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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11012005 - C58 -- ��---�� TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS •:•--� � �-__�.; Contra �_ ==-- - 's Costa FROM: John Sweeten, County Administrator o; -.�i�,�ma� _� �` , November 1 2005 srq------�POO � Co u ntyDATE. �oUK SUBJECT: Community Services Department Monthly Update SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: ACCEPT monthly update on the operations of the Community Services Department. FISCAL IMPACT: No impact from this update. BACKGROUND: Attached is the regular monthly report on the operations of the Community Services Department. This report includes updates on fiscal, personnel, and other program issues. To enhance oversight of the Community Services Department the County Administrator is conducting monthly meetings with the department to receive updates on program issues and to plan and/or authorize actions that may be needed. To ensure they remain updated regarding the status of the program, the Board of Supervisors directed the County Administrator, or his designee, to provide them with a monthly status report. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: NO YES 14w' GNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER c)�.: ) -.00-109 SIGNATURES ACTION OF BORD N ` APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED Voo� OIER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON MINUTES OF / THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. �/ UNANIMOUS(ABSENT AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Contact: Dorothy Sansoe(5-1009) cc: Community Services Department ATTESTED County Administration JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK Oil THE BOARD OFSUPERVISORS BY: ,DEPUTY oN i R A C O STA COUNTY To: John Sweeten, County Administrator COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT From: Joe Valentine, Executive Director Joe valentine S ubj e ct: Monthly Report Executive Director Date: October 21, 2005 Patricia Stroh,PhD Program Services Director I am submitting the following report to ensure ongoing communication with the County Administrator regarding all issues pertaining to the Head Start program and the Community Services Department. A. Fiscal Re-port 1. On September 28, 2005 the department submitted to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) its 2006 Continuation Grant application for Head Start and Early Head Start programs amounting to $16,353,377 and $2,007,827. The application was presented to and approved by the Head Start Policy Council on August 17, 2005 and by the Board of Supervisors on September 13, 2005. 2. The department was awarded$72,474 by the State Department of Community Services and Development. The amount represents the County's share in the Petroleum Violation Escrow Act(PVEA) funds that have been made available to the State of California through this Act. These funds will be used to provide weatherization program services for the dwellings of eligible County residents for the period August 1, 2005 through December 31, 2006. B. Personnel Report 1. I`ve met with Wendy Therrian, Director of Workforce Services, and Steve Baiter,the Administrator of the county system of"One-Stop Centers"to seek their assistance in developing long-term strategies for the recruitment and training of child center teaching staff. They've pledged full cooperation in working with us on creative strategies for outreach and recruitment. This might include the development of an Early Childhood Education career training track that would integrate workplace "soft-skills"training with the existing Early Childhood Education curricula at community colleges. 2. The Hiring process for two Site Supervisors [one for Crescent Park and one for George Miller], Master Teachers, Teachers, and Associate Teachers have been completed. On October 19 these appointments were approved by the Head Start Policy Council. All of our Child Development Centers now have permanent Site Supervisors. C. Policy Council f ' 1. In September,the Head Start Policy Council received their annual 2425 Bisso Lane Drive,Suite 260 orientation for new members. Anew PolicyCouncil Executive Committee Concord,California 94520 Tel 925 646 5540 for the 2005-2006 year was elected during the orientation. The new Policy Fax 925 646 5904 Council Chair and the Policy Council Region IX Representative attended the www.ccccsd.org John Sweeten Page 2 October 21, 2005 Region IX Head Start conference in Pasadena this month to receive leadership training and training on strategies to create an effective Policy Council structure. D. Special Projects/Activities 1. I recently met with David Rosenthal from the Richmond Children's Foundation which operates the"Richmond Elementary School." We have a contract with them to provide Head Start Enhancement Services to 40 children which calls for their school to provide these services at no cost to the county. In turn,the Department provides technical assistance, and the school is allowed to lease the property adjacent to the old Maritime Children's Center. According to this lease,the school's monthly payments and share of maintenance costs increased in August. This has forced the Foundation to re-look at its ability to financially support the program. We've agreed to explore amending the terms of the lease to reduce their costs back to the pre-August 2005 amount, and to explore a more traditional program partnership contract beginning in September 2006 that could include sharing some portion of Head Start revenue for each child that is served. 2. As a new member of the"First Five Children and Families Commission,"I agreed to serve on their"GFOA Recommendation Work Group." This work group is reviewing recent state statutory changes regarding the financial management and contracting practices of First Five Commissions and will make recommendations to the full Commission for improved policies to implement these changes. This might include policies regarding conflict of interest, limits on administrative costs, contracting practices, and setting staff salary and benefit levels. 3. For the third consecutive year, CSD is conducting the"National Reporting System" (NRS) assessment of 4 and 5-year old children attending our Head Start funded programs. The NRS assessment, administered twice per school year, is a national mandate for Head Start. Its goal is to evaluate the overall effectiveness of Head Start programs in preparing children to be successful in school. 4. CSD is reviewing all of its disaster preparedness procedures and supplies to ensure that staff and parents have the latest information on disaster preparedness, that emergency supplies at all sites are current and complete, and that regular drills and training for children and staff are occurring at all sites. Staff recently met with Chris Boyer from OES, and will be following up on some of his suggestions to update our disaster response guides and materials. 5. We're initiating a contract with Catholic Charities to provide mentoring and tutorial support to our bilingual teaching staff as they enroll in Early Childhood Education(ECE) classes. If successful,this could increase the number of qualified bilingual teaching staff. Cc: Pat Stroh,Program Services Director Policy Council Family&Human Services Committee Maria Fort,ACF