Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign a Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement with ACTION Council for fiscal oversight of the Best Friends Fund.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to sign a Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement with ACTION Council for fiscal oversight of the Best Friends Fund.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement with ACTION Council provides fiscal oversight of the Best Friends Fund. For more than two decades, The Best Friends Fund has been utilized as a resource to benefit children and families served by the Family and Children’s Services Branch of the Department of Social Services. The Best Friends Fund is a fund comprised of donations intended to benefit children and families served through the child welfare system. These funds enable children to participate and engage in enhancement activities in furtherance of their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, as well as assisting at-risk families to meet the most basic needs of their children. Common utilizations of these funds have included: funding children attending summer camps and classes, participating in sports, arts, and music lessons, and participation in celebratory school activities such as school trips, graduation activities, and dances (including Prom and Winter Formals). Utilizations to meet basic needs have included: purchasing of school uniforms for children who have outgrown old uniforms and basic need furniture items for families reunifying (such as beds, bedding, and dressers for children).
Approval of this Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement will enable the County to continue to utilize funds donated to the Fund through ACTION Council to support children’s participation in enriching activities, which they may not otherwise have the opportunities to engage in. In addition, it will enable the County to support the timely reunification of children with their families by assisting in the purchase of basic need items required for successful and sustainable reunions.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Auditor-Controller has reviewed and approved this agreement. County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
Funds for the Best Friends Fund are donated through private donations to ACTION Council, into the Best Friends Fund for oversight and utilization by Monterey County Family and Children’s Services. The county will incur no costs through the signing of this agreement.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This agreement correlates to the Health and Human Services Strategic Initiatives adopted by the Board of Supervisors by allowing the Department of Social Services to promote the wellbeing of at-risk children and families served by Family and Children’s Services.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
-- X Health & Human Services
__ Infrastructure
__ Public Safety
Prepared by: Patty Hernandez, MA ll x6768
Approved by: Lori A. Medina, Director x4430
Attachments: ACTION Council Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement
Proposed agreement is on file with the Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report