CONTRA COSTA COUNTY - File #: 26-3300

• File #: 26-3300
• Version: 1
• Type: Discussion Item
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 7/29/2026
• In control: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
• On agenda: 8/11/2026
• Title: RECEIVE East Bay Community Foundation’s final report that outlines key insights, reported outcomes, and lessons learned from the inaugural African American Support Services pilot program, a precursor of the Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network. (Kendra Carr and Peter Kim, Co-Directors of Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice)

To:                                          Board of Supervisors

From:                                          Kendra Carr & Peter Kim, Co-Directors Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice

Report Title:                     Final report from East Bay Community Foundation on African American Support Services pilot program

☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☒ Recommendation of Board Committee

RECOMMENDATIONS:

RECEIVE East Bay Community Foundation’s final report that outlines key insights, reported outcomes, and lessons learned from the inaugural African American Support Services pilot program, a precursor of the Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Informational report. No fiscal impact.

Of the $1,000,000 (Measure X Funds) allocated to this one-year, one-time pilot program, $880,000 was used for 14 project grants to provide support services, and $120,000 for a contract with East Bay Community Foundation to serve as the grants administrator on behalf of Contra Costa County. All projects have been completed, and all funds have been fully expended as proposed. Of the total $9,080,000 in Measure X allocations made to support African American Holistic Wellness, $7,900,000 remain.

BACKGROUND:

On December 12, 2023, the Board of Supervisors directed that a one-time allocation of $1,000,000 of Measure X funds be allocated for the purpose of supporting the “African American Holistic Wellness Resource Hub and existing services” in Contra Costa County. This funding would help inform the possibilities for the services and resources to be housed within the Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network, previously referred to as the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub.

The Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ) recommended that a local community foundation with extensive experience supporting Black-led and Black-serving organizations serve as a contracted agency tasked with overseeing and carrying out grants management and administrative duties, including grants monitoring, invoicing and fund distribution, convene provider cohort convenings, provide technical assistance, and assess outcomes and impact.

On September 11, 2024, ORESJ released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit the partnership of a community foundation to administer the procurement, management, and monitoring of $1,000,000 in FY 23-24 Measure X funds to augment and increase African-American holistic wellness and support services in Contra Costa County. The RFQ closed on October 4, 2024; five applications were submitted. A five-member review committee reviewed all applications and recommended East Bay Community Foundation as the most qualified applicant. The anticipated cost of these services was $120,000 of the total $1,000,000 allocation, leaving $880,000 available to allocate towards grants to service providers. On October 21, 2024, the Equity Committee received the recommendation and forwarded it to the Board of Supervisors for their review and approval.

On September 26, 2024, ORESJ released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit to select applications from qualified community-based service organizations to augment and expand existing services and programs that increase holistic wellness in African American communities experiencing high rates of disparities in health and wellness outcomes in Contra Costa County. The RFP closed on October 31, 2024; 53 applications were submitted. The number of applicants per priority funding category is as follows:

•                     Behavioral Health - 9

•                     Food and/or Housing Insecurity - 8

•                     Maternal and Infant Health - 5

•                     Youth Development - 23

•                     Community Healing - 8

ORESJ facilitated a participatory review process and recommendation process that involved 20 participatory review panel members across seven review panels (one for each service category except Youth Development which required three panels due to the high volume of proposals). All reviewers were Black community members who live and/or work throughout Contra Costa County and possess subject-matter expertise and both professional and personal experience as educators, social service providers, mental health practitioners, maternal/infant health practitioners, violence prevention specialists, administrators, trainers, and consultants. Six (6) were County staff, six (6) work for local school districts, three (3) are formerly incarcerated, at least one (1) is formerly in foster care, and there was an even 50% split between men and women. Between November 1 - November 25, 2024, review panel members individually reviewed the proposals, deliberated collectively on their assessments of the proposals, ranked applicants, and submitted their recommendation of thirteen (13) applicants to deliver fourteen (14) projects. On December 16, 2024, the Equity Committee received the recommendation and forwarded it to Board of Supervisors for their review and approval.

On January 14, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF) as the contracted partner to administer the management and monitoring of $1,000,000 Measure X funds for service contracts to increase African-American holistic wellness. Of the $1,000,000 funds (MX) allocated, $880,000 would go towards services and programs delivered by community-based organizations, and $120,000 would go toward EBCF for their services as the contracts administrator on behalf of the County.

Also on January 14, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved that the $880,000 allocation to augment and expand existing support services be awarded to 13 community-based organizations across 14 projects. These organizations comprised the inaugural pilot cohort of African American Support Service Providers to serve as a precursor of the Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network. More information on the cohort, including a full list of awardees, award amounts, brief project descriptions, and performance is included in the table below.

Programs and Services

From March 31, 2025 to May 30, 2026, EBCF managed fourteen (14) awards across thirteen (13) non-profit community organizations providing services within the following five (5) service and program categories:

•                     maternal and infant health

•                     behavioral health

•                     food and housing

•                     youth development

•                     community healing

EBCF processed invoices from, and payments to, all fourteen service providers and performed administrative tasks necessary to manage the program, including collection of service delivery updates and performance data. EBCF also planned and led program activities, including grantee convenings, training workshops, and one-on-one TA sessions, among service provider organizations to nurture a culture of learning, collaboration, and coordinated service delivery throughout the one-year contract period.

On June 15, 2026, Equity Committee received the final report from EBCF that provides an end-of-the-year summary of the services delivered during the one-year pilot program. Equity Committee recommended that the report and presentation are referred to the Board of Supervisors.

Below is a summary overview of each of the fourteen (14) projects, the funds awarded and spent, and brief description of performance and goals met.

Priority Service Category	Awardee	Award	Cities Served	Project Description
Maternal/Infant Health	Breast Friends Lactation and Support Services	$100,000 (fully expended)	Richmond, Pittsburg, Concord	This project will bridge the gap in lactation care for African American pregnant and breastfeeding moms and families, prioritizing breastfeeding education, offering peer support, and addressing health disparities that most impact African American families.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Delivered classes, trainings, support groups, home visits, and peer support to 423 Black participants (100% of total) across Richmond, Pittsburg, and Concord.   Reported Outcomes: Increased breastfeeding success among Black families; Improved access to lactation and perinatal services; Reduced social isolation; Empowerment and advocacy skills for participants and providers.
	Black Girls Mental Health Collective Foundation	$76,000 (fully expended)	Richmond, San Pablo, Pittsburg, Antioch, Bay Point	A culturally responsive, trauma-informed program providing perinatal mental health support, maternal health provider training, and community engagement for African American mothers in Contra Costa County to improve mental wellness and reduce health disparities.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Reached 1,675 Black participants (100% of total) through therapy sessions, the Bringing Baby Home program, Village Vibes family events, a Back-to-School wellness event, a Black Breastfeeding Week virtual event, and the Black Maternal Mental Health Summit.   Reported Outcomes: Improved wellbeing across therapy, support groups, and community events Improved access to services Increased confidence in leadership.
Behavioral Health	Healing Spot Counseling Center Inc.	$76,000 (fully expended)	Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Pittsburg, Bay Point	Provides culturally responsive mental health services for African American residents who face barriers accessing community support services. The comprehensive approach includes crisis stabilization, individual counseling, and group therapy, delivered by licensed clinicians of color who understand community trauma and needs.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Served 3,900 total participants, and 1,596 Black participants through therapy sessions and community outreach events across Richmond, Antioch, Pittsburg, Bay Point, and Concord.   Reported Outcomes: Reduced social isolation Increased access to wellness supports; Mental health improvement; Increased access to crisis resources for residents with no prior alternatives to 911.
	Equity for Black Women and Girls	$50,000 (fully expended)	Richmond, San Pablo, Hercules, Pittsburg, Antioch, Bay Point	Sister Circles create safe spaces for Black women and girls to connect, share their experiences, and network. Circles are intensive, trauma-informed, healing-centered sessions that address critical issues such as domestic violence and mental wellness, while fostering support, growth and community. These circles empower participants to heal and face challenges with resilience.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Served 79 Black participants (100% of total) across Sister Circles, a training graduation, and peer gatherings in Richmond and surrounding communities.   Reported Outcomes: Improved wellbeing; Reduced social isolation.
	NAMI Contra Costa	$50,000 (fully expended)	Antioch	The I'm a Winner! Program is designed to improve outcomes for African American youth, utilizing a holistic, faith-based, affirmative strategy. Through partnerships with schools and faith centers to address disparities and eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline, the program acknowledges the harm experienced by students and their families and offers empowering tools in a safe environment.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Served 206 total participants, and 189 Black participants (92% of total) across suicide prevention programming, mental health education, and community events.   Reported Outcomes: Reduced depression and social isolation; Increased knowledge on mental health diagnoses; Increased awareness of the traumas experienced by African Americans in Antioch and across the Contra Costa County.
Food/Housing Insecurity	Grace Arms of Antioch	$76,000 (fully expended)	Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg, Concord	Grace Closet, Pantry and Grace House provides essential services to individuals and families facing financial challenges, homelessness or food insecurity. These programs offer free food, clothing, and a supportive environment for those who are unemployed, underemployed or reliant on government assistance. Grace Closet serves the community bi-weekly, ensuring individuals not only receive basic necessities but also experience dignity and encouragement in difficult times.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Served 2,420 total participants, and 1,683 Black participants (70% of total), through their resource center and food and clothing pantry.   Reported Outcomes: Increased access to food and clothing; Reduced food insecurity; Increased access to housing stability support; Estimated $75+ per month in household food savings per family served.
	Genesis Church	$50,000 (fully expended)	Antioch	Genesis Grocery Share Program/Elevate provides fresh produce and groceries the under-resourced residents of Antioch. Groceries are distributed on site every Saturday and are delivered to the elderly on Fridays.   Project Activities/Deliverables: Operated 58 weekly grocery distributions reaching over 8,000 Black participants in Antioch - one of the county's highest-need areas - where residents in the city’s 94509 zip code have access to only 30% of the fresh food available in other parts of the county. Provided economic empowerment workshops and education sessions on how to secure employment and housing.  Reported Outcomes: Reduced food insecurity; Increased housing stability through financial literacy programming; 80% economic empowerment workshop completion rate; 70% of participants applied principles toward new employment or housing
	The Black Neighborhood	$50,000 (fully expended)	Richmond, San Pablo	The Black Neighborhood's Holistic Wellness and Food Security Initiative provides food distribution, trauma-informed healing workshops, and a community conference aimed at enhancing wellness, security, and recovery within African American communities, particularly those impacted by systemic violence and food insecurity in both East and West Contra Costa County.  Project Activities/Deliverables:  Served 1,152 total participants, and 785 Black participants (68% of total), through food distributions across Antioch and Richmond.   Reported Outcomes: Increased access to healthy food; Reduced food insecurity; Strengthened community connection; Expanded ability and capacity to celebrate the holidays.
Community Healing	Healthy Hearts	$76,000 (fully expended)	Pittsburg	The Healthy Hearts Community Healing and Resilience project will provide support for community healing from police trauma and poverty within Pittsburg’s El Pueblo housing development community, a historically Black underserved community.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Served 2,285 total participants, and 426 Black participants (19% of total) through healing circles, urban farm training, community engagement training, and food distribution programs across the network's priority communities. Provided 3,900 hours of farm training to 8 black residents in the community. Distributed 7,707 pounds of produce to 2,265 families of which 410 were black families. Held 40 healing circles on the farm with 12 participants  Reported Outcomes:  Increased access to healthy, locally grown produce and food for high-need community members; Provided opportunities for economic development/economic upward mobility through workforce training in farming and agricultural jobs; Increased wellness and healing from traumas caused by over policing and systemic racism through facilitated healing circles; Increased leadership and capacity of local residents through community engagement and advocacy opportunities.
	Centered Care Wellness	$50,000 (fully expended)	Antioch	In partnership with Rivertown Veterans, Centered Care Wellness provides community-based outreach, patient navigation, and direct support to underserved Black residents and veterans through chronic care management, accessible, personalized telehealth services to manage chronic health conditions and improve overall well-being, and support for immediate needs such as medical equipment, food and housing insecurity, and employment referrals.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Served 342 total households, and 252 Black households (74% of total). Total served includes: 97 households with elderly members, 96 with disabled members, 63 with veterans; 174 individuals served through culturally responsive, community-based outreach and support; 300+ food bags distributed to individuals/families; 26 individuals enrolled in telehealth services and supported by patient navigation, connecting to critical services, care pathways education, and provision of essential medical equipment (i.e. hospital beds, walkers, incontinence supplies, etc.).  Reported Outcomes: Increased access to healthcare access and essential support (food, medical supplies, housing navigation); Improved ability to understand and navigate complex healthcare systems, increasing likelihood of continued care engagement; Increased awareness of available resources; Reduced isolation and fragmentation in service access.
	Miles Hall Foundation	$50,000 (fully expended)	Countywide	Miles of Connections, Healing and Belonging Community Outreach Services is a community-building initiative to engage Black residents across Contra Costa County. Leveraging their trusted relationships, the Miles Hall Foundation will foster participation, belonging and healing by promoting all of the African American Wellness Hub's critical services and ensuring the community knows how to access and benefit from them.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Served as the grantee cohort network's communications backbone, building the digital infrastructure that connected community members to resources and made the network's work visible across the county. Created a virtual landing page for the grantee network to increase online presence. Supported grantees with crafting service profiles geared for communications and community outreach and engagement.  Reported Outcomes: A network landing page as the primary web presence for the cohort with 4,700+ unique website visitors, 2,500+ newsletter subscribers reached across two sends, and 28% click-through rate; 12 in-depth cohort profiles created and published online; 4 social media posts about the cohort and cohort members; 14 direct email sends to cohort members; 6 partner meetings facilitated; 4 Board of Supervisors meeting participations; 100 African American youth reached at TMHF Youth Summit through partnership with 1 Hundred Year Enterprise.
Youth Development	1 Hundred Years Project	$76,000 (fully expended)	Richmond, Antioch, Martinez,  Bay Point	1 Hundred Years Enterprise is a credible messenger-led program to support positive youth development among justice-involved African American youth in Contra Costa County. Mentors with lived experience will provide intensive support for 28 youth and their families.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Served 271 total participants, and 142 Black participants (52% of total), across juvenile hall units in Martinez, community mentorship in Richmond, Bay Point, Pittsburg, and Antioch, and school-based programming at Sylvester Greenwood Academy in Richmond.   Reported Outcomes: Increased recognition of criminal behavior as an addictive cycle; Reduced recidivism; Increased personal goal attainment in education, employment, and behavioral health; Improved probation compliance; Improved attitudes toward peers; Increased identification of positive role models; Learned skills in conflict resolution without escalation; Behavioral incident reduction.
	Genesis Church	$50,000 (fully expended)	Antioch	Peer to Peer Youth Trauma Healing Groups addresses complex trauma inflicted upon African American youth in small healing groups. These facilitated groups provide a safe space of transparency without judgement.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Served 265 Black participants (100% of total) across 7 youth trauma healing group cycles in Antioch.   Reported Outcomes: Significant reduction in behavioral issues at school and at home; Increased student confidence and self-efficacy; Strong program engagement as evidenced by students recommending groups to their peers and expressing interest in furthering their education.
	Improve Your Tomorrow	$50,000 (fully expended)	Brentwood, Pittsburg	Pathways to Success at Liberty and Black Diamond High Schools will deliver culturally responsive mentorship and social emotional learning to empower young Black men. This program fuses academic support, emotional wellness resources, and career guidance to address systemic challenges and build pathways to educational and personal success.  Project Activities/Deliverables: Served 477 total participants, and 225 Black participants (47% of total), through mentorship sessions, study halls, and parent engagement sessions.  Reported Outcomes: 87% of students responded favorably to sense of belonging survey items (515 out of 590); Increased family engagement

In total, 21,495 individuals residing in eight (8) cities in Contra Costa County received supportive services across the fourteen (14) funded programs. Of the total number of participants, 15,740 (73%) were Black/African American, reaching the targeted communities. Service providers self-reported an average score of 4.3 out of 5 as their success rating.

Next Steps

As this initial pilot program has ended, and all contracts with the service providers and East Bay Community Foundation completed, next steps in this broader initiative to establish the Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network is to secure a lead organization to oversee the administration and coordination of the countywide network, and to also select the next cohort of core service providers.

On April 23, 2024, the Board of Supervisors allocated an additional $7.5 million (one-time, Measure X funds) toward the actual establishment and operation of the Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network and implementation of services and activities. On June 10, 2025, the Board approved an additional $400,000 (one-time, Measure X funds) to expand targeted outreach and supportive services for Black/African American males and directed these funds to be added to the previously allocated $7.5 million, for a total of $7.9 million, and included in the approved Implementation Plan for the Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network.

On June 22, 2026, ORESJ released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) #0038 for a Lead Entity for the Coordination and Development of the Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network and submissions were due August 6, 2026. The review process is underway. As indicated in the Implementation Plan approved by the Board of Supervisors, up to $2.15M over three years may be made available for the Lead Entity.

On July 23, 2026, ORESJ released a companion Request for Proposals (RFP) #255 for Service Providers for the Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network (FGCWN) with submissions due September 4, 2026. As included in the approved Implementation Plan, up to $3.75M over three years may be made available for Service Providers.

Finally, the approved Implementation Plan allocated the remaining $2 million be held in reserve and allocated for the purpose of securing a physical site in East County to serve as the anchor facility for the Lead Entity to base its operations. The ORESJ recommendation was to consider a County-owned facility in on Cavallo Road in Antioch. The facility is currently occupied by Employment and Human Services Department and is projected to be available in 2028-2029 after the completion of the new East County Service Center, which is currently being constructed in Brentwood.

ORESJ submitted a 2026-2027 Capital Projects request to conduct an assessment and feasibility report on the projected renovation design, construction, and permit costs necessary to convert the Antioch site into a community wellness and resource hub for the FGCWN. The capital projects request is anticipated to cost up to $150,000 for the feasibility study, which will be drawn from the $2 million held in reserve for a physical site for the FGCWN. Once the report is complete, ORESJ will present it to the Equity Committee and the Board of Supervisors to receive direction on whether to pursue the County-owned Antioch facility as the physical site.

Conclusion

As part of this item, EBCF will present an overview of program highlights, performance outcomes, and lessons learned taken from their final report on the past year’s African American support services pilot program.

In addition to the final report, as an optional supplementary resource, EBCF created an online “microsite” meant to provide an interactive, multi-media digital experience that is more easily accessible and engaging for community members, County officials, and stakeholders interested in learning more: <https://www.gloverwellnessnetwork.com>.

EBCF and Mancala Collective have produced a brief video that features highlights on the service provider cohort: <https://www.gloverwellnessnetwork.com/aahwsvideo>

Also available on the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ) county webpage are short profile videos featuring ten (10) of the thirteen (13) awardees: <https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/10489/Federal-D-Glover-Community-Wellness-Netw>.

Attached to this staff report is the EBCF final report, a summary overview of the fourteen (14) projects awarded, and the slide deck from today’s presentation.

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CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

N/A. This is an informational report.