Three agenda items on BOS, same goal? Is it for feeding people or to just sign up people for food stamps and justify more salaries?

There are three agenda items for today's Humboldt County Board of Supervisor's meeting. The Food for People item is almost 1 million. What is the purpose of three items doing the same thing?

Is it only to try and get more people to sign up for Cal Works (food stamps)?

When the Federal Government changed the requirements during the recession, the money followed, and the totals have been multiple millions every year, just for Humboldt. Iss primarily for signing people up and salaries to go with that and not actually feeding people?

This is an example of a safety net program that seems to be out of whack.

I will have some totals and comments to update this post with later.


On the Humboldt  Board of Supervisor's agenda, under consent calendar items,  #6 is:

6. That the Board of Supervisors approve Agreement with Open Door Community Health Centers to assist the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to increase utilization of CalFresh benefits by eligible households; authorize the Chair to execute three (3) originals of the Agreement (Attachment 1); and direct the Clerk of the Board to route two (2) fully executed originals of the Agreement to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)-Contract Unit for forwarding to DHHS-Social Services Administration. Recommendation:

Attachments: Agreement with Open Door Community Health Centers.pdf

There are two other items, both dealing with the same goal. There are attachments for those items that can be accessed through the agenda on the website, I will link later.

7. That the Board of Supervisors approve Agreement with Food for People to assist the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to increase utilization of CalFresh benefits by eligible households; authorize the Chair to execute three (3) originals of the Agreement (Attachment 1); and direct the Clerk of the Board to route two (2) fully executed originals of the Agreement to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)-Contract Unit for forwarding to DHHS-Social Services Administration. Recommendation: Attachments: Agreement with Food for People to Assist with CalFresh.pdf Approve Agreement with Humboldt County Office of Education to Assist with CalFresh Outreach and Support Activities 8. That the Board of Supervisors approve Agreement with the Humboldt County Office of Education to assist the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to increase utilization of CalFresh benefits by eligible households; authorize the Chair to execute three (3) originals of the Agreement (Attachment 1); and direct the Clerk of the Board to route two (2) fully executed originals of the Agreement to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) -Contract Unit for forwarding to DHHS-Social Services Administration.


8. That the Board of Supervisors approve Agreement with the Humboldt County Office of Education to assist the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to increase utilization of CalFresh benefits by eligible households; authorize the Chair to execute three (3) originals of the Agreement (Attachment 1); and direct the Clerk of the Board to route two (2) fully executed originals of the Agreement to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) -Contract Unit for forwarding to DHHS-Social Services Administration.


Text of Open door Community Health pdf listed below:


COUNTY OF HUMBOLDT
For the meeting of: October 13, 2015
Date: September 4, 2015
To: Board of Supervisors
From: Phillip R. Crandall, Director Stfr
Department of Health and Human Services-Social Services
Subject: Approve Agreement with Open Door Community Health Centers to assist with CalFresh
Outreach and Support activities.
RECOMMENDATION(S):
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Agreement with Open Door Community Health Centers to assist the Department ofHealth
and Human Services (DHHS) to increase utilization ofCalFresh benefits by eligible households;
and
2. Authorize the Chair to execute three (3) originals ofthe Agreement (Attachment 1); and
3. Direct the Clerk ofthe Board to route two (2) fully executed originals ofthe Agreement to the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)-Contract Unit for forwarding to DHHS - Social
Services Administration.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund 1160
DISCUSSION:
The Open Door Community Health Centers (ODCHC) operates twelve Federally Qualified Health Centers
throughout Humboldt County. In 2014, ODCHC served approximately 40,000 Humboldt County patients,
approximately 32,400 of whom may have been eligible for CalFresh based*on income. ODCHC has
Prepared by Leigh Pierre-Oetker
u REVIEW:
Auditor
TYPE OF ITEM:
X Consent
Departmental
Public Hearing
Other
County Counsel
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.
Meeting of:
*£ Personnel
CAP Approval
Risk Manager
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF HUMBOLDT
Upon motion of Supervisor Seconded by Supervisor
Ayes
Nays
Abstain
Absent
and carried by those members present, the Board hereby approves the
recommended action contained in this Board report.
Dated:
By:_
Kathy Hayes, Clerk of the Board
worked collaborativelywith the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services and now
participates in a same-day interview processes withDHHS eligibility staffto help clients enroll in CalFresh
and Medi-Cal. ODCHC focuses on reinforcing the connection between food security and healthy food
choices and illness and disease prevention, health maintenance, improvedhealth outcomes and betterselfmanagement.
ODCHC makes every possible effort to assure patients havethe infrastructure and support
necessary to maintainand managetheir health. There are tangible links betweensecurities and health, and
ODCHC programs work to enhance these links.
With the execution of this Agreement, Open Door Community Health Centers will continue to assist
DHHS in increasing CalFresh utilization by eligible households and thereby promoting a safe, healthy,
economically vibrant community. Outreach and enrollment raises awareness ofthe nutrition benefits ofthe
CalFresh program; promotes healthy food choices; reduces hunger in seniors andchildren; andhelps to
dispel program myths and misperceptions.
TheCalifornia Department of Social Services (CDSS) administers all United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds. Focusing on the
important role SNAP plays in access to nutrition and the relation of nutrition to overall wellness, CDSS
renamed andre-branded food stamps as CalFresh in California. CDSS also made significant program
changes to increase CalFresh use by reducing enrollment and retention barriers. Many low-income
individuals and families are not aware of and do not applyfor CalFresh benefits, and manyothers are not
aware ofthe program changes that could make it easier for them to receive and continue CalFresh benefits.
USDA and CDSS continueto encourage counties to work with community partnersto help reach and
inform community members who mightbe eligible forCalFresh benefits. Partnering with community
based organizations is not onlyconsistent with DHHS's general approach and strategic plan; it is key to
DHHS's goal of providing integrated, place-based, and holistic services.
Programchanges and the economic downturn have increased the number of Humboldt County residents
now eligible for nutrition assistance. These factors, internal changes, and outreachpartnerships with
community-based organizations have increased CalFresh enrollment within the County, State and nation.
While enrollment has increased there is still room for improvement: approximately two-fifths ofHumboldt
County citizens who are eligible for nutrition assistance do not receive it.
Therefore, DHHS recommends that the Boardapprove and authorize the Chairto execute this Agreement
and direct the Clerk ofthe Board to return two executed copies ofthe Agreement to the DHHS-Social
Services Administration.
ThisAgreement has a start date of October 1,2015 for continuity of services provided by Open Door
Community HealthCenters. This comes late to the board due to delays during final reviewprocess.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with the Open Door Community Health CentersAgreement have been budgeted in the
approved County Budget for Fiscal Year 2015-16, in Fund 1160, Budget Unit 511 in the amount of
$486,411. There will be no impact to the County General Fund.
Approving this Agreement supports the Board's Strategic Framework by creating opportunities for
improved health and safety, and protecting vulnerable populations.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TheBoard can choose not to approve the Agreement for CalFresh Outreach and Support activities with
OpenDoorCommunity HealthCenters. This is not recommended as the Department of Healthand Human
Services asserts thisfunding isimportant to the goal of increasing CalFresh participation andthereby
improving the health and economic stability of children, families and other individuals in Humboldt County.