March 18, 2003

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Authorization to Accept $375,000 from the Packard Foundation to Enhance Welfare-to-Work Program in Calendar Year 2003, and to Sub-Contract with De Anza College, Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Santa Clara Unified School District and City of San Jose for Portions of Funds Received

 

REPORT IN BRIEF:

The Santa Clara County Welfare-to-Work (WtW) plan began its fourth and final year on January 1, 2003.  The state-funded plan, a joint effort of the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency, NOVA Workforce Board, and the San Jose Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Board, is part of an overall effort to enhance opportunities for low income families in this County.  The primary source of funding has been Welfare-to-Work funds from the Department of Labor, which were allocated to workforce investment boards by the state in PY1999-2000 and PY2000-2001.  Expenditure of these funds is authorized through 2004.  In addition, required matching funds have been allocated by the state to county social services agencies.  In Santa Clara County, the primary focus for the use of these funds has been the development of Neighborhood Self-Sufficiency Centers (NSSCs).  Originally, six agencies throughout the county took the lead to develop family-friendly neighborhood based service centers to assist families on welfare.  In this final year, two of these six continue to operate.

 

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation has committed significant resources to assisting the countywide effort.  Rather than conduct its own competitive process, the trustees opted to contribute money to support the structure developed by the workforce boards and county.  It chose to use NOVA as its agent for the distribution of its funds. It awarded grants to the City of Sunnyvale for $750,000 each year in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 and $750,000 for the two-year period 2001-2003 (see RTC #01-231.)  The first part of this last grant was received in October 2001, and the final $375,000 will be made available in March 2003.

 

It is recommended by staff that the Sunnyvale City Council authorize the City Manager to accept $375,000 from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to support specific activities of the Neighborhood Self Sufficiency Centers through December 31, 2003. In addition, staff recommends that the City Manager be authorized to enter into contracts with De Anza College Occupational Training Institute for an amount not to exceed $75,000 and with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office for an amount not to exceed $96,500. Finally, staff recommends that contracts with the City of San Jose and with Santa Clara Unified School District, as lead agencies in the two remaining NSSCs, be extended through December 31, 2003 and that any other funds available because of reduced expenditures be used for career guidance and work experience for youth and/or the further extension of contracts with the NSSCs.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The original Santa Clara County Welfare-to-Work (WtW) plan was developed as a joint and cooperative effort between the NOVA and Silicon Valley Private Industry Councils and the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency in 1999. The plan was funded by the combined resources of WtW allocations to the two Workforce Boards (through Department of Labor Welfare-to-Work formula funding) and governor’s matching funds directed to the County Social Service Agency. Funding for the project was appropriated over two years, to provide a four year service delivery system.  Along with the workforce boards (WIBs), the David and Lucile Packard Foundation chose to align its efforts to support welfare-to-work transition by participating in this procurement process and enhancing the funding available for the countywide effort.

 

Approximately two-thirds of the total funds have been devoted to the establishment and support of neighborhood-based, family friendly centers, called Neighborhood Self-Sufficiency Centers (NSSCs). Originally, six collaboratives of education and community-based organizations were funded, four in San Jose and one each serving the northern and southern portions of the county.  In the fourth year, only the centers in the north and south regions of Santa Clara County continue to operate.  In Gilroy, the NSSC is called Adelante Familia, and offers low income families a variety of services including sewing and flower arranging as options for small businesses, tutoring for youth, monthly family dinners and training options through its education partner, Gavilan College. In the northern part of the county, the adult education programs in Santa Clara, Mountain View and Sunnyvale are collaborating on training options and family services for welfare recipients in their communities.

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

 

In meeting with the Program Manager from the Packard Foundation, options have been explored for the use of funds in this final year of welfare-to-work operation.  One of the goals of the Packard Foundation had been to assist in building a system that could be sustained as a community resource.  It looked for other compatible efforts that could be combined with the NSSCs to create a stronger safety net for low-income families. 

 

One effort identified was the WORC project (Women’s Opportunities for Recovery Collaborative) at De Anza College.  This project is an 18-week intensive program for female offenders.  The women are released from incarceration daily to attend classes at the College.  It was funded for one year by a grant from the Packard Foundation.  That funding has been expended.  There is a direct link in tying this program to the NSSC effort, and providing bridge funding until other resources can be identified. The Foundation is agreeable to directing $75,000 to allow the WORC program to continue into September 2003.  OTI will assume costs of a placement specialist and all costs involved in registering participants in college classes.  It has submitted proposals to other private foundations and is hopeful that additional funding will be secured to continue the program beyond September 2003.

 

A second special population to be included in this effort is the non-custodial parents of children receiving cash assistance.  In the absence of a two-parent household, the financial support of two parents and the active involvement of both parents are beneficial to the welfare of children. Several special efforts have been made by the District Attorneys Office to involve non-supporting non-custodial parents in activities that will increase their income and their ability to contribute to their children’s welfare.  NOVA currently contracts with the DA’s office to provide skills training to parents whose earning capacity is hindered by a lack of marketable skills.  In addition, parents need help in finding a job and increasing their earnings. They can benefit from the guidance of a career coach trained in support law and able to help them negotiate affordable payments.  The DA’s office currently has two such counselors located in San Jose.  It is proposing having each of these counselors spend half their day at a NSSC, providing this service in the northern and southern parts of the county, as it is currently only in San Jose.  Contingent upon authorization by the Foundation, the contract proposed would cover two .5 FTE staff for the balance of the year.

 

It is also being proposed to extend the service period for the two NSSCs to at least the end of the 2003 calendar year. This will provide additional time to deploy long-term funding strategies so that the services and partnerships can be continued for needy families.

 

Finally, it is anticipated that some amount of savings will occur during the course of the grant, in program operations, administrative charges and/or the amount of actual funds committed to bring the District Attorney’s Office’s resources to the NSSCs.  As funds become available, it is recommended that they be used for two purposes: funding work experience and career exploration guidance services for youth and extending further the operating time period for one or both Centers beyond December 31, 2003.  The paid work experience would be for youth 14-21 years of age who are children of the families being served by the NSSCs.  The career exploration and guidance will target low income youth in the communities directly related to where the cost savings occur.  The NSSCs extensions would be negotiated with both Centers, based upon actual performance and leverage opportunities.

 

Fiscal Impact

 

There will be no fiscal impact to the City because funds needed to support the activities outlined in this grant and planned contract costs would be provided as part of the Packard Foundation grant to the City of Sunnyvale.  Funding for staff monitoring and reporting on the performance of these centers would also been allocated in the Packard Foundation grant.

 

 

PUBLIC CONTACT

1. Publication and posting of City Council agenda for March 18, 2003.

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

ALTERNATIVES

 

1. Council authorize acceptance of funds from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in support of Neighborhood Self Sufficiency Centers and authorize staff to negotiate contracts with De Anza College, Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Santa Clara Unified School District and City of San Jose for portions of funds received

2. Council request modification of the proposal, allowing or rejecting any of the proposed contracts.

3. Council reject funds from the Packard Foundation for the Neighborhood Self Sufficiency Centers and associated welfare-to-work activities.

RECOMMENDATION

 

It is recommended by staff that the Sunnyvale City Council authorize the City Manager to accept $375,000 from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to support specific activities of the Neighborhood Self Sufficiency Centers through December 31, 2003. In addition, staff recommends that the City Manager be authorized to enter into contracts with De Anza College Occupational Training Institute for an amount not to exceed $75,000 and with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office for an amount not to exceed $96,500. Finally, staff recommends that contracts with the City of San Jose and with Santa Clara Unified School District, as lead agencies in the two remaining NSSCs, be extended through December 31, 2003 and that any other available funds be used for career guidance and work experience for youth and/or the further extension of contracts with the NSSCs.

 

 

Prepared by:

Judith Gentry, Manager

Program Quality and Operations

 

 

Reviewed by: 

Michael J. Curran, Director

 

 

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala

City Manager