /�^�• m � �, 7 m w � F 7 i• Q m yo m c o c rr a N j N m b� 1. N uO'. G m d m G 2 o �g D' li o O r m s� b� vG� m�' �•7 FN �m -0 q3''o an d � Z w 1997 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Compliance Issues ✓ Cleared of eleven (11) deficiencies found in 1996 by Federal Head Start review team. ✓ Cleared by State Department of Community Services and Development of ten (10) deficiencies found in 1996. ✓ Implemented new system of fiscal controls through centralized accounting to protect county General Fund. ✓ Reorganized the Economic Opportunity Council to comply with State requirements for Community Action Agency. ✓ Restructured Home Weatherization program to be self- supporting, at no cost to the County General fund. ✓ Eliminated backlog of outstanding program reports due to the State Department of Community Services and Development dating back to 1996. ✓ Made significant progress in restoring credibility with State and federal funding agencies. Grant Awards ✓ Historic award of $ 887,000 federal grant for new playground equipment for 13 Head Start sites in the county. ✓ Unprecedented award of $ 4.039 million in Federal Expansion Funds for full day / year round Head Start services for 304 children and families. ✓ Awarded dollars to construct new Head Start facility and purchase modular for East County. ✓ Awarded a total of $ 63,000 in CDBG grants from City of Richmond and Contra Costa County for central kitchen. iv Collaboration and Partnerships ✓ Successfully negotiated utilization of Balboa School with the West County School District and Northern California Council of the Communities. Escrow should close early in 1998. ✓ Educated 1600 families members about nutrition strategies to combat anemia. The county's Anemia Awareness Pilot Project will go national in 1998. ✓ Graduated 120 TANF recipients from the "Education in Childcare" pilot project to start family day care businesses in collaboration with Social Service Department and Regional Occupational Program (Contra Costa County Office of Education). ✓ Responded to Board of Supervisors directive to join with the Social Service Department and the Superintendent of Schools to restructure the Child Care Task Force in compliance with AB 1542. Performance Measures ✓ 1997 client surveys show 98% satisfaction with child care services. ✓ The number of child care clients served increased by 26% between 1996 and 1997. ✓ Meals produced per staff member increased by 43% between 1996 and 1997. v Impact of Public Investment in Pre-school s, , Pre-schoolers Control group 66 % graduated from high school 49 % graduated from high school . 59 % employed 32 % employed 50% lower teen pregnancies than 200% higher teen pregnancies than control group pre-schoolers Y Challenges ❑ Effectively manage the fiscal, personnel and programmatic functions by holding managers accountable for system operations. ❑ Implement full-day, year-round Head Start services to 304 children and families. ❑ Continue collaboration with the Superintendent of Schools and Social Service Department to implement restructuring of Local Planning Council for Child Care under AB 1542. ❑ Create strategic plan for the Economic Opportunity Council. ❑ Achieve planned state and federal goals for weatherization and utility bill assistance with improved outreach and education. ❑ Prepare the Annual Community Action Plan by June 1998. ❑ Collaborate with the Social Service Department to implement the Child Care Component of CaIWORKS. Vi o Work With all interested parties to increase number of child care facilities needed by welfare reform. L3 Increase interdepartmental communication with newsletter and improve employee recognition program. o Median costs in Contra Costa County for food and housing are 23 % higher than State median costs, yet State funding is regulated by State median costs. • Seamless service delivery will continue to be hindered by differing eligibility regulations and requiring legislative initiative. i Vii SECTION I: DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW A. Departmental Responsibilities 3 The department acting on behalf of the Board of Supervisors as the County Community Action Agency serves persons in Contra Costa County living below the poverty level with • Head Start, Child Care and State pre-school, • Family Services and Referrals, • Nutritious meals for children, • Emergency Food and Shelter, and 10. • Weatherization and utility bill assistance. The State goal of "Family Self Sufficiency" will be addressed locally through the Community Action Plan to: ✓ create new partnerships with Community Based Organizations, and ✓ award CSBG funds to Community Based Organizations with creative proposals. The Department shared this plan with the community in three Public Hearings chaired by members of the Economic Opportunity Council and County staff. 1 B. Organizational Structure Together, the Child Development, Nutrition and Head Start programs provide comprehensive child care and family services to: ✓ 2,617 children and families ✓ operate 23 centers and 54 classrooms, ✓ serving 7,851 nutritious meals to children daily. These services are backed by the Weatherization program to support low-income households with monetary and weatherization assistance through ✓ Emergency Utility Bill payment (ECIP), ✓ Utility Bill Assistance (HEAP) and ✓ Energy conservation education. The Community Action Agency subcontracts with six Community Based Organizations to remove barriers in the way of families moving from low income to self sufficiency by providing: ✓ job development and placement, ✓ employment skills training, ✓ senior care, ✓ .mentoring, ✓ latch key programs, and ✓ emergency food and shelter. 2 C. Partnerships with Community Based Organizations Some of the community partners working with the department to link clients to needed services are: • the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (CHDP) providing medical and dental screening and treatment to children; • the Policy Forum Task Force on Child Care and Parenting planning seamless services for child care, • the Women, Infants, Children Program (WIC) - Nutrition program for pregnant mothers, infants and children providing food and nutrition education, • the Private Industry Council (PIC) for Job Training and Placement Programs for unemployed or displaced workers. • the Department of Social Services and County Office of Education to support the restructuring of the Local Planning Council to comply with AB 1542. 3 1 SECTION 11 RESOURCES A. Financial Resources The Community Services Department budget is: Categories Current 1997 Projected 1998 Community Action $ 681,493 $ 781,063 Head Start $ 6,552,490 $10,592,300 Housing and Energy $ 307,257 $ 530,729 Child Nutrition $ 929,689 $ 997,647 Child Development $ 4,798,532 $ 4,966,341 Total appropriations $ 13,269,461 $17,868,080 Federal and State revenue $ 13,048,939 $17,647,558 Net County Cost: $ 220,522 $ 220,522 * Note: Increase due to unprecedented award of over$ 4million Federal Expansion Grant. 4 l�. ID B. Personnel Resources Total number of staff based on current payroll: 391 Program Staff Child Devel. 230 y l r p Child Devel. Head Start 131 ' � ,s ®Head Start Child Nutr. 19 DChild Nutr. Housing 4 O Housing ■Admin. Admin. 7 TOTAL 391 Permanent employees 246 Temporary employees 145 • C. Trends in Staffinq The most significant change involves a 10 % increase in permanent staff to address expansion of Head Start services for 1998: The following improvements were implemented in the human resource area: ✓ Negotiated change of MOU with Local One to create a Single Point Of Contact Model in compliance with Revised Federal Head Start Regulations. ✓ Achieved joint agreement with Local One to train both managers and staff with grievance procedure to resolve • issues at lowest level. 5 b , /0 ✓ Supervising accountant position will be filled to unify and control Department accounting system in response to Grand Jury report and State audit review. ✓ Two new permanent weatherization worker positions will be added to the Weatherization program 1998 to accomodate increased client population in 1998. D. Affirmative Action The Department implemented an affirmative action plan in 1997. An overview of permanent staff shows: EMPLOYEE BREAKDOWN Number Percentage Labor Force percentage Male 20 8.1% Female 226 91.9% 45.2% White 52 21.1% 55.6% African Am. 97 39.4% 7.8% Hispanic 59 24.0% 10.6% Asian/Pac. H. 36 14.6% 9.3% Am. 1 0.4% 0.7% Indian/Alaska Total 246 Staffs cultural diversity matches the cultural diversity of clients served (see page 12). i 6 6, /0 E. Sick leave Sick leave hours Sick leave hours Percentage of sick used in 1997 earned in 1997 leave hours used 16,758 * 19,594 * 85.5 % *Note: Numbers were extrapolated from Human Resources Sick Leave report October 27, 1997 to cover schedule January 1997 through to December 1997. F. Staff Development Staff development is an essential part of staff members' professional growth and skill enhancement. The ability to implement newly learned skills is evaluated in the annual staff performance review. Some examples are: . ✓ Continued training in computer usage, communication and public contact skills. ✓ Teachers in both Child Development and Head Start continued their education to fulfill requirements of the State of California Child Development Teacher Credentialing System. ✓ Managers were extensively trained in • Frontline Leadership Skills, • Prevention of Sexual and Racial Harassment, • Facilitative Leadership and Managing Successful Meetings, and • Use of Grievance Procedure ✓ Training needs, attendance and job performance is continuously tracked by a fully interactive staff development database in the Head Start Program, which will be extended to the Child Development program in 1998. s 7 G. Automation ✓ Fully automated enrollment, attendance and health tracking through a Linked Area Network (LAN) in the Head Start program. ✓ Awarded $17,000 through the State CSBG state grant for the purchase of six new computers, four new printers and software to upgrade the existing system in central administration to meet current industry standards. ✓ Linked to the Department of Information Technology for assistance with the Department's computerized accounting capacity. ✓ Received approval from State Department of Community Services and Development to upgrade computer systems at central office. Challenges are: Upgrade computers and software applications throughout to meet current industry standards. o Establish Wide Area Network (WAN) for collaboration and data sharing between departments. ❑ Install LAN systems for efficient flow of information within the department. o Link Department of Social Services, Health Department and Community Services Department in an online waiting list for shared customer information and timely referrals. 8 SECTION III CUSTOMER SERVICES A. Service Delivery System The Department is implementing a seamless services delivery system for childcare between its Head Start, Child Development and Child Nutrition programs: Head Start • serves more than 1,467 children of very low income families; • supports parents to move from welfare to self-sufficiency utilizing parent involvement, volunteer services, direct employment and referred job opportunities; • provides health services for children through standing referrals with CHDP or through direct payments, and • refers more than 150 Special Needs children to resources for direct treatment and providing Individual Education Plans for these children in the classrooms. Child Development • provides over 162,000 days of subsidized, quality child care each year to 650 children in ten centers, and • offers 79,800 days of State Preschool to 460 children in 20 classrooms. Child Nutrition • provides 7,851 nutritious meals to children each day, and • educates 1,467 parents a year in nutrition through flyers, newsletters and direct contact. 9 D ' 10 These services are augmented by the .... Weatherization Program • serving 8,200 low income County residents per year, • providing stability to these and other households with monetary assistance for utilities bills, • defusing emergencies.through emergency utility bill assistance, and • supporting families to move into self-sufficiency through budget counseling and energy conservation education. and the .... Community Action Program • linking six Community Based Organizations under programmatic and fiscal supervision to serve the low income population throughout the County, • serving 12,000 low income County residents per year, • placing clients in available jobs, • training clients in employment skills, • providing senior care, • mentoring prospective employees, • providing latch key programs, and • providing emergency food and shelter. 10 A challenge to provide integrated services for families and children are the differing poverty guidelines for the program: Weatherization: 150 % of Poverty line. • Child Development 75 % of State median income. • Head Start 50 % of Federal median income. A direct comparison of guidelines fora four-member family shows: Program Annual Income Ceiling for ell ibilit to the program Weatherization $.24,072 Community Action $ 16,050 Child Development - General $ 33,372 Child Care Child Development - State $32,220 Preschool Head Start $16,050 B. Customer Profile Child Development, State Preschool and Head Start clients served in 1997 show a culturally diverse population: Age Distribution of Applicants and Enrollees 1997 Program Model Children 2 years old ........................... 54 Full Day 1,110 Children 3 years old......................... 684 Part-day 1,402 Children 4 years old ...................... 1,944 Home-based 90_ Family Child Care 80 i 11 Racial/Ethnic Composition Programs Native American ........0.5% Head Start 1,572 Hispanic .......................................32.7% Child Dev. 1,110 White.................................:.......... 12.8% Asian ..............................................8.0% African-American..........................46.0% Community Action and Weatherization clients are single parents, senior citizens, persons with special needs, recent immigrants and the homeless. Clients with the highest "energy burden" and clients considered to be part of the "vulnerable population" have priority to services. C. Customer Relationships • * Participation: Pren a is participate in shared decision making to steer the Head Start program. • Satisfaction: Parent surveys, client satisfaction surveys and client needs assessments are conducted annually. The Head Start Program conducts annual community assessments, making this information available to all other programs and Community Agencies. • Seamless services: Programs collaborate to provide seamless services through a single point of contact. Services include child care, child health, employment, nutrition, community resource referrals, utility bill assistance, attic insulation, weatherstripping, broken glass replaced, ceiling fans, and minor home repairs as well as adult education in literacy, budgeting and career strategies to move families towards self-sufficiency. i 12 b. ia D. Funding Sources The seamless service delivery system utilizes funds from the Federal, State and local level: Program Funding level Funding source Head Start Federal Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families Child Development State Department of Education Child Nutrition Federal, State USDA, California Child Care Food Program Weatherization State Department of Community Services and Development Community Action State Department of Community Services and Development Administration Federal. State, Local Cost allocation 13 SECTION IV ANNUAL PERFORMANCE A. Performance Indicators Tools for monitoring performance are: • Annual Audit of Contracts • Annual Self-Review of Program Quality • Head Start performance measures in data and surveys • Evaluation of desired outcomes • Annual internal On-Site-Performance-Review (Head Start) • Tri-annual Federal On-Site-Performance Review (ACF) • State Contract Performance Review by the State Department of Education (Child Development) B. Professional benchmarks ✓ Expanded Head Start services to full day, year round for 304 additional children. ✓ Awarded competitive contract for Child Development program to add 35 school age children. ✓ Achieved 98% client satisfaction with child care programs and meals served. (See 1997 Head Start / Child Development parent surveys). 14 ✓ Awarded $ 63,000 for the central kitchen through the City of Richmond and County CDBG grants to upgrade and centralize food preparation. As a result, ✓ Increased Child Nutrition productivity by 43% during 1997 and, ✓ Increased Federal Revenue for meals by 62%. * Each staff member in the central kitchen prepared 42.9% more meals in 1997 than in 1996: Year 1996 1997 Meals/worker 23,905 34,147 Productivity Increase 1996 to 1997 % Increase 42.9 40000 max` 30000 , 20000 a n Meawworker 10000 °" 1 2 3 C. Challenges o Re-design differing guidelines for program administration to implement collaboration between programs. u Provide input into state legislation to link and adjust differing funding requirements and program guidelines. u Develop a standardized information system for timely referrals and shared eligibility lists between programs and departments. Li Prepare for Tri-Annual State Department of Education review • during transition into new service delivery system. 15 D, ► D D. Services / Costs Child Care: The Head Start program provides ongoing services limited to 3 - 5 year old children and their families receiving TANF or living below the 50% median income level. The Child Development Program provides ongoing low-cost fee services for working parents. Head Start expenditures for comprehensive services including health, immunization and family services lie below Federal benchmarks with $ 5,188 per child per annum. Child Development costs per child per annum are $ 4,362. The Child Nutrition Program spends approximately $ 1.10 per nutritious meal for each child. Benefits from investment in child care have been verified in a national research study over 23 years: • ✓ ° pre-schooler 66/o s graduated later in their life from high school compared to 49% of the control group. ✓ 59% of former preschoolers were employed versus 32 % of the control group. ✓ Teenage pregnancy rate was twice.as high for girls who had not been in the preschool program as for those who had. ✓ Only 31 percent of the preschool group had ever been arrested or detained, compared with 51 percent of the others. ✓ Only 18 percent were currently on welfare; 32 percent of the control group were receiving welfare. 16 i SECTION V CHALLENGES AND NEW DIRECTIONS A. Challenges Ahead Finding a balance of child care services availability and demand will be the challenge in 1998. ❑ Availability: The Child Care Council Executive Summary 1995 shows over-availability of child care services for children age three to five (3-5), however, the majority of these child care providers reside in Central County with higher income median and often decline to enroll low income families. As a result, very low income families in Richmond, Concord, Antioch and Brentwood do not receive child care and family services which they deserve. ❑ Demand: In 1998, CalWorks and the Welfare to Work program in this county will drastically change the numbers and infrastructure of the County: the DSS is poised to enroll 1,000 families into their program each month in the coming year 1998. More than 12,000 children will need additional child care services in the coming year. CCC Head Start, in anticipation of this trend, has expanded this year to serve 304 children full day and year round. ❑ Collaboration with Department of Social Services and Community Based Organizations to develop a seamless system of child care for welfare parents without disrupting services for the working poor. ❑ Establish an avenue to influence the local planning council in developing a plan that promotes the wise use of public funding for child care and development programs in our County. 17 P ❑ Recruit and hire qualified child development employees in view of increased teacher demand caused by class size reduction in the public schools. ❑ Develop a strategy to reduce utilization of sick leave. ❑ Facilities as licensable sites remain scarce in view of class size reduction and expected need under welfare reform. ❑ Supply quality services to children in view of low funding available to compensate qualified teachers and administrators. ❑ Maintain a relationship of trust with clients in the changes of welfare reform and amidst differing directives from departments. B. New Directions ➢ Develop Single Point of Access model for the department to increase user-friendly services. Increase internal collaboration between programs to develop full time service models for child care which are linked directly to Weatherization and Community Action Support Services. ➢ Offer flexibility through non-traditional staff hours for child development services to better meet the needs of CalWORKs' parents. ➢ Provide input and advise Local Planning Council for Child Care to design a seamless child development delivery system in Contra Costa County that maintains quality of service and parent choice to all families who need support. 18