REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 26, 2024
FROM
JACQUELYN GREENE, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance for the Comprehensive Fatherhood Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of a grant application to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, in the amount of $993,019, for continued support of the Comprehensive Fatherhood Program, for the period of September 30, 2024 through September 29, 2025.
2. Authorize the Assistant Executive Officer to execute the grant application, any required subsequent non-substantive amendments, supporting materials, as well as all other ancillary documents in relation to the Comprehensive Fatherhood Program grant on behalf of the Preschool Services Department, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Preschool Services Department to transmit the grant application and non-substantive amendments in relation to the Comprehensive Fatherhood Program grant, to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Jacquelyn Greene, Director, 383-2005)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The grant application in the amount of $993,019 for the Comprehensive Fatherhood Program (CFP) does not require a local match.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Preschool Services Department (PSD) provides Head Start, Early Head Start, and State Preschool programs that include comprehensive child development and family services comprised of education, health, nutrition, parent involvement, and psychological services for children ages 0 to 5 and their families. The goal of these programs is to increase the health and school readiness of disadvantaged children and increase the self-sufficiency of low-income families.
To receive annual CFP funding, PSD must submit a funding application for each year of the five-year grant period. The recommended application in the amount of $993,019 is for year five of the September 30, 2020 through September 29, 2025 grant period. The grant application is due to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) by March 31, 2024.
ACF provides grant funding for PSD to deliver the CFP, titled Fatherhood F.I.R.E (Family focused, Interconnected, Resilient, Essential). This program aims to increase child and family well-being through the provision of evidenced-based parenting classes, case management, and peer networking.
The Nurturing Father’s program is an evidence-based family centered, culturally diverse curriculum used by PSD to provide the CFP program services, with proven outcomes that emphasizes and teaches healthy relationships, improved parenting skills, and increased economic stability. Weekly sessions are conducted in cohorts to encourage development of a strong peer support network among participants. Between meetings, participants are supported by case managers to develop and achieve effective economic stability, co-parenting, and father-child relationship goals.
PSD will use the funding to serve 144 low-income fathers over the age of 18 with children eligible to be enrolled in PSD’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The grant amount funds expenses including, but not limited to, administrative costs, salaries and fringe benefits, equipment, materials, program incentives, and travel reimbursements.
PSD’s CFP services and activities include recruitment of Head Start fathers, risk and needs assessments, goal setting with measurable activities and milestones, intensive case management services, supportive services through referrals to community partners, availability of a Successful Pathways Apprenticeship Program and certified high school education program, and participation in The Nurturing Fathers Program curriculum workshop.
On June 23, 2020, the County Administrative Office approved the submission of a grant application to ACF for PSD’s CFP funding, in an annual amount of $993,019 for the five-year period of September 30, 2020 through September 29, 2025. PSD is required to submit annual applications to receive funding throughout the grant period.
On November 17, 2020 (Item No. 51), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 20-1144 (Grant Award No. 90ZJ0037-01-00) from ACF for PSD’s CFP year one funding, in the amount of $993,019, for the period of September 30, 2020 through September 29, 2021.
On March 23, 2021 (Item No. 48), the Board approved the submission of a grant application to ACF for PSD’s CFP year two funding, in the amount of $993,019, for the period of September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2022.
On August 10, 2021 (Item No. 23), the Board approved Contract No. 21-603 (Grant Award No. 90ZJ0037-02-00) from ACF for PSD’s CFP year two funding, in the amount of $993,019, for the period of September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2022.
On March 29, 2022 (Item No. 34), the Board approved the submission of a grant application to ACF for PSD’s CFP year three funding, in the amount of $993,019, for the period of September 30, 2022 through September 29, 2023.
On May 24, 2022 (Item No. 65), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 21-603 (Grant Award No. 90ZJ0037-02-01) from ACF for PSD’s CFP year two funding, increasing the award by $592,066, from $993,019 to $1,585,085, with no change to the period of September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2022. The increase was the result of moving unobligated funds, in the amount of $592,066, from program year one to program year two.
On October 4, 2022 (Item No.27), the Board approved Contract No. 22-973 (Grant Award No. 90ZJ0037-03-00) from ACF for PSD’s CFP year three funding, in the amount of $993,019, for the period of September 30, 2022 through September 29, 2023.
On March 28, 2023 (Item No. 33), the Board approved the submission of a grant application to AFC for PSD’s CFP year four funding, in the amount of $993,019, for the period of September 30, 2023 through September 29, 2024.
On September 12, 2023 (Item No. 32), the Board approved Contract No. 23-1010 (Grant Award No. 90ZJ0037-04-00) from ACF for PSD’s CFP year four funding, in the amount of $50,000, for the period of September 30, 2023 through September, 29, 2024. This award is in addition to a carry-forward of $943,019 in unused year two funds, for a total of $993,019 in available year four funds. CFP activities were scaled back in year two due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 26, 2024; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on March 7, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on March 7, 2024.