EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Welfare-to-Work (WtW) legislation was originally authorized for a three-year planning period, with funding provided in the first two years.  While legislation has extended program operations another two years, through June 30, 2003, no additional funds have been dedicated to the effort.  In Santa Clara County County, the Welfare-to-Work (WtW) plan was developed and has been funded as a joint and cooperative effort between the NOVA Workforce Board, the San Jose/Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Board, and the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency. The total amount of these combined resources over the funding period was approximately $6 million.  Of this amount, NOVA’s allocation was approximately $750,000.  Of the combined resources, approximately $450,000 remains, all of which was originally allocated to San Jose. NOVA has used all of its funding to support the North County Neighborhood Self Sufficiency Center (NSSC), and anticipates expending all funds prior to June 30, 2002.

The staff of the two workforce boards and County Social Service Agency (SSA) monitored all NSSCs on their accomplishments in this third year.  The combined staff reported that only two of the centers – Adelante Familia in Gilroy and the North County Neighborhood Self Sufficiency Centers in Santa Clara and Mountain View had served the community in the way originally designed.  Of the partners, only the San Jose/Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Board (SJ/SVWIB) had remaining resources.  At their April Executive Committee meeting, the SJ/SVWIB decided to fund two centers, and to contract with NOVA in support of North County.

Staff recommends that the Sunnyvale City Council concur with the NOVA Workforce Board to authorize the completion of a contract with City of San Jose for $155,000 to support North County Neighborhood Self Sufficiency Center for a period from January 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003. 

BACKGROUND 

Since January 1997 and the implementation of the 1996 Federal Welfare Reform Act, NOVA has spent considerable time and devoted significant attention to exploring effective strategies to assist families in gaining economic self-sufficiency.  NOVA has worked collaboratively with the Silicon Valley PIC (in 2000 replaced by the San Jose/Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Board) and the County SSA on a County-wide plan using the State WtW allocation and state matching funds. The plan is funded by the combined resources of WtW allocations to the two Workforce Investment Areas (through DOL Welfare-to-Work formula funding) and Governor’s matching funds directed to the County Social Service Agency.  Of the approximately $6,000,000 total allocation, roughly 70% of the total funds has been designated to support the efforts of the Neighborhood Self-Sufficiency Centers (NSSCs). The NSSCs were designed to offer ongoing training, family services and community resources to families transitioning from welfare to full self-sufficiency.  In addition, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation has invested $2,250,000 over the four year period to enhance the services offered by the NSSCs.  They assured that no one would be turned away from the centers, and that activities not included in Federal legislation, such as family events and activities for children, would be available.   

In the first year of Welfare-to-Work, six agencies were funded to organize a partnership with other entities and offer Neighborhood Self-Sufficiency Centers as one-stop service delivery for TANF families.  That number reduced to five in year two, and four in the past year.  During this period of time, the funding, originally allocated for two years, has been spread to allow operation for an additional two years.  As resources have diminished, decisions regarding the best investment of remaining funds have had to be made.  Staff for both WIBs monitored all centers in March.  Results of these evaluations demonstrated that the NSSCs in Gilroy and Santa Clara/Mountain View were 1) seeing the most clients; 2) offering the widest array of services; 3) using partnerships with other agencies to assist job seekers; and 4) producing and documenting positive results.

EXISTING POLICY 

The proposed activities are consistent with the City of Sunnyvale’s Socio-Economic Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services, within constraints of operative Federal regulations and available Federal funding to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs. 

DISCUSSION 

Santa Clara County Social Services Agency, NOVA, and San Jose/Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Board have worked together for the past two years to establish a stable system to assist families who are transitioning from welfare to work.  Most of the resources available for this purpose have been invested in a group of community-based organizations and education entities which are accessible to and offer appropriate services for this populations.  Since 1997, we have called this system “Neighborhood Self-Sufficiency Centers” (NSSCs).  Wanting to invest their money in a system to help families in economic transition, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation has provided additional resources, administered by NOVA. This money was used to assure that all families could receive service (not just those eligible under Welfare-to-Work’s limited definitions) and that the NSSCs were able to provide services and activities that will benefit all family members, not only the working parent.  Further, the Foundation invested in the sustainability and capacity building of the system by paying for a series of training sessions for all NSSC staff and contracting with a consultant to work with each Center on building a sustainability plan.  These efforts resulted in better processes for tracking and monitoring of effectiveness than were in place previously.  

NOVA’s allocated funds will be totally expended prior to the end of this fiscal year.  Thus the resources available to fund PY2002/2003 are remaining allocations to San Jose. Because the North County NSSC at Santa Clara Adult Education also assists individuals living in San Jose, this center has always been jointly funded by NOVA and the County/San Jose.  The SV/SJWIB decided to fund just two centers in 2002/03 – Gilroy and North County.  They proposed to contract with NOVA to oversee the operation of the North County NSSC. The contract with San Jose will continue operation of the NSSC when NOVA funds run out this year, and will support the total operation in FY2002/03. 

FISCAL IMPACT 

This contract would provide additional resources to allow the City to contract with the North County NSSC through June 30, 2003.  Without these resources, services would not be offered under Welfare-to-Work funding in the NOVA workforce area. 

PUBLIC CONTACT 

1. Publication and posting of NOVA Workforce Board Agenda of May 22, 2002. 

2. Public NOVA Workforce Board meeting on May 22, 2002. 

3. Publication and posting of Council Agenda. 

4. This report will be available in the Library and on the City’s internet home page.

ALTERNATIVES

1. Council approves the continuation of funding of the North County Neighborhood Self Sufficiency Center by NOVA under Welfare-to-Work funding from San Jose until resources are expended.

2. Council requests modification of the proposal.

3. Council rejects the extension of this contract.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the Sunnyvale City Council concur with the NOVA Workforce Board to authorize the completion of a contract with City of San Jose for $155,000 to support North County Neighborhood Self Sufficiency Center for a period from January 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003. 

Prepared by:

Judith Gentry
Operations Manager

Reviewed by:

Michael J. Curran
NOVA Director

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala
City Manager