To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Contra Costa County Office of Education
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute an interagency agreement with Contra Costa County Office of Education, in an amount not to exceed $400,015, to administer Basic Needs and Concrete Supports at school sites and district offices in East Contra Costa County for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% State, all which will be budgeted in FY 26-27 and FY 27-28.
BACKGROUND:
In February of 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act which included the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was signed into law. The objective of FFPSA is to amend the Title IV-E foster care program to enhance support services to families to prevent entry to foster care. In July 2021, California’s Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) program was established to support the development and implementation of Title IV-E prevention services, and to address rates of recidivism and disproportionality in child welfare and juvenile probation.
Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services (EHSD) Children and Family Services (CFS) and Contra Costa County Probation Department opted into the FFPS program as co-leads and partnered with community representatives to develop a Comprehensive Prevention Plan (CPP). The vision of the CPP is that all children and families in Contra Costa County are supported by services and systems that are accessible, have an equitable approach, include culturally and linguistically responsive services, and celebrate all aspects of diversity. Contra Costa County’s CPP was approved by the California Department of Social Services in July 2023, and on August 8, 2023, EHSD CFS Bureau presented the plan to the Board of Supervisors. CFS is piloting the CPP program in East County.
A primary strategy of the CPP is to expand services and increase access to basic needs in East Contra Costa County. Through this agreement, Contra Costa County Office of Education will make basic needs and concrete supports available to students and their families at risk of entering foster care in the East Contra Costa region, furthering the county’s prevention efforts.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Should the proposed action not be approved by the Board of Supervisors, the County will not be able to continue to implement and provide services in accordance with Contra Costa County’s Comprehensive Prevention Plan which will strengthen the community and decrease the risk of children and their families entering the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This contract supports all five of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes of the Children’s Report Card: (1) "Children Ready for and Succeeding in School"; (2) "Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood"; (3) "Families that are Economically Self-Sufficient"; (4) "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing"; and (5) "Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families”.