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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03111986 - IO.1 TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE ConIra March 10, 1986 ^oov���"rt/Costa DATE: ( f'� ' � Continuation of the Advisory Committee on ���/// SUBJECT: the Employment and Economic Status of Women SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1 . Extend the life of the Advisory Committee on Employment and Economic Status of Women through February 28, 1989. 2 . Continue the joint sponsorship of the Advisory Committee by the Private Industry Council and the Board of Supervisors. 3 . Indicate the Board' s intent to continue funding the Advisory Committee on a 50/50 partnership basis, with the Private Industry Council and the Board of Supervisors each providing 50% of the cost of the Advisory Committee. The County General Fund share of the Advisory Committee' s expenses for the 1986-1987 fiscal year are projected to be approximately $8,680. 4. Indicate the intent of the Board to continue this 50/50 funding partnership through February 28, 1989 with the understanding that the funding for each fiscal year will be provided for in that fiscal year' s County Budget. 5 . Direct the County Administrator, in cooperation with the Executive Director of the County Housing Authority, to prepare an informational packet for Advisory Board members and citizen groups similar to that prepared by the County of Los Angeles which was shared with our Committee by the Chairwoman of the Advisory Committee. 6 . Once the above informational packet has been prepared, refer it to the Advisory Housing Commission with the request that the Commission assist the Board of Supervisors by recommending methods which could be used to provide appropriate distribution of the informational packet. 7 . Request the Executive Director of the County Housing Authority and the Social Services Director to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on ways in which Operation Self-Sufficiency can be incorporated into the GAIN Program once it becomes operational. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; ^ YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE - OTHER _ SIGNATURE(S): Na y C. Fanden Sunne W. McPeak ACTION OF BOARD ON March 11, 1986 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT III 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. County Administrator ATTESTED ,Qjt�' \P , Adv. Committee on Women IC Director PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF ChairSUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ,aunty Auditor sector, Housing Authority jal Service Director BY ,DEPUTY Page 2 8. Remove this item as a referral to the Internal Operations Committee. BACKGROUND• The Advisory Committee on the Employment and Economic Status of Women presented our Committee with the attached report at our meeting on February 10, 1986. The Advisory Committee summarized the activities and accomplishments of the past three years, and requested that their existence be continued for an additional three-year period. Milo Smith, Chairwoman of the Advisory Committee, met with our Committee and also suggested the preparation of an informational packet which could be distributed to Advisory Boards and other citizen groups to provide information on various County services. We believe such a brochure is badly needed, particularly among low-income groups who frequently do not have access to other resources. We would like the Housing Authority and the Advisory Housing Commission included in this referral since they have immediate access to a number of low-income citizens living in County housing projects and could assist the Board in devising the most appropriate way of making such a brochure available to various citizen groups and organizations. The Advisory Committee' s report is attached, and we would urge the adoption of the above recommendations. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC STATUS OF WOMEN 2425 Bisso Lane, Suite 100 ` Concord, CA 94520 (415) A71-4391 DATE February 6, 1986 Internal Operations Committee T� (Sup visor Fanden/Supervisor McPeak) Mil mith Chair FROM Advisory Committee on the Employment & Economic Status of Women REQUEST FOR A THREE YEAR EXTENSION (MARCH 1, 1986 - MARCH 1, 1989) OF THE Sus�E�t COUNTY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC STATUS OF WOMEN The Advisory Committee on the Employment and Economic Status of Women is slated for dissolution on February 28, 1986. In anticipation of this, the Advisory Committee is requesting a three year extension (from March 1, 1986 to March 1, 1989). The Advisory Committee was initially established by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on November 4, 1980. Its purpose is to facilitate broadened employment opportunities for women and to work with the business community in the areas of childcare, comparable pay, non-traditional employment and training, and alternative working opportunities. This twenty- one member volunteer group is co-sponsored by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and by the Private Industry Council (PIC) of Contra Costa County; committee members are appointed by the Board. During the past two months, the Advisory Committee has held several meetings, utilizing a facilitator in our planning process, to review our past accomplishments and to plan and develop goals and objectives. Attachment #1 highlights a few of the major accomplishments and activities undertaken by the committee. Attachment 412 reflects Advisory Committee goals for 1986-89. Attachment 413 reflects the objectives of the 1986-89 goals. We feel the goals and objectives developed by the Advisory Committee will educate and provide information to the community on important issues unique to women, improve coordination, and facilitate economic self-sufficiency for women. Co-sponsored by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and the Private Industry Council of Contra Costa County Within the next two to three months, we will be submitting recommendations on the restructuring of the Advisory Committee which will allow the Board more flexibility in making committee appointments. We anticipate that a restructured membership will allow for the education and enhancement of opportunities for women to become involved in their community. A three-year extension is almost imperative in order to deal with the myriad of issues relating to the changing social and economic conditions of the women of this County. By responding to our request, the Board will continue to provide and support a much needed service to the women of Contra Costa County and will continue to maintain its national leadership role of addressing women's issues. BAJ:vic Attachments Attachment #1 ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ACTIVITIES 1. Published a comprehensive report, released in July 1981, entitled Women in Contra Costa County: Economic, Employment and Training Status. 2. Published a resource guide in December 1982, entitled Women's Opportunities Resource Directory, which provides listings of services that are available to women in Contra Costa County in the area of employment, training and education. 3. In collaboration with the Diablo Valley College Women's Program and the City of Concord's Status of Women Committee, the Advisory Committee held a one-day conference in April 1983, entitled "Women Working Together." The objective of this conference was to bring women together to share information on various aspects of the economy, and to explore ideas on taking positive steps to cope with it. 4. As requested by the Board of Supervisors, in March 1984, the Advisory Committee organized and coordinated a public hearing on the Feminization of Poverty. 5. The Advisory Committee was represented on the Employment Strategies Group, a cooperative effort between.the County, the National Alliance of Business (NAB), SRI International, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. A recommendation of this Group, which was a result of the work of one of its subcommittees chaired by the Advisory Committee's representative, was the establishment of an East County Women's Employment Support Group - a pilot project targeted to AFDC recipients in East County to help promote job motivation and self-esteem. The core program for that project was a support group whereby participants in the program work with and support each other, with the help of a facilitator, in addressing and confronting such barriers as child care, transportation, housing, family problems, health problems, financial problems, lack of job skills, etc., that hinder their efforts to successfully enter and remain in the job market. A representative from the Advisory Committee served on the advisory committee for that pilot project. Subsequently, the East County Women's Employment Support Group pilot project was the basis for a proposal submitted to the Department of Housing & Urban Development for a Self-Sufficiency Project. As a result, 50 new Section 8 Housing Certificates were issued to Contra Costa County as a support service for participants in the Self-Sufficiency Project. These new certificates not only provide adequate housing for those that participate in this project, thereby enabling them to concentrate on employment opportunities rather than . housing needs, but also equate on an annual basis to approximately $200,000 of additional rental revenues available to the private sector in this county, or $1,000,000 over a five-year period. A member of the Advisory Committee on the Employment and Economic Status of Women serves as the Chair of the Self- Sufficiency Project Task Force which oversees this project. - 1 - Attachment #1 cont. ACCOMPLISHMENTS/ACTIVITIES Thirty individuals are currently participating in the project, including attending support group meetings which are again the core activity of this- program. hinprogram. Of this number, fourteen are in either education, vocational or job training programs and six have become employed. For the most part, the remainder are either actively seeking employment or are exploring various vocational opportunities. An additional element of this project is a job training component funded by the PIC, which provides for specific job training once these women develop confidence that they can successfully enter the job market. This project has shown that many AFDC recipients need a support system and pre-employment preparation before they are enrolled in training or placed in employment. Without this project and particularly the support group activity, these women would not have the confidence they need to break out of the welfare cycle. During 1985, a facilitator for Project Self-Sufficiency, contracted with through the Mt. Diablo Adult Education Program, was jointly paid for by the PIC, County Community Development Department and County Housing Authority - each of which contributed $5,000. The PIC also reserved approximately $70,000 of incentive funds for the job training element of the project for ,participants who were eligible for. JTPA. The contract with Mt. Diablo Adult Education for the project facilitator will expire in February 1986. The PIC has approved $5,000 from incentive funds to continue the contract for the project facilitator for an additional year, contingent upon contributions of equal amounts from both the County Housing Authority and the County Community Development Department. The PIC also approved that $66,000 in training funds be extended to February 28, 1987 for JTPA-eligible participants of the project. This project will require continued support of the Board. The work of the project reflects the concept of stabilizing clients with multiple problems to make them more prepared for PIC programs and vocational programs. At the same time, the Self-Sufficiency Project is an excellent example of collaborative efforts from diverse agencies in the county and the private sector to help poor women. 6. The Advisory Committee has focused attention on the issue of women in non- traditional work. This focus has stimulated interest and participation by community colleges in non-traditional careers for women and has facilitated coordination among employers, unions, and apprenticeship programs. Based on input from the Advisory Committee, the PIC formulated a standard identification of non-traditional and established a standard report to monitor JTPA non-traditional placement activity. - 2 - Attachment #1 cont. ACCOMPLISHMBNTS/ACTIVITIES 7. During 1985, designed and began implementation of a program for the Private Industry Council entitled Non-traditional Jobs Project. The purpose of this project is to improve PIC training activities to enhance placement of JTPA-eligible women in non-traditional jobs. Thirty-thousand dollars from JTPA funds was provided by the PIC and $5,000 from Gender Equity funds was provided by Los Medanos College to design and implement this project. This project is on-going; a final report on the findings/success of this project will be available in August 1986. The Advisory Committee will utilize the findings as a resource for future planning strategies on issues of training and employment for women. 8. On an on-going basis, the committee monitored and reviewed legislation which had an impact on women for input/recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Legislation which was recently reviewed by the Advisory Committee includes: Bi-Partisan Bills on Women, Family & Work Assembly Joint Resolution #16 AB 3227 (Molina) SB 1167 (Marks) SB 538 (Watson/Rosenthal) SB 2043 (Eaves) 9. To broaden the scope and provide for a more informed committee, the committee served on the following Task Forces: United Way Task Force on Services to Women and Girls United Way Child Care Task Force County Child Care Task Force 10. Advisory Committee meetings have been held in other areas of the County to begin identifying and addressing issues/areas of concern relative to women. 11. The Committee has served as a clearinghouse for events, projects, and information relative to women for the County. - 3 - Attachment #2 ADVISORY COIrRIITTEE GOALS FOR 1986-89 • Examine, Reassess, and Restructure Internal Organization - Explore member turnover - stability of membership - Clarify purpose for committee members - Develop functioning Standing Committees - Develop an internal structure to create/be a liaison • Focus on Issues of Training and Employment of Women - Continue and complete the PIC Non-traditional Jobs Project for women • Increase Awareness of and Develop Positions on Political and Economic Issues that Affect Women - Become more involved in child care - Become more involved/encourage better child care - Sponsor seminars on issues of importance e.g., child care - Use experts that we have on our committee to address specific issues e.g., illiteracy - Study issues of different types of discrimination that keep women from entering work force - Influence legislation for single heads of household - Make women more aware of the political arena - Become better educated about comparable worth and seek activities that will promote pay equity for women - Become more aggressive in bringing issues to the Board of Supervisors ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY ADVISORY COMKITTEE • GAIN/Workfare • Children's Issues • Child Care • Comparable Worth/Discrimination • Women Single Heads of Household • Re-entry • Legislation Reviews • Child Support • Seminars • Utilization of Existing Expertise • Political Awareness • Information Dissemination • Health - 4 - Attachment #3 ADVISORY COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES 1986-1989 • GOAL: EXAMINE, REASSESS, AND RESTRUCTURE INTERNAL ORGANIZATION OBJECTIVES: 1. By 1/21/86, a subcommittee will be established to develop recommendations for: • Membership • Committee Purpose • Standing Committees • Liaison System 2. By the February 1986 Advisory Committee meeting, the committee will provide a preliminary report to the full committee (will include a timeline). • GOAL: FOCUS ON ISSUES OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN OBJECTIVES: 1. By the July 1986 Advisory Committee meeting, the Project Coordinator will submit an assessment, evaluation, and recommendations on the Non-traditional Project. 2. In August 1986, a final report will be presented to the Private Industry Council and Board of Supervisors. 3. Following the presentation to the Private Industry Council, the final report will be published and distributed. 4. The Advisory Committee will utilize the findings as a resource for future planning strategies on issues of training and employment for women. 0 GOAL: INCREASE AWARENESS OF AND DEVELOP POSITIONS ON POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT AFFECT WOMEN OBJECTIVES: 1. Primary attention in 1986 will be given to GAIN/Workfare. 2. Consider and where appropriate, establish standing committees to review the following issues: * The issues are: • Children's Issues • Comparable Worth/Discrimination • Women Single Heads of Household/Re-entry 0 Provide Education on Legislation • Women's Health * The original issues developed under "Goals" (attachment #2) were combined under the above headings. 3. A standing committee will be established to develop an outreach program (seminars, speaker's bureau, publicity, promotion). - 5 -