To: Board of Supervisors
From: Esa Ehmen-Krause, County Probation Officer
Report Title: Mentoring Program for AB 109 Mothers with Men & Women of Purpose
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Probation Officer, or designee, to execute a contract with Men and Women of Purpose, in an amount not to exceed $416,000 to provide mentorship services to mothers who are in-custody for the period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% Local Innovation Fund. The department will submit a FY25-26 budget amendment for use of fund balance.
BACKGROUND:
Men and Women of Purpose (MWP) is a long-standing reentry service provider in Contra Costa County. The Parental Services Navigation pilot program addresses the critical needs of in-custody mothers by providing support in navigating Children and Family Services (CFS), the court system, and the child reunification process.
Women who are in-custody may have experienced disproportionately high rates of trauma, including childhood abuse, intimate partner violence, and behavioral health challenges. This program applies gender-responsive, evidence-based practices to strengthen parent-child connections through services such as visit coaching, video visitation, transportation assistance, free phone calls, family mediation, and child welfare system navigation. Services begin in custody and continue through the reentry period to ensure continuity of care.
MWP utilizes a peer mentorship model to foster trust and engagement among participants, who receive the following tailored services: intake assessments, individualized child reunification and transition plans, specialized support groups, one-on-one coaching, certified parenting classes, supervised visitation support, and case management. Through partnerships with community organizations, MWP also facilitates referrals for collateral services, including civil legal ...
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