To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Community Action Plan
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign, and APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to sign and submit, to the California Department of Community Services and Development, the County’s 2026-2027 Community Action Plan to ameliorate poverty and increase self-sufficiency for impacted Contra Costa County residents.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact. The State of California will prepare and distribute a Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) contract for Conta Costa County once the State receives notice of its 2026 allocation.
BACKGROUND:
The Community Action Plan (CAP) guides the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program operated by the Community Services Bureau (CSB) of the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD). The CAP is developed based on a Community Needs Assessment (CNA) process provided by the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD). The CAP is a two-year plan that shows how agencies will deliver CSBG services to support activities that increase the capacity of low-income families and individuals to become self-sufficient.
The CNA is a process used to determine unmet needs of low-income individuals, families, and communities. The CNA informs CSBG-eligible entities how to utilize CSBG funds to meet the needs of low-income persons in their service areas in accordance with the assurances in the CSBG Act.
Public Law 105-285 (the CSBG Act) and the California Government Code require that CSD secure a CAP, including a CNA from each agency. Section 676(b)(11) of the CSBG Act directs that receipt of a CAP is a condition to receive funding. Section 12747(a) of the California Government Code requires the CAP to assess poverty-related needs, available resources, feasible goals, and strategies that yield program priorities consistent with standards of effectiveness established for the program. Although CSD may prescribe statewide priorities or strategies that shall be considered and addressed at the local level, each agency is authorized to set its own program priorities in conformance to its determination of local needs.
Approval of the CAP by the Board of Supervisors allows the document to move forward for approval by CSD. Once approved, CSD will generate a CSBG contract with the County for designated CSBG funds, which is based on the County poverty data. The CSBG contract will provide continuing funds for CSBG self-sufficiency programs and emergency services for eligible county individuals and families. Funding will be determined by the State upon its receipt of notice of the federal CSBG allocation for California in 2026.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If not approved, the County will not have the basis to receive CSBG funding in the 2026 program year.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The services provided under this contract support all five of Contra Costa County's community outcomes: (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".