EQUITY COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: July 15, 2024
Subject: African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub Feasibility Study Steering Committee Updates
Submitted For: Equity Committee
Department: Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice
Referral No:
Referral Name: African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub Feasibility Study Steering Committee Updates
Presenter: Kendra Carr
Contact: Kendra Carr, kendra.carr@oresj.cccounty.us <mailto:kendra.carr@oresj.cccounty.us>
Referral History:
At the October 17, 2023 Board of Supervisors meeting, 13 Steering Committee members were appointed to support the development and implementation of the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub Feasibility Study. At the November 13, 2023 Equity Committee meeting, staff to the Committee were directed to convene the Steering Committee and prepare a draft request for qualifications (RFQ) to solicit the services of a firm/consultant to conduct a feasibility study for the creation of an African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub to present to the Board of Supervisors. The RFQ was issued and closed on March 4, 2024, with a
total contract cost of $80,000 (one-time Measure X funds allocated by the Board of Supervisors for the feasibility study). By the March 4, 2024 deadline, one response was received. In collaboration with the Steering Committee for the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub Feasibility Study, the ORESJ CoDirectors recommended a re-issue of the request as a Request for Proposals (RFP) and increase the contract cost to $180,000. The additional $100,000 would come from the FY 23-24 ORESJ budget, in one-time funds.
The Equity Committee and Board of Supervisors approved the request, and the updated RFP was issued on April 24, 2024 and closed on May 24, 2024.
By the May 24, 2024 deadline, seven proposals were received, of which six were complete. The ORESJ Co-Directors convened the proposal review committee (five members of the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub Feasibility Study Steering Committee) to review and score the complete proposals based on the rubric provided in the original, posted RFP. The Steering Committee voted 10 out of 11 to recommend Ceres Policy Research as the consultant to conduct the feasibility study. The Equity Committee accepted their recommendation at their June 24, 2024 meeting, and the Board of Supervisors provided final approval at the July 9, 2024 meeting.
Referral Update:
The Co-Directors of the ORESJ are in the process of establishing a contract with Ceres Policy Research to begin the feasibility study.
Additionally, the Steering Committee met on July 8, 2024 and began a discussion about key performance indicators related to African American wellness in the county. The Steering Committee identified specific areas they would like to see addressed by services provided in the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub. The Steering Committee generated a comprehensive list, and at their next meeting will vote to select the top ten short and long-term outcomes to be achieved as a result of the services provided through the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
RECEIVE the update and PROVIDE direction on next steps.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
N/A