June 25, 2002

 

SUBJECT:

Authorization for the Department of Employment Development to Enter into Agreement with Santa Clara County Social Services Agency for Career Advancement Services for CalWORKs Clients

REPORT IN BRIEF: 

Since November 1993, the Department of Employment Development (also referred to as NOVA) and Santa Clara County Social Services Agency have contracted for NOVA to provide work experience and job search assistance for CalWORKs customers.  Each year, the array of services offered by NOVA changed in response to the County's perception of services needed in the cities of the north county.  Since 1999, NOVA's involvement has focused on assisting CalWORKs customers who are already employed, either part-time or in low wage jobs, to increase family wages and become self-sufficient.  In response to this direction, NOVA formed Career Advancement and Retention Services (CARS).  That method of assisting clients has become a model for helping low-wage workers improve their earnings potential and long-term employment prospects. Thus, the County has proposed extending the existing contract (FY 2001-2002) for another year (FY 2002-2003), by issuing an amendment to the existing contract. Funding for the project would remain at the same level as last year, for an amount not to exceed $215,000.   

Staff recommends that the Sunnyvale City Council approve the continuation of services by NOVA under agreement with Santa Clara County CalWORKs as summarized in this report.  In addition, staff recommends that the City Manager be authorized to negotiate an amendment to contract #CWR-02-010 with the County for $215,000 to extend services for FY 2002-2003. 

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: 

The partnership between NOVA and Santa Clara County Social Services Agency has been a long one, based on past accomplishments and common objectives.  NOVA has contracted with the Social Services Agency for a variety of services to CalWORKs clients (families receiving welfare assistance) since 1993.  From 1993 to 1997 it staffed its Community Work Experience Program (CWEP) when it became a mandatory activity for all 2-parent families.  In the northern six cities, GAIN (predecessor to CalWORKs) requested the assistance of NOVA to provide these services under contract with the County, and NOVA actually initiated this service model prior to GAIN implementing it in the balance of the County. In 1995, as the numbers of 2-parent families mandated under CWEP decreased, the County added a new component to the contract specifications, referred to as Job Services. These activities became an increasingly time intensive portion of the services NOVA offered to GAIN clients.  

In June 1999, an entirely new program model was negotiated between NOVA and the CalWORKs program. Since the enactment of TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), with its work-first model, the numbers of unemployed families on welfare had been steadily decreasing.  However, there are still significant families receiving cash assistance to supplement the earnings of a family member.  These families could not be mandated to participate in CalWORKs services, but do need additional help to be self-sufficient.  At the request of the County, NOVA developed its Career Advancement and Retention Services unit (CARS) to assist these working families. NOVA and CalWORKs staff worked together on recruitment and program design.  This cooperative arrangement has been enhanced since 1997 by the co-location of staff in one facility. Staff from NOVA and the County currently share Suite 767 on the CONNECT! Campus, where clients can benefit from so many other activities, such as the Career Connection, EDD Jobs Center, ProMatch and Learning Lab.  GAIN absorbed most of the costs of this facility under a sub-lease with NOVA. The center has been called the Employment Connection, the term devised for all CalWORKs job search centers in the county. In the coming year, CalWORKs staff will be moving into the new CONNECT! Job Seeker Center as partners with NOVA, EDD and other agencies working together to assist all job seekers in getting integrated support in finding employment. 

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. 

FISCAL IMPACT

There will be no fiscal impact to the City because funds needed to support the activities outlined in this grant would be provided by the County grant to the City of Sunnyvale.  Funding for staffing as well as administration and overhead are included in the planned budget. 

PUBLIC CONTACT 

1.    Publication and posting of City Council agenda for June 25, 2001. 

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

ALTERNATIVES 

1.    Council approves the continuation of services by NOVA under agreement with Santa Clara County CalWORKs and recommends that the City Manager be authorized to negotiate an amendment to the contract with the County in the amount of $215,000.

 

2.    Council request modification of the proposal.

 

3.    Council reject the service plan with the Santa Clara County. 

RECOMMENDATIONS: 

Staff recommends that the Sunnyvale City Council approve the continuation of services by NOVA under agreement with Santa Clara County CalWORKs as summarized in this report.  In addition, staff recommends that the City Manager be authorized to negotiate an amendment to contract #CWR-02-010 with the County for $215,000 to extend services for FY 2002-2003. 

 
Prepared by:

Judith Gentry, Manager
Program Quality and Operations

Reviewed by: