HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-02-2010 - 4hORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 2, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No. ~- - h
SUBJECT: Food and Nutrition Services Outreach
DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Yvette Smith, 245-2800
PURPOSE: To approve the acceptance of funds from MANNA FoodBank and Inter-Faith
Shuttle to support a new time-limited income maintenance worker to provide outreach services
for the program in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: Orange County has historically had low participation rates in the Food and
Nutrition Services (FNS, formerly Food Stamp) program. The State has engaged the food
banks and the interfaith food shuttles to assist with outreach efforts in counties with low
participation rates including Orange County.
The nonprofit food distribution programs approached Orange County with a proposal to provide
an outreach worker at no cost to Orange County for the period October 201 Q through
September 2011. The worker would be an Orange County Department of Social Services
(DSS) employee which would allow the person to take applications rather than just providing
outreach services. DSS would then be reimbursed for the nonfederal share of the employee
costs. Computer equipment, phones and other support will also be provided to the County.
Historically DSS has researched this issue and concluded that much of the low participation
rate is related to the number of low-income college students who live in the County. These
students are included in census data which is used to estimate persons who are potentially
eligible for the program. However DSS staff supports outreach efforts to find any unserved
persons who are eligible and to address the issues raised by the participation rate.
DSS recommends creating one time-limited position for the period October 2010 through
September 2011 and entering into an agreement to accept these funds to provide outreach
services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There will be no additional County costs for this program since the
MANNA FoodBank will reimburse the County for any nonfederal costs. The additional costs for
one income maintenance worker (salary, benefits and overhead costs) is estimated to be
approximately $50,000.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the Manager to
sign the agreement with the MANNA FoodBank to accept the reimbursement from the MANNA
Food Bank and to create one time-limited income maintenance position at Social Services for.
the period October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011.