Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director or the Assistant Director of the Department of Social Services to execute standard funding agreements and amendments for continued funding from state agencies for designated programs on behalf of the County for the period of January 1, 2022 through September 30, 2024; and
b. Approve and authorize the Military and Veterans Affairs Officer to execute standard funding agreements and amendments for continued funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs on behalf of the County for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director or the Assistant Director of the Department of Social Services to execute standard funding agreements and amendments for continued funding from state agencies for designated programs on behalf of the County for the period of January 1, 2022 through September 30, 2024; and
b. Approve and authorize the Military and Veterans Affairs Officer to execute standard funding agreements and amendments for continued funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs on behalf of the County for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Department of Social Services has several programs supported with federal and state funds on a continuing basis that require separate state agreements for various funding cycles. In preparing the FY 2022-23 Requested Budget, the Department has compiled a list (Attachment A) of federal and state programs currently receiving funds. These programs expect continued funding through FY 2022-23 and Calendar Year (CY) 2023. One of the programs, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, will be funded through March 31, 2024. The state agencies administering these funds may require an application, and all require a signed agreement to be returned within 30 days of receipt of the standard state agreement.
There are various agreements from the California Department of Aging that fund non-profit agencies providing senior support services such as: Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy; Ombudsman services; family caregiver support; home-delivered and congregate meals; nutrition education; transportation; legal assistance; information, referral and assistance; health promotion; and outreach within Monterey County. The Department recommends approval of the following agreements:
a) The Title III/VII agreement funded under the Older Americans Act and the Older Californians Act for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 estimated at $2,585,105;
b) The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) agreement that provides education and information on health insurance for seniors for the period of July 1, 2021 through March 31, 2024 estimated at $884,991;
c) The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) provides enhanced outreach and enrollment assistance to eligible Medicare beneficiaries regarding Medicare benefits for the period of September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023 estimated at $38,824;
d) The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) agreement that provides a central agency to help older adults and persons with disabilities navigate between different types of service providers to meet their multiple needs for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 estimated at $287,712;
e) The Falls Prevention Program agreement that works to reduce the number of debilitating falls suffered by older adults and persons with disabilities for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 estimated at $209,590;
f) The CalFresh Program provides outreach and application assistance for older adults for the period October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023 estimated at $42,488;
g) The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides funding for COVID-19 response activities specific to Title lll and Title Vll programs for the period of July 1, 2022 through September 30, 2024 . The funding amount is estimated at $3,789,565; and
h) The Home and Community Based Senior Nutrition Infrastructure Grant Program, to fund infrastructure improvements for senior nutrition programs under the Mello-Grandlund Older Californians Act. The term has not yet been established. The funding amount is estimated to be $727,648.
The California Department of Community Services and Development contracts with the Community Action Partnership as a pass-through agency for these federal funds. This agreement provides funding to our community non-profit programs for services to low-income individuals and families to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities and empower families to achieve greater self-sufficiency. The agreement for the term January 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023 is for a total of $514,145 and the agreement for the term January 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024 is estimated at $514,145. There is a discretionary funding agreement in the amount of $28,250 for the term June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023.
The California Department of Veterans Affairs contracts with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to distribute Proposition 63 funds for the provision of mental health outreach services to veterans. The funding for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024 is estimated at $130,000.
Approval of the recommended actions allows the Director or the Assistant Director of Social Services and the Military and Veterans Affairs Officer respectively, to apply for, execute applications and execute agreements for renewed funding for designated programs within the State required turnaround of 30 days. These are standardized State agreements for grants awarded under essentially identical terms as prior years. This process reduces the number of annual Board reports and allows for timely submission of applications and State agreements.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel will continue to approve each standard agreement as to form before the Department signs and returns the agreement to the State agency.
FINANCING:
Appropriations and estimated revenues related to Attachment A are included in the FY 2020-21 budget and the FY 2022-23 Recommended Budget and will be incorporated into the future FY 2023-24 Requested Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This action correlates to the Administration and Health & Human Services Strategic Initiatives adopted by the Board of Supervisors by allowing the Department to continue to receive State and federal funding to provide programs and services to the residents of the County and ensure compliance with State submission timelines.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
___ Economic Development
_X_Administration
_X_Health & Human Services
___ Infrastructure
___ Public Safety
Prepared by: Becky Cromer, Finance Manager lll, x4044
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director, x4430
Attachments: Attachment A