HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04191994 - H.B V/ t
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
DATE: April 19; 1994
MATTER OF RECORD
SUBJECT: Volunteers of the Year
The Board received the Annual Report on the Contra Costa. County Volunteer
Program and participated in the presentation of awards to the "Volunteers of the
Year.
THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY.
Presentation before the Board of Supervisors
Please complete this form and return it to the Office of the Clerk of
the Board, 651 Pine Street, Room 106, Martinez by Wednesday Noon,
prior to. the Tuesday Board meeting for which the presentation is
scheduled. Failure to submit the completed form as requested may
necessitate the removal of the item from the Board's agenda.
1 Date of Board Meeting April 19, 1994 Time: 9:00 AM
2. Who will introduce the subject of the presentation?
Lennis Lyon, Area Agency on Aging
3. Will the Board Chair be asked to make the presentation?
Yes
(If yes, attach notes or comments which the Chair may use
in making the presentation. )
4. Will other Board Members be asked to participate? How?
Yes. Board members will be asked to award plaques to recognize
Volunteers.
B. How long will the presentation/program take?
10 minutes
6. Outline the procedure or format of the presentation.
Opening remarks by Ms. Lyon providing background and presentation
of Annual Report on Volunteer Contributions
Introduction of recognized volunteers and presentation of plaques
by Board members.
7. Attach background information relative to this presentation.
Annual Report is attached. Introductory comments will be attached
to palques.
8. Name of person to contact and phone.
Lennis Lyon, 313-1731, or Dean Lucas, 646-4077
Dated: February 3, 1994
Signature
Administrators Office
County Department
REPORT
TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
ON CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1993
s
The following ten programs, administered by Contra Costa County, have demonstrated cost-
effoctiveness,financial benefit,and extraordinary service to the citizens of the County as well
as to departments and agencies. The programs are noted for their preventative aspects and
quality of service.
Program Costs` . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $602,094
Total Financial Benefit" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,733,132
Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220,807
Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
The Departments and/or Programs represented are:
1. Animal Services
?. Court Appointed Special Representative
3. Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy
4. Library (including the Adult Literacy Program)
5. Merrithew Memorial Hospital and Clinics
6. Newborn Connections
7. Office of Emergency Services
S. Probation Department (including Juvenile Hall Auxiliary)
9. Sheriff-Coroner
10. Social Service Department
'Includes: salaries, benefits, recognition events and mileage reimbursement.
"Includes: donations (cash. in-kind, equipment and space), grants, and value of volunteer
hours. (The Volunteer Program Administrators' Committee has adopted the third step of
the experienced level clerk position {S15.29 including benefits} as the hourly rate for this
report.)
Animal Services
* Total Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100
* Total Financial Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $110,011
* Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,123
* Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.42
Preventative Beneficial Aspects of the Prop-ram
The volunteers:
-- Assist the public with lost and found animals and adoption information.
-- Help re-unite pets with owners as soon as possible which helps to reduce
Shelter population.
-- Ani er phones at the Low-Cost Spay, Neuter, Vaccination Clinic, to help with the
pet over-population problem.
-- Groom animals for adoption to make them more adoptable.
-- Assist with the Public Education Program.
Court Appointed Special Representative
(Superior Court, Juvenile Division)
* Total Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S75,280
* Total Financial Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $418,005
* Total Hours contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,500
* Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.86
Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program
Court Appointed Special Representatives (CASR's) are volunteer advocates who become
consistent, constant companions to abused and neglected children who are living in out-of-
home placement, typically foster homes. These are children who are frightened, confused,
and thrust into an over burdened juvenile justice and social services system.
CASR's are a "voice" for the children with whom they work. They serve as a link between
the child's needs and the court system. The Court Appointed Special Representative
Program's ability to monitor and report back to the Court the child's circumstances often
allows the Court to make more well informed decisions regarding the child's long-term and
permanent care placement.
CASR's have had a 69% success rate in assisting the Court in returning children to families.
The Program often reduces delays and enhances the time spent by the child in the system.
It links communications between the family and Court, as well as reminding the Court that
childrens' lives are passing and cannot be ignored or forgotten. CASR estimates that for
every hour spent by a social worker or probation officer with a child, an advocate spends ten
hours.
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program
(Area Agency on Aging, Social Service Department)
Total Casts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $78,234
Total Financial Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $543,490
Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,442
* Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.62
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 5,395 Contra Costa Seniors in 1993.
Highly trained volunteers provided individual help with Medicare concerns, insurance claims
and the selection of supplemental insurance to 1,756 County seniors. Documented savings
of$285,888 (which is reflected in the total financial benefit to the County) are attributed to
the successful efforts of HICAP in 1993. 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.
Library
Total Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $80,200
Total Financial Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $703,371
Total Hours contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,643
Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.85
Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program
Library: The Library's volunteer program enhances library service to the public in a variety
of ways:
— Offering book delivery services to the homebound and to patients in convalescent
hospitals, to teachers in the Libraries and Schools Together program, and offering
reading services to children in the Grandparents and Books Program;
— Helping to organize local history files, update community resource files, and clip and
file newspaper articles and pamphlets;
— Processing paperbacks for circulation;
— Assisting with genealogy research;
— Arranging bulletin board displays and exhibits;
— Creating and maintaining picture files;
— Cleaning, covering, and repairing books and records;
— Serving as hosts/hostesses at libran- programs;
-- Designing flyers and other publiciW.
— Distributing flyers and posters in the community;
— Assisting students with homework help after school.
Friends of the Library groups raise money through the sale of used books, fund special
purchases of library materials, fund special Library speakers, and provide refreshments for
the public attending library programs.
Project Second Chance: This multi-faceted program includes:
-- One-on-One Tutoring;
-- Families for Literacy- A program, designed to break the cycle of illiteracy by
teaching PSC adult learners ho%N to help their pre-school children read;
-- Computer Assisted Learning-This learning center uses computers to reinforce
basic skills and helps adult learn:rs become computer literate.
Merrithew Memorial Hospital and Clinics
* Total Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $64,021
* Total Financial Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $912,264
* Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,331
* Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.27
Preventative Beneficial Aspects of the Proaam
Merrithew Memorial Hospital's Auxiliary is a non-profit corporation, eligible to receive
United Way funds. This past year it received $11,046 in donations as well as other funds
raised by the volunteers, which enabled it to respond to hospital requests for major
equipment purchases totaling over $46,000.
Other preventative/beneficial aspects of volunteer work are seen daily. In-service and
community outreach volunteers work with staff and visitors to support patient care, freeing
up staff to do work requiring their special skills. The volunteers' commitment is a daily
inspiration and morale boost to staff, patients and visitors. Volunteers at the Gift
Shop/Information Desk are the first people seen. They are the public relations people for
the hospital. Volunteers manage and staff a Gift Shop - a daily fund-raising effort - in
addition to many other fund-raising activities.
Children's pre-surgery anxiety is greatly reduced when wrapped stuffed animals are given to
them to "open when you wake up". Warmth and caring are felt by parents 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 volunteers. Addicted
mothers are encouraged to stay clean and sober with incentives provided by volunteers.
Newborn Connections
(Merrithew Memorial Hospital)
Total Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $61757
* Total Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150,062
* Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,447
Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.58
Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program
Newbom Connections volunteers provide in-home visits for patients who have delivered
babies at Merrithew Memorial Hospital. For the first 3-12 months of the baby's life, the
volunteer provides weekly support, education, and companionship for the new family.
By empowering the family from the beginning of the baby's life, the volunteer is able to
positively prevent child abuse. Helping families to help themselves, the volunteer (who has
completed 21 hours of training) provides life skills, resources, infant development, and
nutrition information to the family. The families,are encouraged to attend parent education
classes and to get support from ex-tended family and friends in order to reduce isolation and
stress.
The volunteers often bring food or small gifts for the baby and as mutual friendships occur,
the family can call the volunteer for advice even after the visitL"' are officially over. Over a
long period of time, Newborn Connections volunteers have had the joy of seeing their new
families become strong, loving parents.
Office of Emergency Services
* Total Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,300
* Total Financial Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $221,815
* Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,500
* Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.68
Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program
The Radio Amateur Civil Emergence Service (RACES) provides supplemental
communications to the Office of Emergency Services in times of natural or man-made
disasters. Members provide their personal equipment when needed. (Value of donated
space and equipment---approximated at 5165,000---included in total financial benefit to
County listed above.)
RACES ham radio and television services, and computers are sometimes the only working
means of communication immediately available after large disasters strike, such as
earthquakes.
Probation
Total Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $505921
Total Financial Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $362,898
Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,202
Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.83
Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program
Contra Costa County Probation Department's goal for its Volunteer Program is to help
protect the community from the cost of crime by: directly intervening with victims; helping
to enforce the orders of the Court; and fostering rehabilitation of law violators.
Doing this involves volunteers in numerous activities including: tutoring and one-to-one
contact with juveniles at Byron Boys Ranch; staffing the Bedtime Story Reading Program
at Juvenile Hall; assisting crime victims in obtaining reimbursement from the State's Victim
Restitution Fund for medical and counseling costs; and working with Adult and Juvenile
Deputy Probation Officers dealing with those placed on probation by the courts.
Under the auspices of the Probation Department is the Juvenile Hall Auxiliary whose
volunteers contribute their time to help youth in detention. Funding for its programs is
derived from community donations and from a thrift shop in Martinez, The Hall Closet,
operated by the volunteers.
r
Sheriff - Coroner
Total Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $106,000
Total Financial Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $768,455
Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,326
Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.83
Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program
The Reserve U nit and the Search and Rescue Unit provide critically important services that
would normally be expensive. As County governments are faced with both increasing
demands for service and reduced or restricted resources, the importance of these Units
becomes clear, particularly since law enforcement is traditionally a high-budget program.
These volunteers provide the community N,,ith a high-quality service. They do it for no salary
or benefits and often cover many of the expenses from their own finances.
Social Service Department
* Total Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . $137,281
* Total Financial Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17542,761
* Total Hours Contributed by Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,293
* Full-Time Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.22
Preventative/Beneficial Aspects of the Program
Volunteer Services augments the help provided by the Social Service Department to its
clients and assists it with varied supportive tasks. In 1993, basic needs of many clients were
addressed through "Season of Sharing" funds ($180,272) provided by the San Francisco
Chronicle and by Volunteer Services' own fundraising efforts ($86,485) which included a
donation from the San Francisco Examiner's "Cherish our Children" campaign.
The total number of people served in 1993 was over 24,000. Below are highlights of
program achievements made possible by the funding sources mentioned above plus
community- and volunteer support.
-- Season of Sharing funds prevented 340 families from becoming homeless.
-- More than 9,000 individuals were served with holiday baskets, toys, or
clothing, and over 1,800 were given emergency food during the year.
-- Nlo:e than 400 children were sent to camp and over 100 children received
back to school supplies.
Other services were enhanced by more than 500 volunteers who: coordinated drivers;
transported children; answered inquires for the Adoptions' Unit; purchased emergency
supplies for Child Protective Services including childrens' clothing, diapers, formula, and
headlice shampoo (funding provided by Volunteer Services); updated foster home vacancy
lists for the After Hours Emergency Response Team; recruited individuals to care for
seniors and the disabled active to In Home Supportive Services; plus provided general
clerical support by opening, sorting, and distributing mail, filing, plus making over 2,500
intake/recertification packets and case folders monthly.
1994 COUNTY VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARDS
A. Volunteer Group of the Year:
Honorable Mentions:
Contra Costa County Sheriff's Reserves -
Sheriff Office (Torlakson) - Alex Smith,
Representative
Diablo Valley Chapter, National Charity League -
Social Service (Bishop) - Belinda Wendland/
Barbara Young, representatives
Friends of Orinda Library (Smith) - Jo Alice
Canterbury, Representative
Soroptimist Diablo Sunrise - Merrithew Memorial
Hospital (DeSaulnier) - Kathy Laperty,
Representative
Share-A-Pet - Probation (Torlakson) - Rick
Kozon, Representative
Winner: Newborn Connections (Bishop) - Supervisor will
read from plaque.
B. Volunteer Pair of the Year:
Honorable Mentions:
Nan Ronchetto and Marjorie Petrovich - Social
Service (DeSaulnier) (Marjorie Petrovich will
accept)
Patti Gallinatti and Vicki Tsukahara - Library
(Bishop) (Vicki Tsukahara will accept)
Winner: Olga and Harry Bier - Merrithew Memorial
Hospital (Smith) - Supervisor will read from
plaque.
C. Volunteer of the Year:
Honorable Mentions:
Patricia Evans - Merrithew Memorial Hospital
(Smith)
Jim Felde - Project Second Chance (DeSaulnier)
Arthur Gelston - Probation (Torlakson)
Dollette Kennelly - Social Service (Bishop)
Donald Tallman - Library (Smith)
Winner: Jesse Stewart - Court Appointed Special
Representative Program (Torlakson) - Supervisor
will read from plaque.
H13 VOLREC.doc