To: Board of Supervisors
From: Equity Committee
Report Title: $1M Measure X Allocation for African American Wellness Services
☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☒ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Co-Directors of the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice to release a Request for Qualifications to solicit the partnership of a community foundation to administer the procurement, management, and monitoring of $1,000,000 in Measure X funds for service contracts to increase African-American holistic wellness and support in Contra Costa County, as recommended by the Equity Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$1,000,000 of Measure X one-time funds allocated for the purpose of supporting the African American Holistic Wellness Resource Hub and existing services.
BACKGROUND:
Upon receipt of the Measure X Community Advisory Board’s prioritized funding recommendations, 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. While advocacy for funds to address the systemic harms experienced by Black communities in the county has taken place for years, the impetus of this funding allocation was the pain and trauma stemming from the text message scandal involving the Antioch and Pittsburg Police Departments. These funds are an immediate, intermediary step to what is expected to be an increased, long-term investment in Black communities’ overall well-being and holistic health. The activities supported through this funding will help inform the possibilities for what will become housed within the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub in Contra Costa County.
At the January 22, 2024 meeting, the Equity Committee directed ORESJ Co-Directors to prepare a proposal for distributing the $1 million allocation for existing services for African American wellness. The ORESJ Co-Directors presented a proposal at the February 20, 2024 and subsequent Equity Committee meetings which included partnering with a local community foundation with extensive experience supporting Black-led and Black-serving organizations to serve as a contracted agency tasked with overseeing and carrying out procurement, selection, and fund distribution responsibilities, which will include a community and resident participatory process that includes review of applications and recommendation of awardees (for Board of Supervisors approval), as well as monitoring of progress and assessing outcomes.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
No action will be taken to distribute the $1 million Measure X one-time allocation for existing services for African American wellness.