REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 13, 2023
FROM
LEONARD X. HERNANDEZ, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with BLU Educational Foundation for Expansion of the At Risk Youth Diversion Education Services College Exodus Diversion Project
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept funding of $5,000,000 from the California Department of Housing and Community Development as pass-through funding for the BLU Educational Foundation to expand the At Risk Youth Diversion Education Services College Exodus Diversion Project.
2. Approve Contract with the BLU Educational Foundation, in the amount of $5,000,000, to expand the At Risk Youth Diversion Education Services College Exodus Diversion Project using pass-through funding of $5,000,000 from the California Department of Housing and Community Development for the period of June 13, 2023 through June 30, 2026.
3. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post budget adjustments, as detailed in the Financial Impact Section (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Bradley Jensen, Governmental and Legislative Affairs Director, 387-4821)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Under 2021 California Assembly Bill 179 (AB 179), amendments were made to the State Budget Act of 2022 to include funding in the amount of $5,000,000 for the expansion of the At Risk Youth Diversion Education Services College Exodus Diversion Project (Program), a BLU Educational Foundation (BLU) program, and is allocated by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to the County. The County will act as a pass-through entity and transfer the funds to BLU for expansion of the Program.
|
Fund Center |
Commitment/ GL Account |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
1161161000 |
53003305 |
Contributions to Other Agencies |
Increase |
$5,000,000 |
|
1161161000 |
40408840 |
State Other |
Increase |
$5,000,000 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Program diverts at risk youth who are not considered college bound by creating pathways centered on community involvement through building relationships between parents, education institutions and partner organizations. BLU has an established community presence and is located within San Bernardino Valley College, serving Inland Empire youth with limited income and opportunities. Program services are available to students living throughout the Inland Empire. This State funding will expand the Program which assists students in obtaining undergraduate or graduate degrees from accredited colleges and universities, with the intent that they contribute to the Inland Empire economy through entrepreneurship, employment, and/or volunteer service. The State funding has been received and is ready for disbursement.
The State funding will enable BLU to:
• Expand college and career planning including mentoring academic advising, scholarships, and college tours and field trips.
• Increase internship programs which help students gain extensive work experience, information and professional guidance connected to their specific career goals.
• Grow the College Connection Cookout, a cultural event that helps high school graduates and transfer students connect and build relationships with other students attending the same or nearby colleges.
• Enhance the College Prep Camps and Senior Boot Camps to walk Junior and Senior high school students through the college preparation courses needed to attend college and provide students with step-by-step guidance on the college application process.
• Raise parent involvement by having parents attend BLU’s College and Career Access Workshops.
• Expand the Women’s Leadership Initiative and Intense Leadership Training (Soul Sisters) for young women of color ages 14-21.
• Grow the Male Involvement Program (Soul Brothers) designed to train young men of color ages 14-21 to begin to address issues affecting their communities.
Recommendation No. 1 will request the Board of Supervisors accept the funding for the Program from HCD, while the recommended contract under Recommendation No. 2 with BLU will allow the County to transfer the funding from HCD to BLU as reflected in AB 179. Recommendation No. 3 will authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post budget adjustments in the amount of $5,000,000.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 1, 2023; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Vanessa Doyle, Chief Deputy Controller, 382-3195) on May 5, 2023; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on May 1, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, and Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on May 26, 2023.