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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 04032007 - S.8 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS _S L Contra FROM: Joe Valentine; Director Costa Employment and Human Services Department DATE: April 3, 2007 U ------' _ ` County T'`1 SUBJECT: REPORT FROM FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY PARTNERSHIP SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: CONSIDER accepting a report from the Chair of the Family Economic Security Partnership on their upcoming Strategic Planning!Day, as recommended by the Employment and Human Services Director. FISCAL IMPACT: None BACKGROUND: The Family Economic Security Partnership (FESP) is a public, private and nonprofit collaboration to increase the income and build the assets of low-income families and individuals living in Contra Costa County. For the past four years, FESP has overseen and supported the Earn It, Keep It, Save It campaign, providing free tax,preparation assistance to low income individuals and families. Since the inception of FESP, over$5 million has been claimed in total refunds/credits for working families and individuals. On May 23, 2007, FESP will sponsor a one day strategic planning session. Over 300 public agencies, private institutions and community based organizations have been invited to provide input on asset development strategies for FESP with the goal of helping low-income Contra Costa residents increase their economic security. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:I.,—�---YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S ACTION OF Bt4DN APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS /" I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS (ABSENT / ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD AYES: NOES: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED _ JOHN CULLEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF UPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Contact Person: CC: B � ,BIsRIdTY I Contra Costa 's Family Economic Security Partnership 1340 Arnold Drive, Suite 125, Martinez, CA 94553 • (925) 335-9991 COORDINATING COUNCIL To: Board of Supervisors Representatives of the From: Sean Casey, Chair, Family Economic Security Partnership following agencies: Executive Director, First 5 Contra Costa Re: Family Economic Security Partnership Update AFL-CIO Community Date: April 3, 2007 Services The Family Economic Security Partnership (FESP) is a public, private and nonprofit Community Housing Development Corporation of collaboration to increase the income and build the assets of low income families and North Richmond individuals living in Contra Costa County. For the past four years, FESP has overseen and Congressman George Miller's supported the Earn It, Keep It, Save It (EKS) campaign, providing free tax preparation Office assistance to low income individuals and families. Since the inception of FESP, over $5 Contra Costa College million has been claimed in total refunds/credits for working families and individuals. Contra Costa County However, it has always been the expressed goal of FESP to expand its asset building Administrator's Office activities to help low income Contra Costans increase their economic security. Asset Contra Costa County building strategies may include financial education and services, home and business EmlyServi es1Departmentn ownership, health insurance, anti-predatory lending, and lifelong learning and children's Community Services and savings accounts. Workforce Services Bureaus Contra Costa Economic A Coordinating Council has been overseeing the EKS campaign and recently expanded its Partnership membership to include strategic partners interested in asset development. The attached Contra Costa Housing overview identifies current Coordinating Council members as well as FESP's mission, long Authority term goals, and accomplishments. FESP is currently staffed by First 5 Contra Costa. Diablo Valley College On May 23, 2007, FESP will sponsor a one day strategic planning session with three Federal Deposit Insurance desired outcomes: 1) to transition the current EHSD-led EKS campaign to an appropriate Corporation community based organization and identify funding sources to sustain and grow the First 5 Contra Costa program; 2) to identify three to five additional asset building strategies, along with potential Internal Revenue Service leaders and funding sources, for FESP to work on in the next several years; and 3) to Los Medanos College expand the network of organizations interested in partnering with FESP. Senator Tom Torlakson's Over 300 public agencies, private institutions (banks, credit unions), and community based Office organizations have been invited to participate on May 23, to provide input and to select Supervisor Susan Bonilla's priority asset development strategies for FESP. The day will be facilitated by a professional Office consultant, supported by First 5 funds. Following the strategic planning day, the FESP United Way of the Bay Area Coordinating Council will develop a proposal and seek funding to implement the asset building initiatives identified. Please see the attached Save the Date flyer. On behalf of FESP, we wanted to inform you of these activities and to thank you for your support and collaboration with FESP to promote the importance of helping families and individuals gain economic security in Contra Costa County. A publt ,private and nonprofit collaboration to increase the income and build the assets of lotiv-income families and individuals living in Contra Costa County Contra Costa 's Family Economic Security Partnership 1340 Arnold Drive, Suite 125, Martinez, CA 94553 • (925) 335-9991 March 2007 MISSION The FESP is a public, private and nonprofit collaboration dedicated to increasing the income and building the assets of low-income families and individuals living in Contra Costa County. LONG-TERM GOALS ❖ Create a countywide vision and strategies to better leverage community resources and enhance community collaboration in order to increase the economic security of low-income families and individuals. ❖ Implement initiatives to help low-income families and individuals increase their financial knowledge, well-being and assets. ACCOMPLISHMENTS ❖ 2003—2006: Launched Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Contra Costa (EKS) Provided free tax assistance sites to help low income working families claim the Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC). 1 During 2006: * Coordinating Council continued to oversee EKS activities * Secured and coordinated12 free volunteer income tax assistance sites (VITA) * Recruited and trained over 100 volunteers * Provided financial education workshops to selected VITA sites around the county * Resulted in a total of$2 million in total refunds/credits for working families and individuals'($5.5 million since inception of the program) ❖ 2006: Expanded Coordinatinq Council to assist with strategic planning * 22 strategic partners serve as the executive committee of FESP * Tasked with producing a strategic plan for countywide asset building strategies * Responsible for overseeing EKS activities 2007 GOALS ❖ To conduct a strategic planning session with relevant Contra Costa agencies to identify strategies, activities and funding for year-round asset building work ❖ To create a collaborative partnership with public and private agencies in order to implement asset building work CURRENT PARTNERS ❖ Contra Costa County Employment& Human Services Department, Community Services and Workforce Services Bureaus; Contra Costa County Administrator's Office; Internal Revenue Service; First 5 Contra Costa; United Way of the Bay Area; Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond; Contra Costa Economic Partnership; Contra Costa College; Los Medanos College; Diablo Valley College; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); Congressman George Miller's Office; Supervisor Susan Bonilla's Office; AFL-CIO Community Services; Senator Tom Torlakson's Office; Contra Costa Housing Authority A public,private and nonprofit collaboration to increase the income and build the assets of low-income families and individuals living in Contra Costa County. Help us increase he economic security of low-income milies and individuals! Public officials, public and private agencies, and community-based organizations are invited to participate in a one day planning session to identify strategies and activities for year-round asset development in Contra Costa County. More information will be coming shortly! 110 a 3. ' '\• - \ & , .. ifs �� .. HI1 Sponsored by the Family Economic Security Partnership (FESP), a public, private and nonprofit collaboration to increase the income and build the assets of low-income families and individuals living in Contra Costa County. For more information or if you wish to be taken off this list please call First 5 Contra Costa at (925) 335-9991 ext. 42 Supported by: 33 CONTRA COSTA cry DREN ANO fA"Es cxWr Bron