To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Proclaim May 2024 as Community Action Month
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a resolution declaring May 2024 as Community Action Month.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be no fiscal impact for this action.
BACKGROUND:
Community Action agencies were created when the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 was signed into law and have a 60-year history of promoting self-sufficiency for those with limited income. Community Action agencies and Economic Opportunity Councils across the country celebrate National Community Action Month every year in May. The Community Action Network was established to help American families and communities overcome obstacles to poverty.
For Contra Costa County, the Employment and Human Services Department’s Community Services Bureau is the Community Action Agency. The Economic Opportunity Council serves as the advisory body to the Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department, Community Services Bureau and the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
None.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT
This resolution supports all five of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes of the Children’s Report Card: (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.”
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
body
IN THE MATTER OF proclaiming May 2024 as Community Action Month in Contra Costa County
WHEREAS, Community Action has made essential contributions across our nation for 60 years, inspiring a spirit of hope, creating opportunities for millions of people to be a part of the American Dream, and improving communities; and
WHEREAS, Community Action is celebrating 60 years of innovation, impact, and providing proven results for Americans; and
WHEREAS, Community Action builds and promotes economic stability as an essential aspect of enabling and enhancing stronger communities and stable homes; and
WHEREAS, in 2023 Contra Costa County’s Community Action Program, through its thirteen nonprofit partners, served 13,918 individuals with vital services in the priority areas of housing, job training, mental health services, and food security; and
WHEREAS, in Contra Costa County during 2023, through Community Action, 1,514 individuals received training that led to a vocation; 84 increased their employment-related benefits such as sick leave, insurance, and retirement; 122 unemployed adults obtained jobs paying up to living wage; and 120 unemployed adults obtained jobs paying a living wage or higher; and
WHEREAS, Community Action in Contra Costa County delivers innovative services and supports that create greater opportunities for families and children to succeed, and in 2023 served 3,333 children ages 0 to 17 and their families by providing child care, shelter, family support, nutrition, job training and mental health services; and
WHEREAS, Community Action in Contra Costa County promotes community-wide solutions to challenges throughout our cities, suburbs, and rural areas and, in 2023, logged 522 hours on capacity-building activities via participation in twelve community coalitions; and
WHEREAS, Community Action values community participation and involvement ensuring that all sectors of the community have a voice and opportunity to be heard; and in Contra Costa County seven public hearings were held reaching 291 community members who shared about their experiences and needs as low-income individuals and families. In addition, the Economic Opportunity Council (EOC), the tripartite board overseeing Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), comprises fifteen Board-appointed members, with five each from public, private/nonprofit, and low-income sectors.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors hereby recognizes May 2024 as National Community Action Month in Contra Costa County.