Title
Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2021.19 seeking to create a Farmworker Resource Center in the community of Greenfield CA.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2021.19 and:
1) Direct that staff proceed with completion of referral based on description in this report; or,
2) Direct that staff:
i. Proceed with completion of referral based on modifications by the Board; or,
ii. Return to Board with a more comprehensive analysis of referral and anticipated effort for completion; or,
iii. Rescind referral.
b. Provide further direction, as appropriate.
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS:
Background & Summary:
Board Referral No. 2021.19 (Lopez) requests the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office to research options and feasibility for locating a Farmworker Resource Center in the city of Greenfield as community members lack access to County services due, in part, to transportation barriers. A recently signed Assembly Bill (AB) 941 (Bennett) provides a leverage opportunity of matching dollars at a 3:1 ratio to establish farmworker centers that provide farmworkers and their families information and access to services related to, among other things, labor and unemployment rights, education, housing, immigration, and health and human services. AB 941 would also require convening a workgroup to help inform the establishment and administration of the grant program and encouraged to provide services in additional languages other than English or Spanish that would be accommodated by the center.
Further, this referral asks to include a recommendation of what services should be provided at this location as well as the potential to shift existing staff that may provide services elsewhere in the County, to the Greenfield location.
The Department is currently working in cooperation, partnership and consultation with Monterey County Departments of Health, Social Services, and United Way Monterey County to identify current services available and services in need by the Greenfield farmworker community.
Project Description: On September 22, 2021 AB 941 signed by Governor Newsom, established a grant program for counties to establish farmworker resource centers that provide farmworkers and their families information and access to services on housing, education, immigration, labor, and employment among others.
To help inform the establishment and administration of the Farmworker Resource Center, a requirement of AB 941 is to convene a workgroup facilitated by, but not limited to, the following representatives:
• A nonmanagement representative from an existing farmworker resource center.
• Three representatives from a community-based organization with a history of serving the farmworker communities.
• A representative from a community-based organization that works with indigenous farmworkers.
• A representative from the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
• A representative from our public health department.
• A representative from the County Welfare Directors Association of California and
• A representative from the farming community.
Estimated Project Cost: The cost of the Farmworker Resource Center is currently unknown. Staff will work to explore the source of the matching needed county dollars with other County Departments that provide many of these services already to the farmworker community.
Staffing Level Estimate: Staff level currently is unknown and will come back to the Board within 90 days to determine staff level.
Departmental Challenges: Finding county matching dollars as required by AB 941.
Proposed Response Date: Staff will report back to the Board of Supervisors within 90 days with a status update.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This recommendation advances the Board of Supervisors Economic Development, Health and Human Services as well as Infrastructure Strategic Initiatives to support access to services to underserve and unserved farmworker communities.
ü Economic Development
Administration
ü Health & Human Services
ü Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by: Henry Gonzales, Agricultural Commissioner, 759-7325
Approved by: Charles McKee, County Administrative Officer, 755-5113
Attachments:
Preliminary Analysis Report
Board Referral No. 2021.19