To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: #40-582-0 Adult Protective Services Gift Cards for Client Meals and Transportation
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to purchase on behalf of the Employment and Human Services Director, physical gift cards in an amount not to exceed $25,000 for client meals and transportation from Blackhawk Network.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% State funds, all of which is budgeted for FY 25/26.
BACKGROUND:
The Employment and Human Services Department division of Adult Protective Services (APS) Social Workers serve elder and dependent adults who are at risk of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Many of these individuals experience financial hardships, lack of safe and reliable transportation, and struggle to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and basic household items. This creates barriers to meeting critical needs such as medical appointments, legal obligations, access to benefits, food resources, or relocation to safer environments. Gas gift cards can assist elders who are still able to drive but might be living on a fixed income. Additionally, providing gift cards to grocery and general stores such as Target, Walmart and Amazon allows APS to offer immediate assistance to clients facing urgent situations when conducting home visits.
Funding for this project comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) pre-approved Contra Costa County’s use of ARPA funds for this purpose. Gift cards will include transportation costs totaling $1,000, to provide Adult Protective Services Social Workers with the ability to provide gas gift cards to elder and dependent adults and $24,000 in gift cards to provide Adult Protective Services Social Workers with the ability to provide groceries and/or basic need items for Adult Protective Services clients.
The gift cards will include the following: 20 Chevron gift cards each with a value of $25, totaling $500; 20 Shell gift cards each with a value of $25, totaling $500; 120 Target gift cards each with a $50 value, totaling $6,000; 180 Walmart gift cards, each with a $50 value, totaling $9,000; and 180 Amazon gift cards, each with a $50 value, totaling $9,000.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Should the proposed action not be approved by the Board of Supervisors, APS clients may face significant challenges in attending essential appointments, obtaining critical services, or relocating to safer environments. The lack of reliable transportation could contribute to increased risk of harm, delayed interventions, and unmet basic needs, ultimately compromising clients' health, safety, and well-being. Furthermore, the inability to meet urgent basic needs could result in the decline of clients’ physical and mental well-being and potentially escalate protective service interventions.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This purchase order supports the following community outcomes established in the Children’s Report Card: (4) “Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing.”