To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Interagency Agreement #23-844 with West Contra Costa Unified School District, and Contract #23-845 with the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute two contracts on behalf of the County, for its West Contra Costa Healthcare District: (1) Interagency Agreement #23-844 with West Contra Costa Unified School District, a government agency, in an amount not to exceed $975,000 for the Promoting Local Access to Youth Sports (PLAYS) Program in West County, for the period from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2027; and (2) Contract #23-845 with the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund, a Public Benefit Non-Profit Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $225,000 for the PLAYS Program in West County, for the period from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of these two three-year contracts will result in contractual service expenditures of up to $1,200,000 and will be funded 100% from the West Contra Costa Healthcare District community benefit revenues.
BACKGROUND:
The PLAYS initiative is a partnership between Contra Costa County (County), West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD), West Contra Costa Public Education Fund (EdFund), and West Contra Costa County Children and Youth Sports Programs (Youth Sports). PLAY’s goal is to increase usage of WCCUSD sports facilities by non-profit local youth sports groups through a funding investment towards the cost of using WCCUSD indoor and outdoor sports facilities. This program will cover the full cost of: (1) WCCUSD custodian fees associated with the use of WCCUSD sports facilities by Youth Sports, and (2) a Community Coordinator position through the EdFund to administer the PLAYS program and increase usage of WCCUSD facilities by Youth Sports. This program will significantly reduce the rental costs (by approximately 75%) for Youth Sports and make it possible for more West County youth to engage in healthy sports activities.
This program was developed by Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia in partnership with local youth sports leaders and organizations, and the WCCUSD.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the availability and cost of using indoor and outdoor fields and facilities owned by WCCUSD. This has resulted in underutilization of WCCUSD sports facilities, overcrowding at local parks, and created barriers to entry for youth sports groups.
Green spaces, such as neighborhood public-school fields and facilities create connection to nature and promote mental, physical and social development benefits among children and youth. Unfortunately, neighborhoods with a large proportion of low-income or racial/ethnic minority residents typically experience limited access to quality parks and green space, as well as limited physical activities within these spaces. Research shows that the benefits associated with providing children and youth accessible greenspace has a direct correlation to positive health outcomes. In West Contra Costa County, the rates for obesity among 5th, 7th and 9th grade students is disproportionately higher compared to Contra Costa County overall. These disparities have only grown since the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need to ensure that benefits of parks and green space are accessible to and enjoyed. The goal of this program is to reduce this disparity and improve health outcomes for West County students.
Under these contracts, WCCUSD and the EdFund will implement the PLAYS Program which will increase the usage of indoor and outdoor sports facilities and increase healthy sports opportunities for children and youth in West County; prioritize access and decrease rental costs for non-profit organizations servicing local youth sports and improve the field and facility rental process through March 31, 2027.
A recent Contra Costa Health Services needs assessment identified “Youth Health and Well Being” as one of two top health care needs in West County for use of this Healthcare District revenue.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this contract is not approved, WCCUSD will not be able to participate in the PLAYS Program leaving West County children and youth at disproportionately negative physical, mental health and social outcomes compared to the rest of the County.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This program supports the following Board of Supervisors’ community outcomes: “Children Ready for Succeeding in School” and “Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families”. Expected program outcomes include an increase in the number of healthy children within the WCCUSD.