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Authorize the County’s contribution of $2,000 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 3 to benefit the following organizations, including CASA of Solano County ($500), Children’s Network of Solano County ($500), Solano Community Foundation ($500) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Solano County ($500)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Williams requests that the Board of Supervisors authorize the County’s contribution of $2,000 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 3 to benefit the following organizations, including CASA of Solano County ($500), Children’s Network of Solano County ($500), Solano Community Foundation ($500) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Solano County ($500).
SUMMARY/ DISCUSSION:
District 3 has identified four (4) local non-profit organizations for which to contribute its non-county contribution allocation, including:
CASA of Solano County, $500
CASA of Solano County speaks for the best interest of abused and neglected children and youth in the foster care system by training volunteers to advocate for their safety and well-being through the courts, in schools, and in our community.
In support of this mission, CASA of Solano County is committed to the following:
• Advocate for the best interest of children and youth.
• Recruit, screen, and train a diverse community of volunteers to act as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA’s).
• Provide comprehensive training programs to educate volunteer advocates. • Provide ongoing support to CASA volunteers and staff.
• Create and maintain public awareness and educate the community regarding child abuse and neglect.
• CASA strives to provide diversity, equity and inclusion in all facets of our work including the recruitment of volunteers and board members in order to meet the needs of the diverse population we serve.
• Create, maintain and discover relationships with public and private agencies/organizations and individuals to support the mission of CASA of Solano County.
• Act in liaison with, and at the direction of, the Juvenile Court Judge.
These funds will be used to help abused and neglected children find a CASA volunteers.
Children's Network of Solano County, $500
The Children’s Network of Solano County improves the lives of children in Solano County through education, advocacy, coordination of community services and community-based collaboratives. Children’s Network provides free mandated reporter training to professionals across the county. These trainings are designed to ensure participants are well-informed and fully equipped to navigate the implications of AB 2085 in their work. Through their county-wide initiative, they are making a transformative shift from the role of a mandated reporter to that of a community supporter, empowering professionals to better serve and protect vulnerable populations.
Children’s Network of Solano County believes that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. Their mission is to uplift families and protect children across our community. The Children’s Network works to create a safer, healthier, and more prosperous futures for every child in Solano County by providing essential services and resources such as:
• Assist families and children in securing food, housing, and other essentials, ensuring they can focus on building a brighter future.
• Proving critical training and materials to prevent child abuse and safeguard our community’s most vulnerable members.
• Educating parents to become strong advocates for their children and communities, fostering leadership that drives positive change.
• Provides valuable data and insights to the community and policymakers, highlighting the needs and progress of Solano County’s children.
These funds will be used to support the mandated reporter training as well as the food and housing assistance programs.
Solano Community Foundation, $500
Community foundations are grantmaking organizations that help improve the lives of people in a specific geographic area. They bring together the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support effective nonprofits in their communities.
The roles of the community foundation are to:
• Professionally manage and distribute revenues, and portions of the principal when permitted, from donors' charitable contributions and bequests in a manner consistent with donors' specific and general interests;
• Maintain and enhance the educational, social, cultural, health, civic and environmental resources of the community through support of qualified nonprofit organizations; and
• Through actions of the board and staff, provide philanthropic leadership and help create and promote efforts among citizens to improve the quality of life in the community.
The Solano Community Foundation is dedicated to building a stronger community and enhancing the quality of life in Solano County through the support of philanthropic activities that make a deep and lasting positive impact.
• As a grant maker, they award grants and scholarships to improve the lives of Solano County residents.
• As a vehicle for philanthropy, they encourage private giving for public good.
• As a community leader, they inspire, educate, and cultivate a spirit of philanthropy.
• To respond to changing needs, they promote community involvement and collaboration.
• These funds will be used to provide local grants.
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Solano County, $500
The SPCA of Solano County works to prevent cruelty and promote animal welfare. They focus on rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals, as well as investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty cases.
These funds will be used for animal care and/or to special projects in progress at the Solano County SPCA facility.
Guidelines for Grant Funding Requests:
During the FY2024/25 Budget Hearings, the Board appropriated $75,000, $15,000 to each supervisorial district, to allow Board members to support community service programs. The Board directed County Counsel to provide guidelines on how to recommend funding for qualifying agencies or programs. The Guidelines are as follows:
1.) Each supervisor must submit the proposed expenditure to County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller for initial review.
2.) The Board must approve the expenditure by a majority vote.
3.) The Board must determine that the expenditure is for a public purpose.
4.) The Board may authorize an expenditure of public funds to a nonprofit organization so long as the County retains ultimate control over the exercise of judgment and discretion of the intended program.
5.) To ensure accountability, all expenditures are subject to periodic audit by the Auditor-Controller; and
a) If the recipient provides an activity, program or service (“activity”), it shall provide an activity report within 30 days of the activity that states the number of persons attending (if applicable) or participating activities carried out, feedback from participants (if applicable) and benefits of the activity. The recipient’s failure to provide a report may result in its being considered ineligible for future funding.
b) If the recipient is purchasing property or making improvements, it shall use the funds for only the specified purposes and allow representatives of the county to inspect and/or audit the purchase or the contractor’s performance, the facility or the portion improved with the funds and/or the records pertaining to the expenditures. The recipient shall retain for inspection and audit purposes any and all books, receipts, documentation and other records of the expenditures for three (3) years from date of receiving funds.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The expenditures totaling $2,000 in contributions are included in the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to authorize these expenditures; however, this is not recommended as this is consistent with Board policy.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
There is no other agency involvement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION