Meeting Date: October 12, 2026
Subject: DISCUSS and VOTE on FDGCWN Executive Director Qualifications and Selection Criteria
Submitted For: Transitional Community Advisory Body
Presenter: ORESJ Staff
Contact: Jessica Travenia, jessica.travenia@oresj.cccounty.us <mailto:jessica.travenia@oresj.cccounty.us>
Information
The Federal D. Glover Community Wellness Network (FDGCWN) Implementation Plan anticipates the establishment of an Executive Director responsible for the day-to-day leadership, coordination, implementation, and development of the Network.
TCAB has an identified role in providing community-informed feedback regarding the eligibility, qualifications, and selection criteria that should guide future recruitment and selection of the FDGCWN Executive Director.
At this meeting, TCAB will review the results of the Executive Director Qualifications survey, refine areas where additional discussion is needed, and vote on a recommended set of Executive Director qualifications and selection considerations.
Referral History and Update
Throughout development of the FDGCWN Implementation Plan and subsequent TCAB discussions, community members and advisory body members have emphasized that Network leadership will require a combination of community credibility, organizational leadership, operational capacity, cross-sector partnership, accountability, and demonstrated commitment to Black/African American communities.
Following the September TCAB discussion, staff developed an Executive Director Qualifications survey using criteria drawn from the Implementation Plan, feasibility study, and previous TCAB discussions.
Five TCAB survey responses were received.
Respondents were asked to identify proposed qualifications as:
• Required: a qualification every viable candidate should demonstrate;
• Preferred: a qualification that should strengthen a candidate's application but should not automatically screen out an otherwise qualified candidate; or
• Unnecessary: a qualification that should not be used as part of Executive Director selection.
Members were also invited to describe what evidence should be used to "show, not tell" that a candidate possesses each qualification and to provide feedback regarding several broader selection considerations.
Staff consolidated the survey results into an Executive Director Qualifications Decision Sheet showing:
• the number of Required, Preferred, and Unnecessary responses for each proposed qualification;
• the overall survey direction;
• a synthesis of suggested evidence;
• items where survey responses were closely divided; and
• additional policy questions requiring TCAB consideration.
Proposed TCAB Review Process
To use meeting time efficiently, staff recommends the following process:
1. Confirm areas of strong survey agreement.
Qualifications receiving strong support for Required or Preferred status will be presented together. Members may request that any individual item be pulled for separate discussion.
2. Discuss qualifications where survey responses were divided.
TCAB will individually consider criteria where there was not a clear survey consensus.
3. Discuss cross-cutting selection considerations.
TCAB will consider questions including:
• whether identifying as Black/African American should itself be a required eligibility criterion;
• the appropriate role of Contra Costa County-specific experience;
• how lived experience should be considered alongside professional and executive credentials;
• whether a previous Executive Director title or a specific number of years of executive experience is necessary, versus demonstrated executive-level competencies; and
• what evidence should demonstrate authentic community trust and accountability.
4. Staff read-back.
Staff will record TCAB's final classifications and substantive amendments and read them back to the body before the vote.
5. Final TCAB action.
TCAB will vote on the completed qualification matrix, as amended during the meeting, as its recommendation for future FDGCWN Executive Director recruitment and selection.
The resulting recommendations will inform development of the future Executive Director recruitment and selection process in coordination with the Lead Entity and other applicable FDGCWN governance and County processes.
Recommendation(s) / Next Step(s)
Review and refine the proposed FDGCWN Executive Director qualifications and selection considerations.
Approve the Executive Director Qualifications Decision Sheet, as amended during the meeting, as TCAB's recommended framework for future Executive Director recruitment and selection.
Action Required:
Vote to approve TCAB's recommended Executive Director qualifications and selection considerations.