Coriim'rttee Agenda Date: Movember 15,2006
Agenda ftemNo.10

bounty of Santa Clara
Social Services Agency
Department of Family and Children's Services

CSFCSSAO] 111506

Prepared by: James Anderson
CC25I Program Manager

Submitted by: Norma Doctor Sparks
Director, Department of Family
and Children's Services

DATE:

November 15, 2006

TO:

Supervisor James T. Beall, Jr., Chairperson
Supervisor Don Gage, Vice-Chairperson
Children, Seniors & Families Committee

FROM:

Will Lightbourne
Agency Director, Social Services Agency

SUBJECT: DECS Employment Unit Action Plan and CC25 Housing and Employment Status
Update

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Accept status report from the Social Services Agency on the Deopartment of Family and
Children Services Employment Unit Action Plan and the CC25 Housing and Employment
Status Update.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gacje, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh,Jlrn Beall. LizKniss
Courity' Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
1

Committee Agenda D^e:November 15,2006
Agenda Item No.10

There is no fiscal or General Fund impact associated with the action.

rN

CONTRACT HISTORY

Not applicable.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

The DFCS Employment Unit Action Plan (Referral #197)and CC25 Housing and
Employment Status Update (Referral #196) were requested by Supervisor Beall to be reported
to CSFC at the November 2006 meeting.
BACKGROUND

To further implement and support Santa Clara County's California Connected by 25 Initiative
(CC25), the Employment Services Unit(ESU)was created. One of the main goals of the unit
is to further an integrated effort to bring CC25 strategies into mainstream social work practice.
Referring youth to CC25 and ESU services will be mandatory for all social workers that have
youth emancipating out of the child welfare system.
The ESU has been in place since August 28, 2006. Staffing consists of one Employment
Program Supervisor and two Employment Counselors. The unit works directly with youth as
well as service providers, stakeholders, and community partners. There is also a close working
relationship with the county Independent Living Program (ILP) and contracted ILP providers.
Outlined in this report is an update of progress and pending actions.
1. Career Pathways

Current Cohort(Mission College): The youth have reached the mid-way point of the
semester. Those that are having difficulty or are struggling in one or more subjects are being
evaluated and supported on a one-to-one basis. Most of the struggling students have needed
tutoring or one-to-one instructional assistance and report improved skills and confidence
after receiving such attention. One student has more severe difficulty due to learning
disabilities. He has been referred to the Disabled Students Program.

Board of Supeivisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado. Pete McHugh,Jim Beall, Liz Kniss
Count/ Executive; Peter Kutras Jr.
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ComrnMtee Agenda Date: November 15,2006
Agenda Item No.10

lission College counseling staff have been meeting with students and are in the process of
developing educational plans to address the needs of students wishing to continue schooling
and/or training.

Work2Future staff have begun creating employment plans and strategies for the students who
wish to pursue employment once they have completed Career Pathways.

ESU staff have been providing on-site classroom support and coverage one day per week and
as needed by request when Work2Future staff have other commitments. ESU counselors are
also in the process of completing Transitional Independent Living Plans (TILPS) with the
youth to identify goals, strengths, and eligibility for other supportive services.
Spring 2007 Cohort(San Jose City College): Recruitment for this event is underway. A data
run was completed identifying youth that have emancipated from the system since June 2006
or have an expected emancipation date through January 2007. This group totals 111 youth that
will be newly eligible for this cohort. Youth will be called and offered/screened for Career
Pathways. At that time, youth will also be screened for other opportunities and components.
Social workers and service providers have also been calling and referring youth for the
coming cohort. There have even been some self-referrals from youth that have learned about
Career Pathways from varied sources. This list totals 10.
In order to address some of the transition issues the youth have experienced, a "progressive
orientation" will be held for the youth before they actually begin the cohort. The orientation
will be three-part:
• one session with Work2Future to complete required paperwork (mandatory for
supportive services eligibility)
• one session run by the college as an introduction to the campus, student services, and
the college's policies
• one session with DECS ESU to outline housing stipend requirements, program
expectations, and review good study habits and how to be a successful student
2. DCSS Work Experience Project

Board of Bupervisors: Dotiald F. Gage, Blanca .a.Ivarado, Pete McHugh, Jirn Beall, Liz Kniss
Count;,' Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
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CommWee Agenda Date: Nowember 15,2006
Agefida ttern No.10

Of the 11 youth who had their work hours extended until August 31, 2006, eight have had
their assignments re-extended until October 31, 2006. Of those eight, two have been further
extended for a period of time to be determined, working 20 hours per week. All continue to
receive support from ESU employment counselors and will received services when their work
ends so that they may secure employment or a training/educational program.
3. County Unclassified Program for Emancipated Eoster Youth (EEY)

The expanded Unclassified Program for Emancipated Eoster Youth(EEY)is in place and
operational. Youth can apply for the EEY program by attending a recruitment session or by
contacting an ESU counselor and making individual arrangements. Recruitment sessions for
youth began on October 19th and will continue every other Thursday evening from
5;00-8;00pm. At these sessions youth learn about the program and process as well as receive
help, guidance and support with completing the application. At the first session 13 youth were
referred, with 7 actually in attendance. Those that were not able to come have been either
rescheduled for the next group session or for a one-on-one meeting. To date, 10 youth have
submitted applications to EEY and 7 are scheduled for the next evening session. We are
pending a report-back from ESA on how many have been called for employment interviews.
An all department letter/memo is being drafted that will outline procedures for social workers
to refer youth they feel would be a good match for any of the EEY positions.
4. CC25 Training and Employment Workgroup

The CC25 Training and Employment workgroup continues to meet twice per month.
Co-chairing responsibilities have been handed off to the supervisor of the ESU. The group
meets to discuss current programs and projects and work to develop new options for former
foster youth. Currently, recruitment for the upcoming Career Pathways has been a recurring
topic as well as strategies and planning.

A new topic that will be discussed further is the development of partnerships for options in the
construction and trades fields, specifically apprenticeship programs. This is a very promising
area to explore as it fits in with the vision of providing high wage and high growth
opportunity jobs for our youth.
5. Publicity

Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jirn Beall, Liz Kniss
Counti' Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
4

Committee Agenda Date: November 15,2006
Agenda Item No.10

"he CC25 and DFCS administration has worked with the Department of Community

Relations and County Executives Office to publicize CC25. The angle was not just to
approach the mainstream English language media, but also the ethnic media. CC25 has been
publicized via print, television, and radio. On Friday October 13, 2006 media interviews were
held with members of the ethnic press representing the Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese
language media. This resulted in several published news articles as well as several radio
broadcasts.

DFCS Director Norma Doctor Sparks was interviewed for background and status of the
program; Daniel Weems, a youth in Career Pathways who is living in the SJSU dorms, was
interviewed for his perspective as a participant.
KPIX Channel 5 Eyewitness News and Univision Channel 14 interviewed ESU Supervisor
Liza Giron-Espinoza for broadcast on their evening news programs. On October 23, 2006
Liza appeared on the KNTV Bay Area Today Morning Show with Daniel for a live interview
about CC25 and Career Pathways.
"^here are several more interviews, media events and requests pending with the San Jose
Mercury News, Channel 7, Radio KLOK,KZSE La Caliente, and several Asian language
stations.

To publicize within the agency and department, the ESU supervisor has gone to or will be
going to the mandatory all staff trainings to discuss CC25 and the ESU. DECS managers and
supervisors have received the information, and line staff is scheduled for the coming weeks.
An internet webpage is also maintained by the unit and all relevant documents, flyers, and
activity calendars are posted so that they many be readily available to staff.
6. Einancial Literacy Collaboration — ID As

Because the ESU is in contact with the youth who are employed, or seeking employment, it is
a natural fir for there to be collaboration with the Einancial Literacy Workgroup, specifically
in the area of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). IDAs are the matched savings
accounts that youth will have the opportunity to open. ESU will provide the case management
for the youth who have IDAs. The case management piece will be developed once a
monitoring provider is contracted and the services provided are made clear. ESU will then

Board of Supervisors: Doriald F. Gage, Blanca .^Ivarado, Pete McHugh, Jirn Beall, Liz Kniss
County Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
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Committee Agenda Date: Nowmber 15,2006
Agenda Item No.10

base their case management on what is missing from the contractor's monitor
Housing Activities

In addition to employment activities, a major component of CC25 is the development of
affordable housing options that help a young adult increase self sufficient by supporting
employment, educational, and other developmental growth needs. The Social Services
Agency has made progress in implementing options and developing important partnerships for
the development of transitional and permanent housing for emancipating youth.
Since February DFCS has convened a "Continuum of Care Housing Workgroup" where
participating representatives from the community,foster families, group homes, county
departments, DFCS staff, and youth have discussed housing needs facing emancipating youth
as well as some promising solutions to the need. The Workgroup has met twice a month, and
for the last 3 months, one of the monthly meetings has been devoted to the development of the
"host family" model, where a young adult has the option of living in a supportive family
setting. The Workgroup is in the process of drafting a program outline for the model to be
used for implementation early next year.
Another aspect of the Housing Workgroup has been to advise the Agency on the
implementation of the County’s Transitional Housing Placement Plus plan (THP-Plus), which
provides 24 months of transitional housing to emancipated youth from the ages of 18 to 24.
The Workgroup was key in developing the County's plan to the State in April and received
official acceptance of it in June. Even though the State budget approved 100% State funding
for the THP-Plus Program, the allocation was inadequate to fully fund counties starting
THP-Plus programs. The five counties are currently operating a Transitional Housing
Placement Plus Program received the bulk of the funding and approximately $312,396 will be
distributed on a "first come, first served" basis to all counties with an approved THP-Plus
plan until the funds are exhausted.
The Workgroup has worked with the Agency on addressing the THP-Plus funding issue by
developing a plan to implement the program this year in order to draw on current available
funds in addition to establishing a baseline for future years' allocations. Workgroup
participants from Unity Care, EHC Lifebuilders, and Bill Wilson Center have been involved
in the Workgroup discussions with DECS to strategically utilize existing housing stock and
service capacity to draw on State funding. It is initially planned that up to 30 units of

Board of Bupervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jirn Beall, LizKniss
County Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
6

Commrttee Agenda Date: November 15,2006
Agenda ?tern No.10

ransitional housing may be implemented before the end of the fiscal year.

In June, the County Board of Supervisors allocated $318,821 for the intended purpose of
creating a first, last, and security deposit program for emancipating youth. In the last
Emancipating Youth Initiatives update to CSFC, the Committee supported the Agency's
request for greater flexibility in the use of these funds to directly assist emancipating youth
with some housing needs. This funding has been used to support the 19 youth currently in the
Carreer Pathways program, providing a subsidy to 10 of the youth living in shared housing
settings, and 9 at the San Jose State University dorms. A second cohort of Career Pathways
participants will also have the option of accessing the housing fund in late January when the
group begins. This fund is also anticipated to be drawn as a source of bridge funding in
implementing the THP-Plus program.
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION

Negative action would result in the Children, Seniors, and Families Committee not accepting
this report.
)TEPS FOEEOWTNG APPROVAL

The Clerk of the Board shall follow the usual procedures for a report of this type.
ATTACHMENTS

Board of yupervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jirn Beall, Liz Kniss
County' Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
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