Title
a. Approve the extension of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I Youth subcontracts with Turning Point of Central California and Santa Cruz County Office of Education, by entering into new Standard Agreements with Turning Point of Central California in the amount of $120,609 and Santa Cruz County Office of Education in the amount of $111,331 for a total contract allocation of $231,940 for the period of October 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014; and
b. Authorize the Economic Development Department Director to execute the contracts and make minor modifications to the contracts as necessary to comply with WIA requirements.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve the extension of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I Youth subcontracts with Turning Point of Central California and Santa Cruz County Office of Education, by entering into new Standard Agreements with Turning Point of Central California in the amount of $120,609 and Santa Cruz County Office of Education in the amount of $111,331 for a total contract allocation of $231,940 for the period of October 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014; and
b. Authorize the Economic Development Department Director to execute the contracts and make minor modifications to the contracts as necessary to comply with WIA requirements.
SUMMARY:
The Monterey County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) is charged with overseeing the allocation of Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds. At the October 2, 2013 WIB meeting, the WIB recommended approval of the extension of youth employment services subcontracts with Santa Cruz County Office of Education (SCCOE) and Turning Point of Central California (Turning Point) for the period of October 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. The contracts reflect an extension of work originally approved in June, 2012. Due to reduced funding and a mandatory sequestration impacting Monterey County's WIA Title I Youth funding stream, the WIB further recommended reducing both subcontract budgets by 25% from the previous year for a total contract allocation of $231,940 for Program Year (PY) 2013-14 and having a contract start date of October 1, 2013.
DISCUSSION:
In 2011, the Workforce Investment Board went through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process through the County Contracts/Purchasing Division for Title I Youth Employment Services. After careful consideration and review of proposals received two contractors were awarded and on August 30, 2011, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved the Monterey County Workforce Investment Board's recommendation to contract WIA Title I Youth employment services with the SCCOE and Turning Point, in the amount of $327,600 for the contract period of July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. On June 26, 2012, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved the recommendation to extend these contracts in the amount of $309,254, for the contract year beginning July 1, 2012 and ending June 30, 2013. The WIB has recommended extending both Agreements, at a reduced level, until the end of Fiscal Year 2013-2014.
The service agreements with SCCOE and Turning Point were developed in response to recommendations embodied in a system-wide analysis completed by the WIB to enhance eligible participants access to services beyond the comprehensive one stop center, particularly serving those of underserved target populations in hard-to-serve areas of Monterey County, who do not access or have trouble getting to the Comprehensive One-Stop Career Center. Services provided by the contractors include: tutoring, alternative secondary school, work experience, occupational skills training, leadership development, supportive services, youth mentoring, comprehensive guidance and counseling and participant follow-up.
On May 8, 2013, the State announced the WIA Title I formula allocations for PY 2013-14. Monterey County received an overall reduction of $193,966 (-11.2%) from its Youth allocation. Additionally, the Department of Labor was required to implement sequestration reductions; therefore Monterey County only received 35% of its total WIA formula funds for the first quarter of 2013-14.
Due to the mandatory budget sequestration, this further impacted Monterey County's funding streams, forcing new contracts extending services to be postponed during the first-quarter period of PY 2013-14.
In consideration of the budget reduction, the WIB is recommending a third and final extension of each subcontract, starting October 1, 2013 and ending June 30, 2014. The amount recommended represents a 25% reduction from the previous contract year allocation for a total contract allocation of $231,940 for a period of three (3) quarters with a proportionate change in the number of youth served.
Below are summaries of both Turning Point and SCCOE's youth programs and recommended contract allocations for PY 2013-14.
§ Turning Point is a not-for-profit corporation specializing in assisting troubled youth and adults in the court system. They have been a youth services contractor since 2003. Turning Point's proposal focuses on serving low socio-economic disadvantaged youth, who have barriers to employment, and are on probation, in foster care, or homeless; many of whom also have a disability, receive CalWORKs, or have dropped out of school. Turning Point's youth services leverages the resources of their program at Rancho Cielo. The WIB recommends funding the PY 2013-14 contract in the amount of $120,609 to serve 45 youth.
§ SCCOE focuses on serving low socio-economic disadvantaged Monterey County youth, with emphasis in North and West County (Monterey Peninsula), who have barriers to employment, and have a disability, are homeless, probation involved, in foster care, or in families receiving CalWORKs. Their proposal leverages its Sueños Collaborative, which includes the Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE), Shoreline Workforce Development Services, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, Cabrillo Community College, and other Santa Cruz based resources. MCOE participation includes the recruitment assistance from the County Homeless Student and Foster Youth Liaisons, coordination with Alternative and Special Education, and the MCOE Media Center for Arts, Education and Technology. The WIB recommends funding the PY 2013-14 contract in the amount of $111,331 to serve 43 youth.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The WIB recommended approval of the proposed contracts. SCCOE and Turning Point concur with the recommended action. County Counsel's Office and the Auditor-Controller's office have reviewed and approved the Agreements.
FINANCING:
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I Youth formula grant funds utilized will be for $231,940 and are budgeted in Fund 21, Appropriations Unit DEO016, Unit 8396. There is no impact on the General Fund. Economic Development Department/WIB will reimburse funding to subcontractors for all allowable WIA activities. The agreements with Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Turning Point will be structured to provide that they prepare and submit monitoring documents and monthly claims sufficient to meet the WIA requirements.
Prepared by:
__________________________________
Joyce Aldrich, WIB Executive Director, ext. 3324
Approved by:
____________________________________
David Spaur, Economic Development Department Director, ext. 5377
Attachments:
Agreement between County and Turning Point of Central California FY13-14
Agreement between County and Santa Cruz County Office of Education FY13-14
Board Order for Agreement No.s A-12077 & A-12078 dated August 30, 2011
Board Order for Agreement No.s A12077 & A-12078 dated June 26, 2012
Agreement between County and Turning Point of Central California FY12-13
Agreement between County and Santa Cruz County Office of Education FY12-13
Agreement between County and Turning Point of Central California FY 11-12
Agreement between County and Santa Cruz County Office of Education FY 11-12