AGENDA & REPORT - Laserfiche WebLink

BACKGROUND At the April 15, 2008 meeting of the City Council, the Council approved the formation of an Ad Hoc Grants Working Group (Working Group) to carry out a City Council priority by reviewing the City's existing grant programs. Councilmembers Sullivan and Cook- Kallio were appointed and represented the Council on the Working Group. The Working Group met four (4) times from June through October 2008, developing recommendations for the Council's consideration regarding opportunities to streamline and enhance the City's grant process. On June 16, 2009, the City Council approved the Working Group's recommendations as follows: 1. Annually adjust the total funding for the City Grant program based on an increase in City General Fund revenue for the preceding fiscal year. 2. Adopt a one -year rollover provision for carrying over City Grant funding from a previous grant cycle. 3. Establish a coordinated /streamlined grant process with a new rebranded Housing and Human Services grant program that combines general fund City Grant funding for human services with federal grant funds (e.g., CDBG and HOME). (The new Housing and Human Services Grant Program was implemented for the FY 2010/11 funding cycle.) 4. Recommend the City Council consider an update to the Human Services Needs Assessment study as part of its Annual Work Plan. At the November 16, 2010 meeting of the City Council, the Council approved a professional services agreement with Resource Development Associates to assess the current and future conditions of the Tri- Valley region's Human Services Delivery Network, identify services gaps and provide recommendations to strengthen delivery efforts and identify service priorities for federal and local grant programs. DISCUSSION In collaboration with the cities of Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton, staff began working with Resource Development Associates (RDA) to update the Needs Assessment in November 2010. RDA used a mixed method research approach that included quantitative and qualitative data sources. The 2011 Needs Assessment began with the development of the Eastern Alameda County Human Services Steering Committee, which included diverse leadership from City staff, former elected officials, commissioners and non - profit organizations. The committee was tasked with identifying key stakeholders, review findings, and developing a vision statement to help guide current and future activities associated with addressing human service needs in the Tri- Valley. RDA's analysis included U.S. Census, American Community Survey and Alameda County Social Service Agency data. They conducted 18 interviews with community leaders, 14 focus groups with social service recipients, developed a Hard to Reach Population Survey with over 300 responses, and a Social Service Provider Survey completed by over 70 representatives of 38 regional social service organizations that Page 2 of 4