To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Gift Cards and Transportation Vouchers for Adolescent Family Life Program
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to purchase, on behalf of the Health Services Director, gift cards and transportation vouchers totaling an amount not to exceed $16,600 for Adolescent Family Life Program within Public Health’s Family, Maternal, and Child Health Programs for the period from January 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This $16,600 expenditure will be funded by the California Department of Public Health. Funding received for this program includes financial supports for eligible clients that include food, transportation, and other items of care. There is no impact to the County General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Family, Maternal and Child Health Programs within the Public Health Division of Contra Costa Health Services operate evidence-based programs to provide vulnerable women and their children with education, resources, and support during pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life. Several of our programs for pregnant women, new mothers and families receive funding specifically to provide food and other emergency assistance including transportation and items to care for women and their families.
The Adolescent Family Life Program’s goal is to support expectant and parenting youth, age 21 and under, using the evidence-informed Positive Youth Development (PYD) model to increase access to needed services, increase social and emotional support, and build resiliency, empower youth to cultivate personal autonomy to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, and strengthen youth knowledge and self-efficacy for education and career attainment.
Client assistance to include the following gift cards:
• 390 Target gift cards each with a $25 value, totaling $9,750 for youth and their babies to support youth to thrive. Gift cards are not for alcohol/tobacco/firearms purchases. These items are tracked through an inventory spreadsheet, which includes card number, client receiving card, and date distributed.
• 274 Chevron gift cards each with a $25 value, totaling $6,850. Gas cards/bus vouchers/ride share/taxi vouchers to assist youth with keeping their doctors’ appointments, attend school, etc. We receive gas cards and bus vouchers through local agencies and track them in a spreadsheet by voucher type, client name, date distributed and identification number on voucher. Gas cards are not for alcohol/tobacco/firearms purchases.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the department will not be able to utilize funding specifically allocated for food and emergency assistance for clients. The inability to provide these financial supports may negatively impact the health and well-being of vulnerable adolescents and their children living in Contra Costa County.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Family, Maternal, and Child Health Programs achieve all 5 Children's Impact Statements: Children Ready for and Succeeding in School; Children and Youth are Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood; Families that are Economically Self Sufficient; Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing; and Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families.