County Executive’s Office

Important note: The following recommendation was approved by the Board of Supervisors on May 6, 2014. For more information and to track our progress, visit our Performance Dashboard.

To:             Honorable Board of Supervisors

From:         Iliana Rodriguez, Director, Human Services Agency

Subject:     Re-Entry Employment Preparation

Recommendation:

Resolution authorizing an Appropriation Transfer Request in the amount of $41,096 from the Measure A Trust Fund to Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Re-Entry Employment Preparation Program.

Background:

San Mateo County Department of Parks (Parks) and the Human Services Agency Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) partnered to create the Re-Entry Employment Preparation Program (REEP) to help reduce recidivism in the realignment population of individuals released from State prison to San Mateo County. Both departments submitted a Competitive Matching Grant Application to the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) which was approved to pilot this partnership program. The two County Departments began planning this pilot in July 2013 and launched the program on September 30, 2013. The pilot was funded through the CCP. The term of the pilot program is through April 30, 2014.

Discussion:

The Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) of $41,096 from the Measure A Trust Fund to VRS will enable the continuation of the REEP program for the remainder of FY 2013-14. REEP has provided AB-109 clients, referred to as the Crew, with supportive vocational training to help facilitate re-entry of the adult population into the workplace while ensuring public safety. The Crew has been a valuable asset to the Parks Department. The Crew has performed a wide variety of park maintenance projects that are essential for visitor safety and park facility maintenance. To date, this partnership has served eleven AB-109 clients. Five are currently on the Crew. Of the six previous Crew members, three have obtained community employment.

The work completed by the Crew includes Trailside Vegetation Removal (10.3 miles), Trail Tread Restoration (reconstructed .95 miles of trail walking surface), Fuel Reduction (removed 12.15 acres of small trees, shrubs, and other vegetation thereby removing material that could fuel a fire), Hazardous Tree Removal (removed 150 fallen and 12 dead trees from trails, roads and other recreational areas), Winterization of Trails and Roads (32.43 miles), Vegetation Management (.5 acres), and Garbage and Graffiti Removal. The Crew gain valuable experience in technical skills as well as soft skills which helps prepare them for community employment. This ATR will allow services to continue through June 30, 2014. Funding for FY 2014-15 and FY 2015-16 will be included in future Recommended Budgets.

Approval of this ATR contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Prosperous Community by providing rehabilitation employment and training services to individuals searching for gainful employment within our community.

Performace Measures: 

*FY 2013-2014 will have 9 months of activity. Crew began work on 9/30/13.

Fiscal Impact:

Approval of this Appropriation Transfer Request will result in the one-time transfer of funds in the amount of $41,096 to VRS. This Appropriation Transfer will provide funding for program services through June 30, 2014. Funding for this appropriation is through Measure A. Measure A funds to continue this program through FY 2015-16 will be requested in future budgets.

Important note: This is a copy of the official report -- item 37 on the Board's agenda.