To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Humanity Way Inc. Amendment
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with Humanity Way Inc., effective February 1, 2026, to increase the payment limit by $165,000 for a new payment limit not to exceed $1,309,505 for Subsidized Temporary Experience with Pay for the Under-Employed Program, with no change to the term July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
54% Federal, 29% State, 17% County General Fund; (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Single Allocation), all of which is budgeted in FY 2025-26.
BACKGROUND:
On June 10, 2025, the Board approved item C.57, authorizing execution of a contract with Humanity Way Inc. for a term of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. This action seeks to increase the payment limit by $165,000 to a new payment limit of $1,309,505 for a term of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, to provide extended Subsidized Temporary Experience with Pay for the Under-Employed Program (STEP-UP) work experience services for up to 180 days.
The objective of the program, known as STEP-UP, is to provide entry-level work experience to designated CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work (WTW) participants who are not meeting their WTW participation requirements by immediately placing them into short-term worksite assignments up to 180 days. The goal of STEP-UP, when coupled with other necessary WTW activities and services, is to immediately engage participants by providing exposure to work and basic job skills and ultimately leading to a participant’s successful, long-term permanent job placement.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
County will not be able to provide additional work experience services supported by the federally mandated STEP-UP Program of CalWORKs, thereby adversely impacting EHSD’s ability to provide an effective Welfare-to-Work activity that meets federal work participation program requirements.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The services in this Contract amendment support three (3) of the five (5) Contra Costa County community outcomes of the Children’s Report Card: (3) "Families that are Economically Self-Sufficient”; (4) "Families that are Safe, Stabel and Nurturing"; and (5) "Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families" by providing training and employment opportunities.