To: Board of Supervisors
From: Esa Ehmen-Krause, County Probation Officer
Report Title: Interagency Agreement with Contra Costa County Office of Education
Recommendation: Recommendation of the County Administrator
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Probation Officer, or designee, to execute an interagency agreement with Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) in an amount not to exceed $466,788 to provide one-on-one academic support for Transition Age Youth, for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This interagency agreement will be 100% funded by State Community Corrections Performance Incentive funds (SB 678).
BACKGROUND:
The mission of the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) is to promote success in learning and life through quality leadership, programs, and services. CCCOE partners with the Contra Costa County Probation Department to provide individualized academic and employment support services to Transition-Aged Youth (TAY), ages 18 through 24, who are justice-involved or at risk of involvement in the justice system. The Probation Department and CCCOE recognize the need for intensive educational case management to help these youth successfully complete their education, pursue college and professional career paths, and overcome barriers to employment and independent living.
Transition-Aged Youth may face challenges related to education, employment, housing, health, and access to public benefits that can affect their ability to successfully transition into adulthood. Continued access to individualized case management services is intended to address these barriers, promote educational engagement, and connect youth with resources and opportunities that support long-term stability and self-sufficiency.
Under the proposed interagency agreement, CCCOE will provide 2.0 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Case Managers and a 0.40 FTE Case Manager Supervisor to administer one-on-one academic and employment support services to eligible youth attending schools or residing in Contra Costa County. Case Managers will provide services primarily in schools and at community-based locations, including libraries, employment centers, and community-based organizations throughout East, Central, and West Contra Costa County.
Services will include academic counseling, school enrollment assistance, educational advocacy, college and career planning, vocational assessments, job readiness training, and connections to workforce development programs. Case Managers will also provide reentry support, assist youth in accessing community resources, and coordinate with Deputy Probation Officers to address individual educational and employment needs.
The program provides performance-based incentives for youth who achieve verified educational and employment milestones in the form of gift cards. The allocated budget for Transition-Aged Youth in this interagency agreement is $1,200, funded by the Community Corrections Performance Incentive funds (SB 678). Target and Walmart gift cards will be available in denominations of $10, $25, $50, and $100. The exact quantity of gift cards cannot be determined in advance because issuance depends on participants’ achievement of verified milestones.
Renewal of these services is intended to improve educational attainment, expand access to post-secondary education and employment opportunities, and support successful transitions to adulthood. CCCOE will provide quarterly reports documenting the number of youth served, services provided, and educational and employment outcomes to assist the Probation Department in monitoring program effectiveness. Through these services, CCCOE Case Managers will provide a pro-social support system that enables Transition-Aged Youth to become thriving members of the community.
By helping Transition-Aged Youth achieve educational and career goals, this interagency agreement will continue supporting positive youth development, successful reentry, and long-term self-sufficiency while contributing to safer communities and a stronger local workforce.
Due to the iterative nature of the negotiations, finalizing the contract and securing the necessary internal approvals took somewhat longer than initially anticipated.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without approval of this interagency agreement, one-on-one academic and employment support services provided through CCCOE would not be available to eligible Transition-Aged Youth under this agreement, potentially disrupting educational, and employment support services throughout Contra Costa County.