To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Interim Health Services Director
Report Title: Submission of Grant Application #78-076 to State of California, California Volunteers
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Interim Health Services Director, or designee, to submit Grant Application #78-076 to the State of California, California Volunteers, to pay the County in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 to develop and design health career and health workforce programs in marginalized communities to increase youth employment and develop youth interest in careers in public service for the grant period ending December 31, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this Grant Application may result in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 from the State of California, California Volunteers. No County match required.
BACKGROUND:
The State of California, California Volunteers for #CaliforniansForAll Youth Service Corps is a Governor’s initiative administered by California Volunteers in partnership with cities across California. The purpose of this initiative is to increase youth employment, develop youth interest in and experience towards a career, and to strengthen municipal capacity to address key areas of climate, food insecurity, education, and public service. This program will bring together youth across the state to help address urgent challenges in their communities, while simultaneously learning key skills and earning money to help create career pathways. Beginning in Spring 2025, cities and counties will recruit, train, and place high need youth at positions in a new or existing youth workforce development program. Each city or county is responsible for selecting or creating these positions and recruiting, placing and managing youth. The grant funding may be spent upon contract execution in Spring 2025 through December 31, 2026.
The Health Services Department recommends the Board approve the submittal of this Grant Application. The proposal will aim to develop robust sector partnerships to design training and employment programs that strengthen career pathways by building upon the successful Workforce Health Ambassador (WHA) Program model which was successful in receiving California Volunteers funding in 2023. The WHA Program aims to provide a structured career pathway, focusing on marginalized communities within Contra Costa County. Focused on hiring underrepresented community members as Health Ambassadors, the program successfully tackles disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. This will enable WHA to understand current and upcoming workforce needs and utilize their lived experience to prepare for in-demand occupations, skills, and credentials.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Grant Application is not approved, the County will not receive funds to assist the Department’s health career and workforce development initiatives focused on increasing the representation of youth and young adults from vulnerable populations in community health-focused career pathways.