18 T CAN HEAR ROOM FOR 47. YES,
SUCCESS. HI THIS IS DAVE. THE 18
TEAM MODERATOR FOR TODAY. HOW
ARE YOU DOING? GOOD. AND ONCE
AGAIN THIS IS THE A T AND T
MODERATOR. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES,
I CAN HEAR YOU PERFECTLY FINE.
OKAY GREAT. SO THERE WAS SUPPORT
PERSON HERE WHO WAS EXPECTING
THAT SOMEBODY FROM YOUR FROM
YOUR.
WHEN HE'S NOT TALKING, RIGHT?
VIDEO AND MIKE, PLEASE. CAN YOU
HEAR ME? OKAY. YES, I CAN HEAR
YOU. OKAY, IT LOOKS PERFECTLY
FINE. OKAY YOU CAN TURN OFF YOUR
CAN YOU TALK AGAIN? SURE I'LL BE
GLAD TO. YES WE'RE GETTING A
PAIR OF YOUR PRIVILEGE. FINE
YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. YOU CAN TURN
OFF YOUR VIDEO UNTIL YOU'RE ABLE
TO SPEAK. ABSOLUTELY OKAY.
SOUNDS GOOD.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM OR
SOMETHING.
TESTING TESTING. YOU KNOW, IN
THE OTHER ROOM WITH THE LIGHTS,
JUST THE OPPOSITE TESTING. SO
DOWN IS NEITHER. YES. STOP
WORKING FROM TESTING. NOTHING
LIKE HAVING THE THANKS. LET'S
GET THINGS UP IN HERE. IT'S
QUITE HOT. MIGHT. SORRY DAVE.
I'M GONNA PUSH THIS OVER A
LITTLE BIT. I'LL MOVE IT BACK TO
SECOND FOOT MY PAGES. IS THAT
RIGHT?
BETWEEN THE LEGS EXACTLY THE
OTHER. I'M LIKE, I'M JUST SLIDE
OUT HERE. I WAS LIKE, OH, YOU
WAIT. JUST GONNA SIT HERE ON THE
CORNER. EXCUSE ME, BUT I THINK
IT'S YOU CAN'T LOOK THIS LITTLE
SPACE. YEAH. PRETTY. IN THE
PRINT. BRUSHED GLASSES FOR THAT
. I DID 16 14 ALRIGHT, 60.
THERE'S A LOT OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
YEAH. NOT NOT. YEAH, I'M CLOSER
TO HOPEFULLY OVER. I'M OVER. BUT
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST GET BORING.
OF COURSE, IF IT'S BORING,
DIDN'T WE WANT TO JUST GET IN
AND OUT IF YOU MAKE IT EXCITING
IF YOU MAKE IT EXCITING, AND
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE COLLECTION
NO.
WE ARE GOING TO CALL THE JOINT
OVERSIGHT HEARING FOR THE 2024
2025 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK
GRANT STATE PLAN TO ORDER AT
THIS TIME. UM, TODAY. I WANT TO
WELCOME TO WELCOME THE PUBLIC.
CALIFORNIA'S POVERTY'S RATES
VERY WIDELY ACROSS THE STATE AND
ARE RESULT OF A NUMBER OF
COMPLEX FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE
TO THE DISPARITY WITHIN
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. THE
COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK. GRANT
IS INTENDED TO BE FLEXIBLE AND
TO MEET UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR
STATE AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND
IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE TO HELP
THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED. THIS
BODY'S WORK. THIS BODY WORKS
TIRELESSLY TO HELP UPLIFT
CALIFORNIA'S OUT OF POVERTY.
WHILE POVERTY RATES HAVE
RECENTLY DECLINED DUE TO THE
INVESTMENTS THIS STATE HAS MADE
AND SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS
THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
DESPITE THE FLUCTUATING POVERTY
RATES, THE COMMUNITY SERVICES
BLOCK GRANT REMAINS A RELIABLE
STREAM OF A DESIGNED TO PROVIDE
IMMEDIATE RELIEF. FOR
INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING POVERTY
BY USING LOCAL AND TARGETED
APPROACHES. AS PART OF TODAY'S
OVERSIGHT HEARING. I AM
INTERESTED TO LEARN HOW, UH, THE
VARIOUS THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE
TESTIFYING HOW YOUR
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE USED THESE
FUNDS TO RESPOND TO THE UNIQUE
NEEDS OF YOUR COMMUNITIES. AGAIN
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION TODAY. I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO A ROBUST DISCUSSION
ABOUT THE IMPORTANT WORK
ACCOMPLISHED USING THE COMMUNITY
SERVICES BLOCK GRANT AND HOW THE
LEGISLATURE CAN SUPPORT THE
INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE
DOING IN YOUR COMMUNITIES. UM,
AS MANDATED BY LAW. AH THIS
JOINT HEARING THAT MUST BE DONE
IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE. AS SOON AS
MY COLLEAGUE ON THE SENATE SIDE,
SENATOR ALVARADO GILL IS OUT OF
HER, UH, DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
MEETING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
HAVING HER TO ALSO PROVIDE
REMARKS AS WELL. BUT WE ALSO
KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE HERE
AND YOU HAVE TAKEN FLIGHTS. AND
YOU ARE. OH, FEND PERFECT
TIMING. UM AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE RESPECTFUL OF
YOUR TIME AS WELL. AND JUST LIKE
, UM, SHE USUALLY IS. SENATOR
ALVARADO GILL IS ALWAYS RIGHT ON
TIME. UM AND SO, UH, I WILL NOW
HAND IT OVER. UH TO HER FOR HER
OPENING REMARKS. MICROPHONES A
LITTLE ODD, OKAY. THANK YOU, DR
JACKSON. THANK YOU FOR MEETING
US HERE TODAY AND MEMBERS OF OUR
ASSEMBLY, HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE AND STAFF FOR BOTH OF
OUR COMMITTEES FOR GETTING US
TODAY. OUR PANELISTS HAVE
COLLABORATED TO PUT THIS HEARING
TOGETHER AND I'M HAPPY TO BE
PART OF THIS. WE WILL ENGAGE IN
INFORMATIVE AND THOUGHT
PROVOKING DISCUSSION. AND I'M
CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL ALL BRING
SOME NEW INFORMATION FORWARD
TODAY. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT
ONE OF MY FIRST JOBS WAS
ADMINISTERING A CSP G FUNDED
PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY ACTION AND
RURAL CALIFORNIA SO I'M VERY
EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT
WE HAVE TO SAY TODAY AND THE
COMMUNITY ACTION THAT I WORKED
WITH. DEALT WITH HOUSING, HEAD
START YOUTH BUILD PROGRAMS. UM,
AND HEALTHCARE. SO FOR ME, THIS
IS BEEN ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO THIS TODAY. AND IF THE
PROTEST DIDN'T HAVE ME IN A
MEETING, I WOULD HAVE WALKED
OUT. BUT YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES.
OKAY SO THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S
HEARING IS TO REVIEW THE STATE
PLAN FOR THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY
SERVICES BLOCK GRANT. A LITTLE
KNOWN FACT. BUT THERE'S A
DECADES OLD FEDERAL ANTI POVERTY
PROGRAM. AS CHAIR OF THE SENATE
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. I,
LIKE MANY OF YOU ARE DEDICATED
TO THE CAUSE OF ERADICATING
POVERTY, ACCESS TO SHELTER,
NUTRITIOUS FOOD, HEALTHCARE AND
OTHER BASIC LIFE. NECESSITIES
ARE A HUMAN RIGHT. WHILE MANY
FEDERAL STATE AND LOCAL E
OPERATED PROGRAMS AIM TO ADDRESS
POVERTY. C S P G IS UNIQUE IN
THAT FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE
DISTRIBUTED AS A BLOCK GRANT,
ALLOWING LOCAL PROVIDERS TO
DETERMINE HOW THESE FUNDS WILL
BE SPENT WITHIN SPECIFICALLY
FEDERALLY MANDATED CRITERIA. A
KEY CONCEPT OF CSP G FUND
SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND THAT
MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFINE
THEIR OWN COMMUNITY NEEDS AND
DESIRED OUTCOMES. I SAW THIS AND
EXPERIENCED IT THROUGH YOUR
TRIPARTITE BOARDS, WHICH I
BELIEVE IS THE MOST PHENOMENAL
CONCEPT EVER. SEE SPG FUNDS,
SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT PEOPLE
WHERE THEY LIVE. THESE ARE FUNDS
THAT ADDRESS AN ARRAY OF
COMMUNITY NEEDS RANGING FROM
MEETING THE BASIC HUMAN NEEDS
FOR FOOD TO MORE COMPLEX NEEDS,
LIKE EVADING HOMELESSNESS AND
HELPING INDIVIDUALS WHO
EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS, FIND
HOUSING AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES. UM SO I HEAR WITH MY
COLLEAGUES LOOK FORWARD TO
LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY ACTION
AGENCIES AND HOW YOU'RE
RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY NEEDS IN
THIS MODERN DAY AGE HOW THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS THESE
EFFORTS, AND IN PARTICULAR, I AM
INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE ABOUT
THE HOW RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE
SERVED AND HOW THE DEPARTMENT
AND COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES
SUPPORT THE PROPER
ADMINISTRATION OF THESE PRECIOUS
FEDERAL DOLLARS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. TURN IT BACK TO YOU,
CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM CHAIR AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH AN OVERVIEW OF THE C S. B G
STATE PLAN, AND WITH US TO DO
THAT IS DAVIS SCRIBNER, DIRECTOR
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT. DAVID
KNIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY ACTION
PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATION, AND
BREAD BRENDA CALLAHAN. JOHNSON
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY ACTION
PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATION BOARD OF
DIRECTORS. YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN
YOU ARE READY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I'M GLAD THAT YOU
HAVE SUCH ENTHUSIASM FOR US
TODAY. I LOVE IT. I'M DAVID
SCRIBNER. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT OR CSD
. AND I'M SORRY YOU'RE GOING TO
GET A LITTLE BIT OF ACRONYM
TRAINING HERE TODAY, BUT I'LL
KEEP IT TO THE MINIMUM. CSD
WORKS TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC
SECURITY OF VULNERABLE
CALIFORNIANS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS THAT
LIFT UP THE STATE'S LOW INCOME
CALVIN COMMUNITIES. WE DO THIS
BY ADMINISTERING COMMUNITY
SERVICES UTILITY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS THROUGH A NETWORK OF
LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS. THIS
NETWORK DELIVERS SERVICES TO
HELP LOW INCOME CALIFORNIANS
ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN ECONOMIC
SECURITY. MEET THEIR HOME,
ENERGY NEEDS AND WATER NEEDS AND
REDUCE UTILITY COSTS THROUGH
ENERGY EFFICIENCY, UPGRADES AND
ACCESS TO CLEAN RENEWABLE
ENERGY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY
SERVICES STATE BLOCK GRANT STATE
PLANT. AS I WILL REFER TO IT AS
THE SPG STATE PLAN. THIS PUBLIC
HEARING IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE
SEA SPG STATE PLAN, AND I
APPRECIATE YOU GIVING US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU
AND THE PUBLIC. CALIFORNIA SEA.
SPG AGENCIES USE THIS FEDERAL
BLOCK GRANT FUNDING TO HELP LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND
COMMUNITIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA.
IN ADDITION TO SEE SPG CST,
ADMINISTERS THE FEDERAL LOW
INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. THE U. S DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY'S WEATHERIZATION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. CALIFORNIA'S
LOW INCOME WEATHERIZATION
PROGRAM, WHICH REDUCES
GREENHOUSE GAS ADMISSIONS AND
RESIDENTIAL ENERGY COSTS AND IS
ONE OF CALIFORNIANS CLIMATE
INVESTMENTS. SO YOU SEE, ALSO
CURRENTLY ADMINISTERS THE LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, A LIMITED
TERM, FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM
THAT HELPS LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS PAY THEIR WATER
BILLS, AND I DIDN'T GIVE YOU ANY
OF THE ACRONYMS FOR THOSE
PROGRAMS. CST ALSO PARTNERS WITH
THE FRANCHISE TAX BOARD TO
ADMINISTER GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY
BASED OUTREACH TO RAISE
AWARENESS AND UPTAKE. OF THE
CALIFORNIA EARNED INCOME TAX
CREDITS. CALIFORNIA'S YOUNG
CHILD TAX, CREDIT AND ACCESS TO
FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE.
AS THE LEAD AGENCY DESIGNATED TO
RECEIVE AN ADMINISTER, SEE SPG
FUNDING. CSD WORKS DIRECTLY WITH
60 NONPROFIT AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. KNOWN AS C
SPG AGENCIES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO
RECEIVE THIS FUNDING ANNUALLY.
THE SPG AGENCIES OFFER WIDE
RANGE OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND
EACH OF CALIFORNIA'S 58
COUNTIES. INCLUDING HOUSING,
EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, INCOME
SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT, HEALTH
AND NUTRITION EMERGENCY SERVICES
, WHICH INCLUDES DISASTER RELIEF
AND MORE. OF THE 60 C SPG
AGENCIES. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 52
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES FOR
MIGRANT SEASONAL FARM WORKER
AGENCIES, WHICH SERVED MIGRANT
SEASONAL FARM WORKERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES AND THREE NATIVE
AMERICAN INDIAN ORGANIZATIONS
THAT WORK TO ADDRESS THE
SPECIFIC NEEDS. OF CALIFORNIA'S
NATIVE POPULATIONS. C S P G IS A
UNIQUE FUNDING SOURCE FOR A
VARIETY OF ANTI POVERTY SERVICES
, AND THIS FUNDING IS FLEXIBLE
BY DESIGN, EMPOWERING EACH LOCAL
C SPG AGENCY TO DELIVER THOSE
SERVICES THAT BEST RESPOND TO
THE NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF LOW
INCOME CALIFORNIA'S WITHIN THEIR
COMMUNITY, AND THAT MAKES A
MEASURABLE IMPACT. ON THE CAUSES
AND CONDITIONS OF POVERTY AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL. TO ENSURE THAT
EVERY COMMUNITY HAS A VOICE AND
WHAT SERVICES LOCAL AGENCIES
PROVIDE. THE CSB G ACT REQUIRES
AGENCIES TO BE GOVERNED BY A
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPOSED OF
AT LEAST ONE THIRD LOW INCOME
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ONE THIRD
ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS OR
THEIR DESIGNEES, WITH THE
REMAINDER OF THE MEMBERS
REPRESENTING BUSINESS, LABOR,
RELIGIOUS HUMAN SERVICES
EDUCATION. WHERE OTHER MAJOR
GROUPS AND INTEREST WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY. AS A CONDITION OF
FUNDING. CCB AGENCIES ARE ALSO
REQUIRED TO DEVELOP AND SUBMIT A
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
THESE ASSESSMENTS ARE INFORMED
BY SURVEYS, PUBLIC FORUMS AND
DIRECT INVOLVEMENT FROM LOCAL
LOW INCOME RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE
A COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE. OF THE
LOCAL CONDITIONS FACED BY
VULNERABLE CALIFORNIANS IN EACH
SERVICE AREA. NOW THESE
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS ARE
SUBMITTED EVERY TWO YEARS BY
EACH AGENCY AGENCY TO CSD AS
PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY ACTION
PLAN. COMMUNITY ACTION PLANS
ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE ISSUES
IMPACTING THE HEALTH AND WELL
BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S
COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
DATA THAT INFORMED THE SERVICE
DELIVERY STRATEGIES FOR EACH
AGENCY. IT IS THIS COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT THAT INCLUDES INSIGHT
FROM LOCAL LOW INCOME RESIDENTS
THAT AFFORDS THE COMMUNITY NEEDS
ASSESSMENTS AND COMMUNITY ACTION
PLANS. THAT ESTABLISHED THE
BASIS OF THE SEA SPG STATE PLAN.
THESE ASSESSMENTS AND LOCAL
PLANS ALSO ADDRESS FEDERALLY
MANDATED PROGRAMMATIC ASSURANCES
THAT THE STATE AND EACH C SPG
AGENCY MUST ADHERE TO BY SHOWING
HOW C SPG FUNDED INITIATIVES
IMPROVED THE LIVES OF VULNERABLE
CALIFORNIANS. WELL NO TO LOCAL
AGENCY PLANS ARE EXACTLY ALIKE.
BROADLY SPEAKING, THE MOST
COMMON NEEDS THAT ARE C SPG
AGENCIES HAVE IDENTIFIED IN THE
SEA SPG STATE PLAN THAT THEY
WILL ADDRESS OVER THE NEXT TWO
YEARS ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FOOD INSECURITY. EMPLOYMENT
UTILITY ASSISTANCE, MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES AND FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT TRAINING. AND AS THE
STATE LEAD AGENCY CSD HAS
COMMITTED IN THE STATE PLAN TO
SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA'S NETWORK
OF CSB G AGENCIES. TRAINING
COORDINATION AND CAPACITY
BUILDING, SUPPORTING THE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF
STATE AND LOCAL STAFF. AND
LEVERAGING NEW TECHNOLOGY
ENHANCEMENTS. SHE S D WILL ALSO
CONTINUE TO ASSESS. AND EVALUATE
EMERGENT SOCIAL ISSUES THAT
IMPACT CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE LOW
INCOME POPULATIONS. INCLUDING IN
THE AREAS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOMELESSNESS EQUITY. ACCESSIBLE
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND
DISASTER RELIEF NEEDS, AS WELL
AS SUPPORTING LOCAL EFFORTS TO
ADDRESS THESE CRITICAL
CHALLENGES. FOR THE FEDERAL 2022
OR 2023 FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR,
CALIFORNIA RECEIVED
APPROXIMATELY $67.6 MILLION IN
FUNDS. THAT'S FUNNY, AND AS WE
REMAIN RELATIVELY STABLE OVER
THE PAST TWO YEARS, INCREASING
FROM 66 TO 67 MILLION FROM 2021
TO 2022. FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED
ACCORDING TO STATE AND FEDERAL
LAW AND LOWER INCOME POPULATION
. US CENSUS DATA FOR EACH
COUNTY. 90% OF THE SPG FUNDING
IS ALLOCATED DIRECTLY TO SEE SPG
AGENCIES. THE REMAINDER IS SET
ASIDE FOR STATE ADMINISTRATION
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND TARGETED
INITIATIVES. OF THAT 90%
APPROXIMATELY 84% IS ALLOCATED
TO COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES 11%
TO MIGRANT SEASONAL FARM WORKER
AGENCIES. AND 4% TO NATIVE
AMERICAN INDIAN ORGANIZATIONS.
IN 2021, CALIFORNIA REPORTED
SERVING OVER 685,000 LOW INCOME
CALIFORNIANS. THEY'RE CS DS
NETWORK OF CSB G AGENCIES. THAT
INCLUDES A SERVING APPROXIMATELY
199,000 CHILDREN, 126,000
SENIORS, 67,000 PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND 74,000 PEOPLE
WHO LACKED HEALTH INSURANCE. SEE
SPG AGENCIES PROVIDED JUST OVER
1 MILLION SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
AND OUTCOMES FOR LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS IN CALIFORNIA.
1,034,422. SUPPORTED SERVICES
AND OUTCOMES JUST TO BE EXACT.
HOWEVER THESE SERVICES NOW
OUTCOMES INCLUDE 296,000 HOUSING
ASSISTANCE SERVICES PROVIDED
WITH 56,000 LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING TEMPORARY
SHELTER, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PLACEMENT EVICTION IN
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION, UTILITY
PAYMENT ASSISTANCE OR WHETHER
IZATION SERVICES. 47,000
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES WERE
PROVIDED TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE
BARRIERS TO INITIAL OR
CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT. WITH
ALMOST 11,000, CALIFORNIA'S
ACHIEVING OUTCOMES, SUCH AS
ACQUIRING A JOB. INCREASING
THEIR INCOME. OR ACHIEVING
LIVING WAGE, EMPLOYMENT AND
BENEFITS. 87,000 EDUCATION AND
COGNITIVE DEL DEVELOPMENTAL
SERVICES WERE PROVIDED WITH
67,000 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND
PARENTS, INCREASING THEIR SKILLS
AND KNOWLEDGE TO IMPROVE
LITERACY AND SCHOOL READY AND
IT'S AN ENRICHING THEIR HOME
ENVIRONMENTS. SPG FUNDING IS
ALSO SUPPORTED THE DISTRIBUTION
OF 22 MILLION MEALS AND FOOD
PARCELS TO FAMILIES AND
INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. WELL I'LL
SEE. SPG AGENCIES ARE ENGAGED IN
AN INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES TO
SUPPORT LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. I WOULD
WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
HIGHLIGHT TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE
ILLUSTRATIVE OF HOW CSD IN OUR
AGENCIES CAN LEVERAGE THE SPG
FUNDING TO MAGNIFY THE IMPACT OF
THESE FUNDS BY PARTNERING
TOGETHER TO MEET NEW AND
EMERGING NEEDS. FIRST THE EFFORT
DURING THE PANDEMIC AND SUPPLY
CHAIN CRISIS TO DISTRIBUTE
INFANT FORMULA. IT'S A LOW
INCOME RURAL AND FARM WORKER
COMMUNITIES THAT WERE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
INFANT FORMULAS SHORTAGES. 2022
CST PARTNERED WITH SUPPLY BANK,
A NONPROFIT THAT DISTRIBUTES
VITAL, ESSENTIAL GOODS
STATEWIDE. TO SECURE AND
DISTRIBUTE INFANT FORMULA TO
HOUSEHOLDS SERVED BY CSB G
AGENCIES. CST WORKED WITH SUPPLY
BANK AND INFANT FORMULA
MANUFACTURERS TO SOURCE HARD TO
FIND FORMULA SUPPLIES. USING CSP
G FUNDING AND A GRANT FROM
KAISER PERMANENTE SUPPLY BANK
PURCHASED AND DISTRIBUTED OVER
41,000 CONTAINERS OF INFANT
FORMULA 2 41 C SPG AGENCIES
ACROSS CALIFORNIA. THIS
INITIATIVE FILLED A CRITICAL
GAP. FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES
DURING THE FORMULA, THE FORMULA
SUPPLY CRISIS AND SHOWS HOW C
SPG FUNDS CAN FOSTER PUBLIC
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT
OVERCOME BARRIERS TO SUPPORTING
LOW INCOME CALIFORNIANS. SECOND
THE COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP
WITH SAN LUIS OBISPO, OR CAP
SLOWS 40 PRADO HOMELESS SERVICES
CENTER IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
ACHIEVING OUTSTANDING RESULTS
FOR THOSE MULTIPLE HONORABLE
WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. I
WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO RECENTLY
TOUR THIS FACILITY THAT SERVES
ON HOUSED RESIDENTS OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO AND CAME AWAY AMAZED BY
THE SCOPE OF WHAT CAPSULE HAS
ACHIEVED. OPENED IN 2008 40
PRODUCT PROVIDES MEALS, ACCESS
TO SHOWERS AND LAUNDRY
FACILITIES, MAIL AND PHONE
SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT,
PRIMARY MEDICAL AND MENTAL
HEALTH CARE AND RECUPERATIVE
CARE, AMONG OTHER SERVICES. IN
2020 CAPSULES SOUGHT TO ADDRESS
THE HIGH ENERGY COSTS OF
OPERATING 40 PRADO BY EXPLORING
INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS AND
MAKING OTHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY
UPGRADES. CAPSULE WAS CONNECTED
WITH CS DS LOW INCOME
WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM TO MAKE
THIS PROJECT A REALITY. THE LOW
INCOME WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM
REDUCES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
BY FUNDING, ENERGY EFFICIENCY
AND RENEWABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY
UPGRADES FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING.
40 PRODUCT QUALIFIED FOR LOW
INCOME WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM
FUNDING AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF
PRIVATE DONORS AND KEY PARTNERS
, INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATION FOR
ENERGY AFFORDABILITY, PACIFIC
GAS AND ELECTRIC. CENTRAL COAST
COMMUNITY ENERGY AND THE TRI
COUNTY REGIONAL ENERGY NETWORK.
THE CENTER RECEIVED ENERGY
EFFICIENCY UPGRADES THAT INCLUDE
120 KILOWATT SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM.
BATTERY BACKUPS AND HEAT PUMP
WATER HEATING. THESE UPGRADES
ARE PROJECTED TO REDUCE 40
PRADO'S ANNUAL CARBON DIOXIDE
EMISSIONS BY 86.5 METRIC TONS,
WHILE ALSO REDUCING ENERGY
COSTS. BY FREEING UP CRITICAL
FUNDS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO
TOWARDS ENERGY COSTS. THESE
SYSTEMS WILL GIVE CAP SLOW THE
ABILITY TO REDIRECT RESOURCES
TOWARDS MORE DIRECT SERVICES FOR
THOSE IN NEED. THIS PROJECT
AGAIN SHOWCASES HOW C SPG FUNDS
CAN BE BRAIDED WITH OTHER
FUNDING SOURCES TO EFFECTIVELY
COORDINATE AND DELIVER SERVICES
THAT CAN MAKE A MEANINGFUL
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF LOW
INCOME CALIFORNIANS. AND I'M
PLEASED TO HAVE WITH ME TODAY.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP
ASSOCIATION AND SOME OF OUR C
SPG AGENCIES WILL SHARE THEIR
STORIES AND INSIGHTS INTO THE
IMPORTANT WORK TAKING PLACE TO
HELP VULNERABLE CALIFORNIANS ON
THE PATH TOWARD ECONOMIC
SECURITY THROUGH CSB G. THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT THE 2024 25 C S P D
STATE PLAN. CSG TRULY VALUES AND
APPRECIATES THE LEGISLATURE
SUPPORT AND ONGOING INSIGHT AND
OVERSIGHT OF CSB G. AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT
YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THANK YOU TO THE
JOINT COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIRS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S DR JACKSON
SENATOR ALVARADO GIL FOR
INVITING THE CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP
KNOWN AS CALLE KAPPA TO SPEAK
REGARDING THE COMMUNITY SERVICE
BLOCK GRANT IN THIS STATE PLAN.
MY NAME IS DAVID KNIGHT AND I
SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF CAL CAPITA. OUR ORGANIZATION
SERVES AS A MEMBER ASSOCIATION
FOR 60 C SPG ELIGIBLE ENTITIES
TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCREASE
STATEWIDE COMMUNICATIONS AND
LEAD ADVOCACY AND POLICY
DEVELOPMENT. OUR ASSOCIATION
ALSO LEADS THE WAY AND SERVES AS
A LEAD STATE FOR REGIONAL
PERFORMANCE AND INNOVATION
CONSORTIUM FOR THE UNITED
STATES. HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES. CSB G REGION NINE.
THIS MEANS THAT CALIFORNIA, CAL
CAPITA LEAD THE REGION, WHICH
INCLUDES THE STATE OF ARIZONA,
NEVADA, HAWAII PACIFIC ISLANDS
IN THE AREAS OF TRAINING AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, REGION,
WIDE COMMUNICATIONS AND POLICY
DEVELOPMENT. CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY ACTION DOESN'T JUST
LEAD IN THE REGION. IT ALSO
LEADS NATIONALLY WITH TWO OF OUR
AGENCIES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
WHO ARE ALSO CAL. CAPITA BORDER
DIRECTORS SERVING ON THE BORDER
DIRECTORS FOR OUR NATIONAL
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP
ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA CSD DEPUTY
DIRECTOR SERVING AS AN SERVING
ON THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
STATE COMMUNITY SERVICES
PROGRAM. CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
ACTIONS AND SEE SPG ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES HAVE LONG BEEN LEADERS
IN THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY ACTION
MOVEMENT FOR DECADES. WE OFTEN
ARE STILL SOUGHT OUT AS THE
VOICE OF COMEDIAN ACTION
THROUGHOUT THIS NATION. THE
COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK. GRANT
CELEBRATES 42 YEARS THIS YEAR
COMMUNITY ACTION MOVEMENT IS
APPROACHING ITS 60TH YEAR. WHILE
IT RELIES ON DECADES OF
EXPERIENCE IN EACH OF OUR
COMMUNITIES, IT CONSTANTLY
THRIVES TO ADAPT TO THE EVER
CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF OUR
FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES
BEING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CALIFORNIA CSD AND SERVING AS A
LEAD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION FOR
ALL AGENCIES STATEWIDE, CAL CAP
IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE
AND MEASURE THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR
GREAT STATE IN EACH OF OUR
COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. YOU HEAR A
MASS TESTIMONY TODAY ABOUT THE
FAMILIES WE SERVE AND HOW
AGENCIES HAD A GREATER NEED TO
THEM THAN EVER BEFORE, DURING
BOTH THE ONGOING PANDEMIC AND
THE NATURAL DISASTER RECOVERY,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT IS
VITAL TO LEADING OUR COMMUNITIES
ON THE PAST OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY
AND INCLUSION. ALL ARE SERVING
OUR FAMILIES OF LOW INCOME
DIRECTLY. COMMUNITY ACTION IS
BUILT ON THE PREMISE THAT CSP G
IS NOT A PROGRAM BUT RATHER A
FUNDING SOURCE. OUR AGENCIES ARE
EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THEIR
COMMUNITY NEEDS AND THEIR
COMMUNITY STRENGTHS AND HOW TO
BEST COMBINED PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
RESOURCES TO ENSURE THEY DEVELOP
THRIVING COMMUNITIES. SPG
FOCUSES ON BEING LOCALLY LED,
WHICH ALLOWS FOR OTHER LOW
INCOME FUNDING TO HAVE A
STRONGER RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
WHETHER THESE ARE CALIFORNIA
FUNDED OR FEDERALLY FUNDED
PROGRAMS OFTEN REQUIRE STARTUP
AND CAPACITY BUILDING DOLLARS.
WITH THE INFLUX OF THIS ONGOING
CSG FUNDING AGENCIES ARE ABLE TO
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND ALSO
BE FLEXIBLE IN THEIR DELIVERY OF
SERVICES. THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT
HOUSING NEEDS ARE PRESENT WHAT
WORKFORCE TRAINING IS NEEDED FOR
BUSINESS TO THRIVE AND EXPAND
WHAT COMMUNITIES LACK HEALTH AND
MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS, AND WE'RE
LACKING NUTRITION SLOWS
DEVELOPMENT IN ALL AREAS. ARE
FLEXIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY
SERVICE BLOCK. GRANT ALLOWS
AGENCIES TO ENSURE FAMILIES NOT
ONLY HAVE ACCESS TO SNAP OR FOOD
VOUCHERS BUT ALSO CREATING THE
PLACE TO GET THAT HEALTHY FOOD.
IT CREATES ACCESS TO
TRANSPORTATION VOUCHERS, WHILE
AT THE SAME TIME MAKING SURE
THERE'S A SUCCESSFUL
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO
USE THOSE VOUCHERS. THEY
ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY AND QUALITY
AND THE DEVELOPMENT ACCESS. THEY
FIGHT FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE
A VOICE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
WHILE THE SAME EXACT PEOPLE LEAD
OUR AGENCIES AND SHOW THEIR PART
OF THE THRIVING WORKFORCE THAT
MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SUCCESSFUL.
PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT IS LED
BY SEA SPG AGENTS THROUGHOUT OUR
POOR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
STRUCTURE. SEE SPG HAS LONG BEEN
THE LEADER IN MEASURING THE
SUCCESS OF LOW INCOME PROGRAMS.
THIS IS EVIDENT IN OUR ANNUAL
REPORTING AND COMMUNITY ACTION
PLAN SUBMITTED AROUND THE
FUNDING THE NETWORK USES RESULTS
ORIENTED MANAGEMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY, KNOWN AS ROMA,
AS ITS STRUCTURE FOR PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT JUST NOT ONLY ALLOWS
AGENCIES TO BE EFFICIENT BUT TO
BE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN THE
USE OF THE DOLLARS. TO HAVE A
SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF
OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM MUST HAVE
TWO THINGS, FUNDING AND ACCESS
AS WE'RE MORE AWARE OF FUNDING
LEVELS ARE AT A CRITICAL POINT
IN OUR POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS,
BUT IT'S ALSO EXTREMELY
BENEFICIAL ABOUT HAVING A
STATEWIDE ASSOCIATIONS SUCH AS
CAL CAPITA IS OUR CONNECTION
RELATIONSHIPS. KAPPA BRINGS EACH
AGENCY TOGETHER. WE SERVE AS A
HUGE CATALYST FOR AGENCIES TO
SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND
PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS. THIS IS
ALLOWS DEVELOPMENT IN CAPACITY
BUILDING MORE RAPIDLY. THIS
ALLOWS CAL CAPITA MOVE ALL THE
DATA WE COLLECT INTO INFORMATION
. WE'RE THEN ABLE TO TAKE THIS
INFORMATION AND PUT IT INTO
COMMUNICATION AWAY THAT PEOPLE
ARE BETTER ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT
SERVICES THAT BENEFIT THEIR
COMMUNITIES. THIS IS A POWERFUL
FOR USE AS A NETWORK AND FOR YOU
AS DECISION MAKERS, THE KEY TO
SEE SPG AND ITS CONNECTIVITY
ACROSS OUR STATE ALLOWS US
POLICYMAKERS TO KNOW THAT YOU
HAVE LOCAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND
ORGANIZATIONS READY TO DELIVER
OPPORTUNITIES TO FAMILIES. YOU
WILL HEAR MORE TODAY ABOUT THOSE
SUCCESSES. AND HOW ARE AGENCIES
ABILITIES ARE MAXIMIZED AS THE
COVID 19 VIRUS CONTINUES TO REAR
ITS UGLY HEAD AS TEMPERATURES
RISE. CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSES BIG,
BIGGER NATURAL DISASTERS.
FLOODING LINGERS ON AND HOMES
COST RISE, WHICH ARE ALL THINGS
THAT ADVERSELY AFFECT LOW INCOME
PEOPLE. OF OUR COMMUNITIES CAN
WE ACTUALLY WILL CONTINUE TO BE
CALLED UPON. APPLE HAS BEEN IS
PROUD TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND CST TO
KEEP OUR NETWORK AT THE TOP OF
THE STATE'S RESPONSE TO NEED AS
WELL AS LEAD THE COUNTRY IN THE
WORK FOR OUR FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES ARE SUCCESS WITH
COLLABORATION WITH CSP G IN
GENERAL IS EVIDENT BY BEING
CALLED UPON BY THE NATION TO BE
A PART OF THE IMPROVEMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER STATES.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE THIS INFORMATION ON OUR
NETWORK AND ON C SPG TODAY AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
GOVERNANCE OF OUR GREAT STATE.
GET AFTERNOON. HONORABLE
SENATORS AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S.
MY NAME IS BRENDA CALLAHAN
JOHNSON. AND I AM SPEAKING TO
YOU TODAY IS THE IMMEDIATE PAST
PRESIDENT OF CAL KAPPA. I'M
SUBSTITUTING FOR OUR CURRENT
PRESIDENT, MR JEREMY TOBIAS, WHO
SENDS HIS REGARDS, REGARDS AND
REGRETS THAT HE COULDN'T JOIN
YOU TODAY. I BRING 30 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE WITH THE MERCED
COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY.
I HOPE I WILL BE ABLE TO
REPRESENT THE NETWORK WELL. THE
COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK IS
PROUD TO BE ESTABLISHED AS A
PART OF THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
ACT OF 1964. WHICH NOT ONLY
BIRTHDAY US, BUT CLOSELY ALIGNED
OUR MISSION AND PURPOSE WITH THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE
TIME. AS A PART OF THE FOUNDING
LEGISLATION, COMMUNITY ACTION
AGENCIES WERE DIRECTED AND
LEGALLY BOUND TO ABIDE BY WHAT
WE REFER TO AS A TRIPARTITE
BOARD. THE THREE FACTORS IN THE
TRIAL. PART CARDBOARD ARE THE
PUBLIC. OFTEN ELECTED OFFICIALS.
MAJOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
THE PRIVATE AND LOW INCOME
PARTICIPANTS. CONGRESS WANTED TO
ENSURE THE VOICE OF THE POOR WAS
NOT NOT ONLY HAD A SEAT AT THE
TABLE, BUT A VOTE AS WELL. THIS
STRUCTURE IS AIDED US AND NOT
ONLY BEING ABLE TO DEVELOP
DIVERSE PROGRAMS SPECIFIC TO THE
COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. BUT ALLOWS
US TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE BARRIERS
TO SERVICES PRIOR TO THEIR
IMPLEMENTATION. IN MY CASE, LOW
INCOME BOARD MEMBERS ARE OFTEN
MY GREATEST RESOURCE. IN 1981.
OUR FRIENDS WERE CONSOLIDATED
INTO WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE
COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.
WHICH IN CALIFORNIA IS THAT
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND
DEVELOPMENT. THIS FUNDING ACCESS
THAT FOUNDATION FOR MANY
AGENCIES TO ATTRACT AND GAIN
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. ON AVERAGE
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
AGENCIES ARE ABLE TO ATTRACT AN
ADDITIONAL $16 IN FUNDING. FOR
EVERY DOLLAR THAT THEY RECEIVE
AND SEE SPG. FOR EXAMPLE, MY
AGENCY THROUGH A COMMUNITY NEEDS
ASSESSMENT DETERMINED THAT THE
GREATEST NEED FOR SERVICES WAS
HOMELESS AND HOUSING SUPPORT.
ARE HOMELESS NUMBERS AND MERCED
COUNTY HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED
OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. AS WITH
MANY COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE
NATION WE ARE THE LARGEST
PROVIDER OF HOMELESS SERVICES
AND MERCED COUNTY. AND MANY
ORGANIZATIONS LOOK TO US TO
PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT. SEE
SPG FUNDS, ALTHOUGH LIMITED
ALLOW US TO WRITE GRANTS CONDUCT
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS.
TRACK DATA AND PROVIDE SUPPORT
TO OUR LOCAL HOMELESS NAVIGATION
CENTER. ALL ESSENTIAL STEPS AND
ATTRACTING ATTRACTING MUCH
NEEDED FUNDING FOR OUR
COMMUNITY. AS A RESULT OF CSP G
FUNDS SUPPORTING THOSE EFFORTS
LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE
OVER $8 MILLION IN FUNDS TO PAY
FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HOUSING
AND H M I S C E S PROGRAMS. WE
WERE ALSO ABLE TO PARTNER WITH
THE CITY OF MERCED TO PROVIDE
SUPPORT SERVICES TO 92 RECENTLY
HOUSED FORMALLY HOMELESS
INDIVIDUALS IN APARTMENTS. AND
INTO 2024. WE PLAN TO ADD
ANOTHER 100 CUSTOMERS TO THOSE
ROLES. WE KNOW THAT THESE ARE
ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS AND KEEPING
PEOPLE HOUSED. MY STORY IS
UNIQUE ON HOW I èC SPG FUNDING
BECAUSE MERCED COUNTY IS UNIQUE
AND WHAT IT NEEDS. SISTER
COUNTIES HAVE VERY DIFFERENT
STORIES ABOUT HOW THEY USE THEIR
CSB GS FUNDS. ANOTHER EXAMPLE
I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU IS
HOW A RULE NORTHERN COUNTY USES
THEIR CSB G FUNDS TO SUPPORT
MEALS ON WHEELS. WITH SEVERE
WEATHER AND VERY LOW DENSITY
HOUSING THEIR FEDERAL AWARD TO
DELIVER MEALS ON WHEELS DOES NOT
MEET THE NEED. IT IS A VERY
RURAL COUNTY. THE AGING
POPULATION IS HIGH. HOWEVER THE
HOUSE NUMBERS ARE VERY LOW. WE
OFTEN SAY IN COMMUNITY ACTION
WHEN YOU'VE SEEN ONE COMMUNITY
ACTION AGENCY, YOU'VE SEEN ONE
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY. THE
ABILITY FOR EACH OF US TO
DIVERSIFY OUR FUNDING ON AN
INDIVIDUAL BASIS IN RESPONSE TO
LOCAL NEED IS THE GENIUS SUBSEA
SPG. TOO MANY FEDERAL FUNDS ARE
OVER, REGULATED AND THEN BECOME
UNDER UTILIZED. THAT IS NOT THE
CASE FOR CSP G. AS A NETWORK. WE
TAKE PRIDE IN THE SERVICES WE
PROVIDE THAT HIT EVERY INCH OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE
NEED IS GREAT AND WE ARE PROUD
TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY
AND I'M EXCITED TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW WE WILL TURN TO QUESTIONS
FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ANY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? YEAH. SO YOU DID NOTE
THAT YOU KNOW THIS. THE CONCEPT
OF COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS HAS
BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST 60 YEARS.
AND CERTAINLY, UM NOTING THAT
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE
TIMES WE HAVE SINCE, UM MOVED
INTO MORE MODERN MOVEMENTS. HOW
HAVE YOU ADJUSTED TO SOME OF THE
NEW CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTS OF
PERHAPS THIS DECADE? YOU KNOW
WHAT. YEAH SO THAT'S THAT'S THE
BEAUTY OF THE SPG AND BEING ABLE
TO UNDERSTAND, UM COMPLETELY.
WHAT IS OCCURRING AT THIS MOMENT
? WHAT IS CONSTANTLY INCURRING
AS YOU'VE HEARD MULTIPLE TIMES,
YOU KNOW? NOT ONLY DO WE PUT AH
, PEOPLE HAVE MARGINALIZED
POPULATIONS. NOT ONLY DO THEY
GET A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BUT
THEY GET A VOICE AT THAT TABLE.
AND SO WHAT THAT IS ALLOWED IS
FOR US TO CONSTANTLY NOT
NECESSARILY BE AHEAD BUT BE
RIGHT THERE WHEN WE KNOW THESE
THINGS ARE COMING AND HOW THEY
OCCUR. OUR PHILOSOPHY AS FAR AS
COMMUNITY ACTION GOES AROUND
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEW
ISSUES THAT WE FACE IS IT'S NOT
JUST SIMPLY ENOUGH TO ADDRESS
POLICY ISSUES THAT ARE BAD OR
JUST PRACTICES OR SYSTEMS. UH
THAT ARE BAD, BUT IT'S MAKING
SURE THAT YOU EMPOWER THE PEOPLE
THAT IT REALLY DOES AFFECT TO
HAVE THAT VOICE TO BE ABLE TO
SAY NO, THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO
CHANGE. AND THAT'S A BIG, UNIQUE
NATURE ABOUT ABOUT OUR AGENCIES
AND HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO ALLOW HIM TO
SPEAK FIRST BECAUSE AGAIN SEE
SPG IS UNIQUE IN PROGRAMS IN
THAT IT'S GROUND UP. IT'S NOT
TOP DOWN. IT'S IT REALLY IS
BOTTOM UP AND YOU HAVE HAD THAT
EXPERIENCE OF HAVING THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO DIVIDE TO REALLY
DEFINE THE GOALS, UH, IN YOUR
COMMUNITY AT A PARTICULAR POINT
IN TIME, AND CSD WORKS
TIRELESSLY WITH OUR NETWORK WHO
WORKS 10 TIMES HARDER WITH BOOTS
ON THE GROUND TO TRY AND
UNDERSTAND THOSE EMERGENCY
EMERGING NEEDS. AND AS YOU KNOW,
MR KNIGHT SPOKE TO THOSE VARY
COUNTY BY COUNTY AND AT HIM
POINTS IN TIME, MONTH BY MONTH.
WE COME OUT OF A PANDEMIC AND
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WE DON'T
HAVE ANY INFANT FORMULA. DÍAS
LIKE PPE WAS A PROBLEM. HOUSING
EDUCATION. UH FOOD INSECURITY.
THESE ARE CONSTANTS, BUT THE
MINUTE SMALL SHIFTS IN IN NEEDS
AND DEMANDS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
DEPARTMENT FULLY. SUPPORTS THE
LOCAL AGENCIES THAT WE WORK WITH
AND HELPING TO DEFINE THOSE SO
THAT THEY CAN THEN HAVE THAT
COME TO THE DEPARTMENT SO THAT
WE AS A NETWORK AND AS A STATE
CAN BEST USE THESE FUNDS TO MEET
THOSE EMERGING NEEDS AND THOSE
SOCIAL ISSUES AS THEY ARISE
ALMOST AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN REAL
TIME. CAN I ADD? JUST A I SAID
I'D TRY TO BE QUIET, BUT I'M
TRYING. UM I WAS JUST GONNA SAY
THAT AT OUR HEART IF YOU'RE A
GOOD COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY
DIRECTOR, YOU'RE A GOOD
GRASSROOTS ADVOCATE. AND YOU
CAN'T DO THAT, IN CASE YOU'RE IN
YOUR COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE IN
YOUR COMMUNITY KNOW YOU AND KNOW
THAT THEY CAN COME TO YOU. FOR
THE SERVICES THEY NEED FOR THE
SERVICES. THEY'RE NOT GETTING SO
ONE THING SPECIFIC TO COMMUNITY
ACTION IS WHERE IN THE COMMUNITY
WERE KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY WERE
ACCESSIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND
THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW
THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR
WHAT'S RIGHT. EVEN THOUGH I CAN
SAY ON A PRETTY DIRECT BASIS,
WERE NOT ALWAYS THE FAVORITE FOR
DOING THAT. WE FEEL SECURE IN
THE STANCE THAT WE TAKE.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S BONTA. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. I THINK I'M GOING
TO ASK A VERY BASELINE. UH
QUESTION AND THEN TRY TO, UH,
JUST SUSS OUT SOME OF THE
OUTCOMES THAT YOU'VE ALL YOU ALL
HAVE SHARED HERE. UM DO YOU
BELIEVE THAT THE SPG IS IN THE
BUSINESS OF SERVICING. POVERTY.
ADDRESSING THE KIND OF SUPPORTED
NEEDS THAT COME WITH THE
EXPERIENCE OF POVERTY. OR DO YOU
BELIEVE THAT THE FUNDING STREAM
IS ALSO INTENDED TO ERADICATE
POVERTY? AS A QUESTION, BECAUSE
AS I LOOK AT THE OUTCOMES THAT
YOU SHARED IN YOUR GRANT FACT
SHEET UM, MANY OF THE OUTCOMES.
UM WELL, FIRST, THERE'S A LOT OF
INFORMATION ABOUT INPUTS RIGHT?
SO SERVICES PROVIDED AND THEN
THERE'S SOME INDICATORS AROUND
OUTCOMES, BUT THEY DEFINITELY
VARY IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT
IT'S JUST PROVISION OF A SERVICE
OR WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS AN
INTENTION TO BE ABLE TO. SUPPORT
THE ERADICATION OF THE
EXPERIENCE OF POVERTY FOR
PEOPLE. SURE I'LL START FROM THE
DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE AND
ALLOW MY COLLEAGUES TO FILL IN
MY GAPS. UM AYE. I THINK FROM
THE BASIS IT WAS STATED EARLIER
. WHEN YOU'VE SEEN ONE COMMUNITY
ACTION AGENCY. YOU HAVE SEEN ONE
AND SERVICES AND OUTCOMES, AS I
PROVIDED AND HAS BEEN NOTED
TODAY DO VERY WIDELY THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. BASED ON THOSE
COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND I THINK
THAT AT ITS HEART SPG IS A
PARTNER IN TRYING TO ALLEVIATE
THE IMPACTS OF POVERTY AND VERY
MUCH SO WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE
TO SAY THAT WE CAN ELIMINATE
POVERTY IS A LIMITED FUNDING
SOURCE AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS
NOT AN ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM.
THERE ARE LIMITATIONS IN FEDERAL
LAW AND TO SOMEWHAT IN WHAT SEE
SPG CAN DO. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
, I THINK THAT VITAL PIECE OF
CSP G IS IT IS IT CAN BE USED AS
A FUNDING SOURCE AGAIN TO
RESPOND TO THOSE COMMUNITY NEEDS
ASSESSMENTS. THOSE COMMUNITY
ACTION PLANS THAT ARE DEVELOPED
BY EACH OF OUR NETWORK AGENCIES
AND VERY MUCH IN REAL TIME
ADDRESS THOSE EMERGING SOCIAL
NEEDS AS THEY CAN IMPACT EITHER
WITH HOMELESSNESS, WHETHER IT'S
FOOD INSECURITY, EDUCATION
TRAINING. THOSE INSTANCES OF
POVERTY THAT DO EXIST THROUGHOUT
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND I
DO BELIEVE THAT YES, THE SPG AT
ITS HEART. IS MEANT TO HELP.
ERADICATE POVERTY, BUT IT CAN BE
DONE IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
WAYS THROUGHOUT THE STATE,
DEPENDING ON WHAT THE NEEDS ARE
IN A PARTICULAR LOCALE, OR THAT
A PARTICULAR NETWORK AGENCY HAS
IDENTIFIED. YEAH SO THE SHORT
ANSWER IS BOTH. UH THE LONGER
ANSWER IS YEAH. SO WHEN WE LOOK
AT IT, FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU
LOOK AT AGAIN, IT'S $62 MILLION
, AND SEE SPG QUALIFY AS LOW
INCOME ON THE FEDERAL POVERTY
LINE. 125% SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING
AT THE NUMBERS OF THAT THAT'S
FAMILY OF ONE'S ABOUT 14,000 A
YEAR UP TO ABOUT A FAMILY OF
FOUR WOULD BE ABOUT 20,000 A
YEAR. SO WHEN YOU WHEN YOU LOOK
AT IT FROM WITHIN OUR STATE IF
YOU'RE AT THAT INCOME LEVEL,
THAT'S EXTREME POVERTY FOR OUR
STATE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR DATA
MAJORITY OF FAMILIES THAT WE
SERVE ARE TYPICALLY UNDER 75% OF
THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. SO
WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT
JUST EXTREME EXTREME EXTREME
POVERTY OF THE FAMILIES THAT WE
LOOK AT, SO IT'S CONSTANTLY
BUILDING THE PLANE IN THE AIR
WHERE YOU'RE YOU CAN'T STOP THE
MASS AMOUNT OF OUTPUTS THAT YOU
HAVE TO HAVE THE MASS AMOUNT OF
SERVICES THAT YOU HAVE JUST
CREATES STABILITY AND FAMILIES.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, OUR
AGENCIES BECAUSE OF AS YOU SAID,
BY THE HEART AND THE STRUCTURE
OF IT IS LOOKING AT HOW DO WE
MAXIMIZE THAT SMALL INVESTMENT
INTO LARGER INVESTMENTS? WHETHER
IT'S THROUGH WORKFORCE DOLLARS,
WHETHER IT'S THROUGH HEAD START
DOLLARS IN LOOKING AT PRE K IN
THOSE TYPE OF THINGS THAT CREATE
THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY
OPPORTUNITY TO HAPPEN. SO THOSE
NUMBERS ARE DEFINITELY THERE.
TYPICALLY WITH THE MAJORITY OF
OUR DOLLARS, YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT A YEAR'S WORTH OF WORK TO
GET SOMEONE FROM EXTREME CRISIS
SITUATION TO WHERE THEY CAN
ACTUALLY START WORKING TOWARDS
THAT ECONOMIC MOBILITY, BUT WE
DO LIKE YOU SAID, AT THE HEART
OF IT IS TO FOCUS ON THAT. AND
ONE OTHER THING I'LL ADD. IS
THAT UNIQUE NATURE ABOUT THESE
DOLLARS IS IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK
AT IT FROM A FAMILY LEVEL
PERSPECTIVE. AND WHAT I MEAN BY
THAT IS WE CAN CREATE ALL THE
FAMILY SERVICES WE CAN TO HELP
BALANCE FOLKS OUT, BUT A LOT OF
TIMES. IT'S JUST A LACK OF THE
OVERALL OPPORTUNITY IN THE
COMMUNITY. SO AGAIN, IT COULD BE
A MASS AMOUNT OF OUTPUT TO HELP
PEOPLE REGISTER FOR CAL FRESH IF
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT LOCAL
GROCERY STORES WITH HEALTHY
FOOD. THAT'S WHERE C S P G IS
REALLY SUCCESSFUL TO SAY THAT'S
NOT GOING TO BE ANYTHING ON A
BIG OUTCOME REPORT. BUT GETTING
A GROCERY STORE IN A FOOD DESERT
IS A HUGE DEAL. THANK YOU FOR
THOSE ANSWERS. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE REALIZED COMING OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC. IT'S JUST HOW
FRAGILE OUR SINGLE MOTHERS ARE
ONE OF THE GREATEST NEEDS OF
RENTAL ASSISTANCE. UH UM, ONE OF
THE MOST LIKELY TO FALL INTO
HOMELESSNESS FALL EVEN DEEPER
DOWN INTO POVERTY. AND THEN,
MOST RECENTLY. WE ARE SEEING THE
FAT, ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING
GROUPS OF HOMELESSNESS ARE
SENIORS. UM AND EVEN MORE
DISTURBING IS THE VERY HIGH
PERCENTAGE OF SENIORS WHO
QUALIFY FOR COW FRESH, BUT WE'RE
NOT ENROLLED. IN CAL FRESH WHAT
ARE WE DOING? WHAT DO YOU ALL
DOING? TO HYPER FOCUS ON THESE
TWO VERY FRAGILE GROUPS. UH TO
ENSURE THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE
BEING TAKEN CARE OF. AGAIN I
WOULD JUST START AND GO BACK TO
THE BEGINNING. I THINK THAT
EVERY NETWORK AGENCY FOCUSES
THEIR COMMUNITY NEEDS
ASSESSMENTS AND THEIR AND THEIR
PLANS ON THOSE PARTICULAR ITEMS
THAT THEY BELIEVE, OR. TOP OF
THE CHARTS FOR THEIR PARTICULAR
AREA. AND WHILE THERE ARE ONLY A
FEW OF US HERE TODAY, YOU MIGHT
GET I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER
AGENCIES THAT DO FOCUS MORE ON
SENIORS THAN OTHERS, AND THAT'S
JUST BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THEIR
PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. BUT I'LL
LEAVE IT NOW TO MR NIGHT. BUT
BEFORE YOU DO THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE STATE PLAN, THOUGH,
RIGHT? CORRECT FROM THE FROM THE
STANDPOINT OF A STATE PLAN,
RIGHT? AND THIS IS JUST THE
SOCIAL WORKER IN ME. SO YOU'RE
TALKING TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT
KIND OF PERSON HERE. IS THAT OH,
WE KNOW STATEWIDE. THESE ARE
ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING. AND
THE NUMBERS ARE SO GREAT I WILL
BE. IT WOULD BE HARD PRESSED FOR
US NOT TO SEE A COUNTY. THEY'RE
NOT SEEING SOME OF THESE
NUMBERS, RIGHT? SO FROM A
STATEWIDE OR STRATEGIC POINT OF
VIEW WHEN WE LOOK AT A STATE
PLAN UNLESS YOU'RE SAYING THE
STATE PLAN IS JUST. A
ACCUMULATION OF EVERYONE'S LOCAL
PLANS, AND THEN WE JUST PUT IT
IN THERE. OR IS THERE REALLY A
STATEWIDE PLAN THAT WE'RE TRYING
TO LOOK AT? I THINK THE
STATEWIDE PLAN IS EFFECTIVELY
USING CSP G FUNDS. TO
EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO THE
INDIVIDUAL AND DIRECTED NEEDS OF
THE ENTIRE STATE. HAD AND SO
THAT COULD LOOK IN A MYRIAD OF
DIFFERENT WAYS. WHERE IF WE JUST
LOOK AT THE STATE PLAN? FROM
THAT THE TOP DOWN UPTICK. IT MAY
APPEAR THAT WE HAVE 58. LITTLE
KIND OF STATE PLANS HAPPENING.
BUT IT EFFECTIVELY DOES COME
TOGETHER AS A SINGLE PLAN TO
HELP ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND
INSTANCES OF POVERTY TO HELP
BUILD COMMUNITIES UP. BASED ON
THOSE LOCAL NEEDS AND
ASSESSMENTS. NOW WE DO HAVE
DISCRETIONARY FUNDS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO THE STATE THAT WE
USE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS,
DEPENDING ON THOSE EMERGING
SOCIAL NEEDS AND ISSUES THAT
COME UP THE INFANT FORMULA
CRISIS WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT WE USE THOSE FUNDS FOR SO
WE ABSOLUTELY AS A STATE AND AS
A DEPARTMENT CAN GO INTO 2024
AND 2025. AND LOOK AT THOSE VERY
PARTICULAR ISSUES THAT YOU'VE
MENTIONED, AND SHE WHAT WE COULD
DO WITH EITHER STATE
DISCRETIONARY DIRECTED FUNDS OR
EVEN WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH
OUR NETWORK OF AGENCIES ACROSS
THE BOARD ACROSS THE STATE TO
SEE IS HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THIS
EMERGING SOCIAL NEED? THAT IS DO
YOU WRITE? BECOMING A, UH, VERY
PRESSING CONCERN FOR THE STATE
AS A WHOLE. I DON'T. I'M NOT
SURE IF THEY WANTED TO. YEAH AND
THEN PART OF THAT STATE PLAN TO
IT. IT'S UM AND, AS DAVID HAD
SAID, WITH THE DISCRETIONARY
DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT
IS OUR ROLE AS THE ASSOCIATION
TO HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP. WITH
OUR STATE OFFICIALS SO THAT
WE'RE CONSTANTLY AWARE AS WELL.
SO IN THAT STATE PLAN, IT'S WE
DON'T NECESSARILY TARGET OVERALL
ISSUES. BUT WHEN WE SPECIFICALLY
KNOW THAT THESE POPULATIONS
BASED ON THE DATA THAT WE
COLLECT BASED ON THE INFORMATION
COMING FROM YOU GUYS AND FROM
INTO THE STATE OFFICE AND TO US
, WE ARE ABLE TO PROACTIVELY
FOCUS IN TWO DIFFERENT AREAS,
WHICH ARE COMMUNICATIONS AND
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE. SO HOW DO WE BETTER?
EDUCATOR AGENCIES ON STATEWIDE
ISSUES. EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SINGLE
MOTHERS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT
IS A PRIME POPULATION FOR US TO
BUILD A BETTER SERVE. SO IN OUR
COLLABORATION BETWEEN US AND THE
STATE, WE WERE ABLE TO RECENTLY
SECURED $1.2 MILLION FOR A
DIAPER GRANT TO PILOT THAT
PROGRAM. SO THAT'S A FEDERAL
DOLLARS, SO HAVING THAT
KNOWLEDGE HAVING THAT ABILITY,
PUTTING THAT FORTH TO SAY WE'RE
GOING TO WORK TOGETHER? TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS
COMMUNICATING THOSE SPECIFIC
POPULATIONS THAT WE KNOW ARE IN
OUR POVERTY METRICS. AND TELL ME
MY LAST QUESTION IS, HOW CAN THE
LEGISLATURE SERVE AS A PARTNER
TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE
DEPARTMENT? I MEAN, YOUR
ORGANIZATIONS. AND I THINK THAT
THE PRIME AREAS IS THIS
CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW TO HEAR
FROM THIS COMMITTEE AND THE
MEMBERS. OF WHAT? YOUR SCENE
FROM YOUR OFFICES AND WHAT
YOU'RE HEARING FROM THOSE IN
YOUR COMMUNITY. TO HAVE THAT
DIRECT COMMUNICATION TO YOU
KNOW, THERE'S NEVER CAN BE TOO
MUCH CONVERSATION. THERE CAN
NEVER BE TOO MUCH DATA. AND WE
WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE
DETERMINATIONS DEVELOPED. THE
STATE PLAN BASED ON GOOD DATA.
AND THE MORE WE CAN HEAR FROM
FROM THE LEGISLATURE, THE MORE
THAT YOU GET FROM YOUR
CONSTITUENTS AND PASS THAT ON
INTO THE DEPARTMENT. WE THEN
OBVIOUSLY CAME THROUGH OUR
PARTNERSHIPS FILTER THAT
INFORMATION THROUGH AND DEVELOP
A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT, MORE
RESPONSIVE COMMUNITY STATE BLOCK
GRANT AND IN THE DEPARTMENT AND
THE NETWORK. I WAS JUST GONNA
ADD. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M
SITTING. I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD
THAT IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY
HELPFUL FROM THE LOCAL LEVEL AS
A COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY WHEN
WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH
ELECTED OFFICIALS, BECAUSE
SOMETIMES WHEELS THAT WE CAN'T
GET MOVING. YOU GUYS CAN GET
MOVING VERY, VERY QUICKLY FOR
SOMEBODY AND SO THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOUR LOCAL
OFFICES SO THAT YOU CAN REFER
CONSTITUENTS TO US, UM THAT SO
THAT YOU CAN COME VISIT US. WE
LOVE THAT, YOU KNOW, COME NO.
YOUR COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY.
MANY OF US ARE, YOU KNOW,
MULTIFACETED, UM, I RUN ABOUT
$34 MILLION ORGANIZATION
1,000,000 OF THAT IS THE SPG, SO
IT'S A VERY SMALL PORTION OF
WHAT I DO, BUT IT'S A GREAT
FOUNDATION FOR ALL THE OTHER
PROGRAMS THAT I RUN THAT CAN
HELP YOU DIRECTLY. AND THEN IN
TURN, WHEN, WHEN I HAVE
SOMETHING THAT SEEMS LIKE IT
NEEDS TO BE GREASED. I HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP SO THAT I CAN CALL
YOU TOO, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW
THINGS HAPPEN. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH CHEF. THERE'S NO OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. WE WANT
TO THANK THIS PANEL VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE. AND WE WOULD
LIKE TO WELCOME UP SOME OF THE
FUNDED AGENCIES AT THIS TIME.
OKAY? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
BEING HERE. AND SO WE WANT TO
WELCOME UP CARLA LOPEZ DEL RIO,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF
RIVERSIDE. WE WANT TO BRING UP
JORGE DANE NAVA, JUNIOR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL
VALLEY OPPORTUNITY CENTER, AND
GREG CARE. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INDIAN
DEVELOPMENT SENT COUNCIL AND I
BELIEVE HE'S JOINING US
REMOTELY. AND WE'LL START OFF
WITH MS LOPEZ DEL RIO. I MEAN,
YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU ARE
READY. CERTAINLY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE FOR
ALLOWING OUR VOICE TO COME TO
THE CAPITAL AND FOR IT TO BE
HEARD, I REPRESENT MORE THAN 2.5
MILLION PEOPLE BACK IN.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE
LARGEST COUNTIES IN THE REGION
IS VERY DIVERSE. UM, I'VE
LEARNED SO MUCH BY WORKING AT
RIVERSIDE COUNTY ABOUT THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RURAL AND
URBAN. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
SERVING SOMEBODY WHO IS LOW
INCOME AND EXTREMELY LOW INCOME
. THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE TO
BE IN PLACE AND THE COMMITMENT
THAT HAS TO BE IN PLACE, BUT ALL
OF THIS IS REALLY CENTERED AND
REALLY HELPS TO HAVE THE STATE
PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU JUST
MENTIONED AT THE END OF YOUR OF
YOUR LAST PANEL. UM THIS
MULTILEVEL COLLABORATION THAT
HAS VERY STRATEGIC FOCUS ON
HELPING LOCAL COMMUNITIES SOLVE
THEIR ISSUES IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HAVING US HERE. UNIQUE UH,
CAP RIVERSIDE IS UNIQUE. WE ARE
A PUBLIC PRIVATE, UM, ENTITY IN
THE SENSE THAT COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS COMMUNITY ACTIONS
ARE USUALLY, UM, NONPROFITS. WE
ARE EMBEDDED IN THE COUNTY,
WHICH GIVES ME A VERY UNIQUE
ROLE. I SERVED AS A DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING WORK FOR
SOLUTIONS ALONG WITH FIVE OTHER
DEPUTIES. UM THE DEPUTY ON THE
CONTINUUM OF CARE, THE DEPUTY ON
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT, THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY WORK FOR SOLUTIONS,
AND I AM THE FIFTH. UM, THE
FIFTH DEPUTY HELPING WITH UPWARD
MOBILITY. WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT
WE WANT TO START IN OUR
COMMUNITIES TALKING ABOUT
FINANCIAL WELLNESS. I THINK THAT
WE HAVE REALLY TAKEN A ROLE IN
ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AS AN
ISSUE, BUT FINANCIAL WELLNESS
AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH
TREMENDOUSLY AND WHAT WE SEE IN
PEOPLE THAT COME TO OUR OFFICE
THAT ARE STRESSED OUT. THAT ARE
COMPLETELY SOMETIMES, UM, UNABLE
TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR SO
FRUSTRATED, REALLY EMANATES FROM
THIS POVERTY THAT THEY ARE
ENDURING ON A DAILY BASIS. UM
PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT LEAVE MY
LOBBY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
ANYWHERE TO SLEEP, AND THEY'RE
SCARED OF GOING OUT AT NIGHT
YOUNG 21 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO WAS
REFUSING TO LEAVE UNLESS I GAVE
HER SOME WATER AND LET HER SLEEP
IN OUR IN OUR LOBBY, SO WE'RE
SEEING THAT FIRSTHAND. MAN BEING
AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, IT REALLY
CONNECTS US TO THE COMMUNITY. UM
SOMETIMES, THEY SAY GOVERNMENT
MAY BE DISCONNECTED FROM
COMMUNITY. BUT IN THIS IN THIS
CASE, I AM ABLE TO CARRY THE
EXPERIENCE RIGHT INTO THE TEAM
THAT IS ADDRESSING HOUSING AND
WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. WE BELIEVE
IN COMMUNITY CENTERED PUBLIC
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS DESIGNED IN
COLLABORATION WITH LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS. IN MY TENURE THERE,
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, AS I WILL
SHARE WITH. YOU DO A LOT OF THIS
WORK. WE USE OUR NETWORK TO CALL
UP UPON A WAITER, WIDER RATE OF
STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS TO
IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE
CAN SUPPORT THEIR LOCAL
SOLUTIONS. WE WANT TO HAVE A
ROLE TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL
EFFORTS BY FUNDING, ACTIVATING,
BRIDGING AND INCENTIVIZING
CHANGE. THE GREATEST ASSETS OF
THIS FUNDING FOR US IS THE
FLEXIBILITY THAT YOU'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT. IT ALLOWS ME TO
SPEAK TO PEOPLE AND BRIDGE, UH,
EMERGENCIES AS WELL AS BUILD
WITH STRATEGY, AND I WILL SHARE
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. UM
THIS ALSO ALLOWS US TO COLLECT
COMMUNITY LEVEL DATA. WE HEARD
THAT STATE LEVEL DATA IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. BUT THE NUISANCE OF
THE OF THE DIFFERENCE OF THE
SOLUTION REALLY LIES IN THE
COMMUNITY LEVEL DATA, AND WE
HAVE VERY LITTLE INFRASTRUCTURE
. IN THAT CASE. UM ONE OF THE
EXAMPLES THAT I CAN GIVE YOU IS
THAT RIVERSIDE COUNTY HAS 52%
LATINO. BUT PROVIDING HOUSING
THAT IS THE ASPIRATION OF A
LATINO IN RURAL CALIFORNIA,
COACHELLA VALLEY, MAYBE A DOUBLE
WIDE TRAILER VERSUS A FAMILY WHO
IS LOW INCOME IN ONCE A TWO
BEDROOM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
APARTMENT IN URBAN RIVERSIDE. SO
WE HAVE A WIDER RATE. UH, WIDE
RANGE OF UH, MEADS, AND THIS
COMMUNITY LEVEL DATA IS VERY
DIFFICULT TO FIND IS VERY
DISCONNECTED IS USUALLY NOT
AVAILABLE. WE DON'T KNOW WHO
HOLDS IT, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR
IT? SO WE RELY A LOT ON DATA
THAT'S GIVEN TO US BY PARTNERS
THAT ARE TRUSTED BY THE
COMMUNITY. FOR EXAMPLE, 211 SO
211 ALLOWED US TO HAVE INSIGHT
INTO WHO IS CALLING FOR THEIR
SERVICES. AND HOW ARE WE
LEVERAGING OUR EFFORTS? 500,000
CALLS CAME IN LAST YEAR OUT OF
WHICH THE TOP THREE NEEDS,
WAREHOUSING, UTILITY ASSISTANCE
AND FOOD. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT
PIECE OF THAT WAS THE BREAKDOWN
OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHO'S
CALLING IN AND THE INSIGHT THAT
IT GAVE US INTO THE COMMUNITY
NEEDS ASSESSMENT. 70% OF THE
PEOPLE THAT CALL WHERE WOMEN AND
OUT OF THOSE 36% OF THOSE ARE
LATINAS AND 35% OF THOSE ARE
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN. THERE'S
ONLY 8% OF AFRICAN AMERICAN
POPULATIONS IN OUR ENTIRE COUNTY
. THAT'S AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF
DISPARITY FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN
WOMEN. UM SINGLE MOTHERHOOD IS
ABOVE THE TOP ISSUES. I WAS A
SINGLE MOTHER MYSELF, AND I DID
GO BACK TO COLLEGE. UM I WAS ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTER OF
CAP AT ONE POINT IN TIME, SO ON
THE ISSUE, AND THE QUESTION
ABOUT IS IT POSSIBLE TO PULL OUT
OF POVERTY? I CAN TELL YOU YES.
IS IT OVER FOR ME KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE I NEED INVESTMENTS, AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
REALLY THINKING ABOUT. WHEN WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT SOLVING
PROBLEMS OF POVERTY AND
RIVERSIDE COUNTY. IT'S ABOUT
SMALL BUSINESSES. IT'S ABOUT
HOMEOWNERSHIP IS ABOUT GOING
BACK TO SCHOOL AND REALLY BEING
ABLE TO GET INTO THE UPPER
ESCALON OF HIGH AND UNIVERSITY
BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO RUN. YOUR
YOUR ENTERPRISES. UM. SO WHAT
ARE WE DOING WITH THE CSG
FUNDING TO ADDRESS WHAT I JUST
TOLD YOU? UM FIRST WE NEED TO
STABILIZE PEOPLE FINANCIALLY.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO COME OUT
OF POVERTY WHEN YOU'RE SPENDING
MOST OF YOUR TIME LOOKING FOR
FOOD FOR SHELTER. THIS IS THE
TIME YOU SPEND EVERY DAY. AND WE
KNOW IT AS BUSY EXECUTIVES EVERY
MINUTE COUNTS. WELL, THAT
HAPPENS IN POVERTY, TOO. SO WHAT
WE TRY TO DO IS WE TRY TO
STABILIZE PEOPLE FINANCIALLY
FIRST, SO WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT
ARE GEARED TOWARDS THAT. THE
COOLER WARM CENTERS HAVE ONE OF
THE BIGGEST, UM, NOT ONLY
PROVIDER OF A SAFE SPACE DURING
THIS EXTREME HEAT, PARTICULARLY
IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY AND THE
DESERT AREAS. BUT THEY ALSO
PROVIDE A PLACE FOR YOU TO GO
AND SPEND TIME IF YOU CANNOT
AFFORD YOUR UTILITIES TO PAY FOR
THEIR CONDITIONING. UM AND WE
HAVE ABOUT 70 OF THOSE
THROUGHOUT THE REGION, AND THOSE
ARE ALL RUN BY VOLUNTEERS THAT
ARE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES OPENING
THEIR DOORS. THIS IS FUNDING
THAT IS LEVERAGING NOT JUST
MONEY, BUT PEOPLE AND PEOPLE'S
CARE AND COMMITMENT TO THEIR
COMMUNITY. BESIDES THAT, WE HAVE
THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. THAT
IS ACTUALLY WHAT I'M SEEING. AND
THIS IS EMPIRICAL. I DON'T HAVE
GOOD DATA. BUT WHAT I SEE AS THE
MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE COMING
THROUGH WHETHER IT'S ASIAN, OUR
SENIORS AND WHAT WE'RE HELPING
THEM. DO STAY IN PLACE AND AVOID
HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS ONE OF
THE TRENDS THAT YOU HAVE JUST
BROUGHT UP IN YOUR OPENING. UM,
PANEL. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR
US BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS
ASSESSMENT DID TELL US THAT THE
FASTEST GROWING POPULATION IS
SENIORS, AND THEY ARE
IMPOVERISHING FAST. INFLATION
HAS BEEN VERY HARSH ON THEM. AND
THEIR HOMES ARE NOT IN GOOD
CONDITIONS. SO ONCE WE ADDRESS
THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF
PEOPLE THROUGH SOME OF THOSE
PROGRAMS, WE ALSO RUN THE
LARGEST UTILITY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
TO ALMOST 20,000 FAMILIES. WE
FOCUS ON PRIORITY POINTS THAT
FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER
ON VENTILATORS. INSULIN HAVE
CHILDREN UNDER FIVE HAVE SOME
CRITICAL MEDICAL AND WE RAN OUT
OF MONEY. LAST YEAR, WE HAD TO
PRIORITIZE TO THE T. BECAUSE THE
FUNDING WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR
EVERYONE. THE LIGHT UP PROGRAM,
SAYING WE WERE ABLE TO WITH THIS
VERY IMPORTANT, UM, POWERFUL
ROLE THAT I SEE IN THIS BEING
EMBEDDED IN THE PUBLIC ENTITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT
IMMEDIATELY WITH THE WATER
DISTRICTS AND CREATE VERY STRONG
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM WHERE WE
WERE ABLE TO EDUCATE THEM ON HOW
THIS PROGRAM WOULD FUND AND HOW
IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE
RESIDENTS AND TO THEM AS AN
INSTITUTION. BECAUSE OF THOSE
PARTNERSHIPS, WE WERE ABLE TO
LEAVE THE STATE IN DEPLOYING
WATER ASSISTANCE AND RECEIVING
ADDITIONAL FUNDING SO THAT WE
COULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT
SERVICE. SO THIS STABILIZATION
LEADS US THEN TO THE UPPER
MOBILITY PROGRAMS THAT WE TRY TO
LEVERAGE ONE THAT I REALLY WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT TO YOU AS A
VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. THAT PROGRAM IS
TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR MY REGION
WE HAVE ABOUT 25 NONPROFIT
PARTNERS AROUND THE AROUND THE
REGION AND WITH THE HELP OF 75
VOLUNTEERS, AND THIS IS BUILDING
AFTER THE PANDEMIC. THAT BASE
WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO REBUILD.
BUT WE'RE REBUILDING IT, AND
THEY ARE NOT JUST PROVIDING A
COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO
FILE YOUR TAXES BUT ALSO HAD TO
RECEIVE YOUR REFUNDS AND THOSE
REFUNDS ARE TRANSFORMATION OF
THE EITC REFUND THE EARNED
INCOME TAX CREDIT REFUND IS A
VERY IMPORTANT POVERTY
ALLEVIATION TOOL THAT WE HAVE,
BUT IT'S NOT BEEN FULLY
ACTIVATED AND WHOSE ACTIVATING
IT IS THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE
HELPING OTHER RESIDENTS. LEARN
HOW TO APPLY HOW TO FILE THEIR
TAXES SO ABIDE BY THE LAW BUT
ALSO RECEIVED THE INCENTIVES OF
ALL THESE DIFFERENT CREDITS. ONE
QUICK STORY I WANT TO SHARE WITH
YOU IS ONE OF THE HUNTERS.
CONTRERAS SHE WAS ONE OF OUR
SINGLE MOMS WHO CAME FOR THE
BETA PROGRAM TO BE ASSISTED. WE
WERE ABLE TO BACKTRACK AND AMEND
HER TAXES BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN
DOING IT WITH TURBOTAX FOR TOO
LONG, AND AS WE WENT BACK A FEW
YEARS BACK SHE ENDED UP WITH A
$30,000 REFUND CHECK. BUT THE
MOST IMPORTANT PART WAS THAT SHE
HAD A DREAM THAT SHE WANTED TO
BE A HOMEOWNER AND THROUGH OUR
ASSET BUILDING PROGRAMS. WE
MATCHED HER FUNDS, AND WE
CONNECTED HER TO SERVICES THAT
LED HER TO HOMEOWNERSHIP. IT'S
UNHEARD OF NOWADAYS. I KNOW, BUT
IT HAPPENS AND WHAT I HAVE FAITH
IN IS THAT MANY OF MY NONPROFIT
PARTNERS ARE CREATING NOVEL
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN
MANUFACTURED HOMES AND DIFFERENT
TYPES OF NOT A $750,000. YOU
KNOW, SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT
NOBODY CAN AFFORD. NOT EVEN. YOU
KNOW, $150,000. YOU CANNOT
AFFORD THAT HOUSE. HOWEVER WE'RE
LOOKING FOR NEW PROJECTS. AND
THAT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN C S V G
GETS IN THE MIX AND STARTS
ASKING THE QUESTION. WHAT DO WE
NEED TO BRIDGE WHAT NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE
THE NEXT STEP? UM OKAY, KEEP
GOING ON ON THAT ONE. BUT WHAT I
ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT IS THAT
WE ARE TRYING TO EDUCATE MORE
MINUTES. YES, WE'RE TRYING TO
EDUCATE PEOPLE HOW TO BECOME
SELF SUFFICIENT THROUGH STARTING
THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES, AND NOT
ONLY HOW TO DO IT. WE'RE DOING
IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PEOPLE
WHO ARE THEIR FUNDING, THEIR
IDEAS, SEATING THEIR IDEAS, BUT
ALSO SHOWING THEM HOW TO BE A
VENDOR TO THE COUNTY. THAT'S
HURTING FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS
RIGHT NOW, SO WE BELIEVE THAT
THIS UPPER MOBILITY CAN BE A
PUBLIC PARTNER. PARTNERSHIP THAT
BENEFITS ARE ALL AREAS. FINALLY,
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MOST
IMPORTANT PIECE THAT I SEE FOR
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF MY
TENURE, AND IT'S THE TECH TECH
TECH DIGITAL DIVIDE. THIS IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO THE I WORK.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE
RURAL AREAS WHICH I KNOW THAT
ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO BOTH OF
YOU. THE BROADBAND, UM,
INFORMATION THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE
IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME THROUGH
THE TRUSTED PARTNERS OF THE
COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT COMMUNITY
ACTION PARTNERSHIPS ARE. THEY
ARE THE TRUSTED VOICES OF THOSE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ABLE TO
MOBILIZE IDEAS THAT ARE GOING TO
BE INNOVATIVE BECAUSE IF WE DO
NOT CONNECT FROM SENIORS TO KIDS
ARE REGIONS TO BROADBAND AND
THOSE TECHNIQUES, THOSE
TECHNOLOGY PIECES WE'RE GOING TO
GET LEFT BEHIND IT AND
TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS JORGE DONOVAN JR. AND
I'M, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT
CENTRAL VALLEY OPPORTUNITY
CENTER. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
MYSELF. BRIEFLY UM, BORN AND
RAISED IN CALIFORNIA. I'M A
FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN
AMERICAN. BOTH MY PARENTS ARE
IMMIGRANTS FROM MEXICO, UM, GREW
UP IN STANISLAUS COUNTY AND
CONTINUE TO REPRESENT THAT AREA
TO THE STATE PROFESSIONALLY,
HAVE BEEN WITH CENTRAL VALLEY
OPPORTUNITY CENTER FOR 21 YEARS.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SINCE
2017. IT'S ONLY THE SECOND JOB
I'VE EVER HAD. SO IT'S BEEN A
PRETTY GOOD ONE. SO I'M HERE
TODAY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT C V O. C. THAT IS OUR
ACRONYM. WHAT C V O C DOES WITH
RCS PG FUNDS AND WHO WE ARE, AND
I ALSO LIKE TO TOUCH ON HOW WE
LEVERAGE THE CPSC SPG FUNDS TO
BRING IN ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO
OUR SERVICE AREA. SO CENTRAL
VALLEY OPPORTUNITY CENTER IS A
501 C THREE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION INDEPENDENT OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE'RE A
GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION ON
STEROIDS. UM SO OUR ALLOCATION
FOR CSP G IS RIGHT AROUND $2
MILLION, BUT WE LEVERAGE THAT TO
BRING IN ABOUT $16 MILLION IN
ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO FILL IN THE
GAPS AND TO SERVE MORE PEOPLE
THAN SEE SPG ALLOWS RIGHT. UM
PRIMARY SERVICE AREA ENCOMPASSES
FIVE COUNTIES. MARIPOSA PTOLEMY
UP IN THE MOTHER LODE, STANISLAW
MERCED IN MADERA COUNTY IN THE
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. UM WE'VE
BEEN AROUND FOR 43 YEARS CENTRAL
VALUE OPPORTUNITY CENTER. WE'VE
BEEN AROUND FOR 43 YEARS AND
WE'VE BEEN OPERATING CSP GOD
GRANTS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME. A
FEW DECADES. UM SO WE ARE
FAMILIAR WITH THE FLEXIBILITY OF
THE FUNDING. UH YOU'VE HEARD
EARLIER TODAY THAT IT'S NOT A
PROGRAM, ITS FUNDING EACH
INDIVIDUAL AREA DESIGNS THEIR
OWN PROGRAM, BASED ON COMMUNITY
NEEDS ASSESSMENT. WE'RE GOING TO
SAY THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN
BECAUSE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
PIECE OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AS
A COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES AND
SC SPG ENTITIES. SO IN ADDITION
TO THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, AND C
S, P G C B O C IS ALSO VERY
UNIQUE IN THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE
FOUR MIGRANT AND SEASONAL
FARMWORKERS GRANTEES UNDER THE
COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.
SO NOT ONLY ARE WE SERVING THE
LOW INCOME POPULATION WOULD SEE
WITH THE SPG FUNDS WERE ALSO
FOCUSING ON THE MIGRANT SEASONAL
FARM WORKER POPULATIONS IN OUR
AREA. HOWEVER I LIKE TO THINK
AND I LIKE TO LET FOLKS KNOW
THAT SERVING LOW INCOME FOLKS
ENCOMPASSES. EVERYBODY IN OUR
COMMUNITY, UH, VETERANS ARE LOW
INCOME MIGRANT. SEASONAL FARM
WORKERS ARE LOW INCOME SINGLE
PARENTS ARE LOW INCOME X
OFFENDERS ARE LOW INCOME,
DISABLED OR LOW INCOME,
ETCETERA, ETCETERA, ETCETERA,
RIGHT, SO SEE, SPG ALLOWS US TO
HAVE A VERY LARGE REACH WITHIN
OUR COMMUNITY AGAIN DESIGNED OFF
OF THE COMMUNITY NEEDS
ASSESSMENT AND THE COMMUNITY
ACTION PLAN THAT WE PUT TOGETHER
EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. SO FOR MY
AREA AND THE AGENCY THAT I
REPRESENT IN THE 100,
HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES THAT
CENTRAL VALLEY OPPORTUNITY
CENTER, OUR COMMUNITY ASKED US
TO FOCUS ON WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, A LARGE
PORTION OF THE DELIVERY OF
SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE IS
AROUND VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. CEO C.
OPERATES OUR OWN VOCATIONAL
TRAINING SCHOOLS. UM LAST YEAR
ALONE, WE WERE ABLE TO WOULD SEE
SPG FUNDS WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE.
APPROXIMATELY 235 PEOPLE WITH
VOCATIONAL TRAINING SERVICES AND
100 AND 59 OF THOSE RECEIVED A
JOB OR MONO AT C V. O. C IS
HELPING PEOPLE CHANGING LIVES.
WE ARE SEARCHING AND STRIVING TO
HELP OUR PARTICIPANTS BECOME
SELF SUFFICIENT, NOT GET A
CERTIFICATE, NOT GET A JOB, NOT
KEEP YOUR UTILITIES ON NOT TO
PROVIDE YOU A COOL ENVIRONMENT.
DURING THE HEAT, BUT IT'S TOO
HELP YOU BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT,
AND WE FOCUS ON THAT EXTREMELY
HARD, ANOTHER AREA THAT WE FOCUS
ON THAT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES IS EDUCATION SERVICES.
A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE
ARE SERVING, LACKS A HIGH SCHOOL
EDUCATION AND LACKS BASIC
ENGLISH SKILLS. SO WHAT DO WE
DO? RIGHT WE PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL
EQUIVALENCY PROGRAMS AND
PREPARATION. UH HUH. AND WE HAVE
S L CLASSES THAT ARE STAND ALONE
AND ALSO INCORPORATED INTO OUR
VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS.
ANOTHER AREA THAT WE FOCUS ON IS
HOUSING. WE DO THAT QUITE A FEW
DIFFERENT WAYS THAT'S WITH
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, UM,
EMERGENCY SHELTER PROGRAMS AND
TEMPORARY SHELTER PROGRAMS. WE
ALSO HAVE A SECURITY DEPOSIT
PROGRAM THAT WE FOCUS ON WITH
HOUSING AS WELL. WE THEN MOVE
INTO, UM A TRANSPORTATION ASPECT
, SO IT'S A BIG ASK TO HELP TO
ENROLL YOU INTO VOCATIONAL
TRAINING PROGRAM AND HELP YOU
FIND A CAREER WHILE YOU'RE
TAKING S L CLASSES AND WORKING
TOWARDS YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
WHILE STILL TRYING TO KEEP THE
LIGHTS ON. AND UM, FOOD ON THE
TABLE GAS IN THE CAR, RIGHT? SO
WE INCORPORATE A WHOLE PERSON
APPROACH AND INCLUDE WRAPAROUND
SERVICES. SO WE HAVE A
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT WE'VE
BUILT, UM, OUTSIDE OF OUR LOCAL
CITY AND COUNTY BUS SYSTEM, SO
WE PICK UP WHAT WE REMOVE THE NO
IN THE EXCUSES FOR OUR
PARTICIPANTS, SO WE'LL PICK YOU
UP AT YOUR HOUSE WILL BRING YOU
TO CLASS. WE'LL TAKE YOU HOME,
ETCETERA, ETCETERA, SO WE'RE
ABLE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY THAT
WAY AND SUPPORT OUR FOLKS THAT
ARE IN THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION
, WE ARE THE LIGHT HEAT PROVIDER
. THE WATER PROVIDER LIE WOP. UM
WE ALSO HAVE A WEATHERIZATION
PROGRAM. WE TEACH WEATHERIZATION
AS A VOCATIONAL TRAINING COURSE
AS WELL. SO WE'RE ABLE TO AGAIN
. REMOVE THE BARRIERS. I
HONESTLY THEY'RE EXCUSES,
SOMETIMES FROM PARTICIPANTS, SO
WE LIKE TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS.
THAT'S THE NICE WORD. UH FOR OUR
PARTICIPANTS SO THAT THEY CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL IN THE END FROM ALL
THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE OFFERING
SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME SELF
SUFFICIENT. UM I MENTIONED
EARLIER THAT WE HAVE ABOUT $2
MILLION IN CSP G FUNDS, BUT WE
DO LEVERAGE THAT INTO $16
MILLION IN FUNDS DIRECTED
TOWARDS LOW INCOME RESIDENTS IN
OUR SERVICE AREA. LAST YEAR
ALONE, WE SERVED ABOUT 7500
HOUSEHOLDS AND ABOUT 21,500
INDIVIDUALS. WE ARE IN PRIMARILY
PROVIDING SERVICES IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY. SO A LOT OF THE
FOLKS THAT WE SERVED 5000 TO BE
EXACT OR ABOUT 24% WERE
CONSIDERED DEEP POVERTY, MEANING
THEY WERE AT 50% OF THE LOW
INCOME LEVEL. UH, SO, UM THE
IMPACT THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH
THE CSP GIGS FANS, ESPECIALLY
FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN DEEP
POVERTY IS REALLY EXPONENTIAL,
AND IT ALLOWS THEM TO NOT ONLY
SURVIVE AT TIMES, BUT AGAIN PUTS
THEM ON THE PATH TOWARDS SELF
SUFFICIENCY. UM WITH THAT SAID,
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK
THAT WE DO. WE'RE VERY HONORED
TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TODAY. UM
AND SHARING THE DAYS HERE WITH
MY COUNTERPARTS AND ONLINE AS
WELL. I KNOW GREG'S ON THERE. SO
AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION AND THANK YOU FOR
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY
SERVICES BLOCK GRANT SUPPORTING
COMMUNITY ACTION. UM, AND AGAIN
MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MR DE NAVA. NEXT
UP. WE HAVE, UM MR GAIR, AM I.
PRONOUNCING THAT RIGHT? OH, WOW.
ALRIGHT UM, COMMITTEE CO CHAIRS
SENATOR ALVARADO GIL, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, DR JACKSON AND ALL THE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE I UK MY
NAME IS GREG CARE. I'M THE CEO
FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INDIAN
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OR IN C I, D
. C IS PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY
CALLS US. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE
TODAY TO PROVIDE A PERSPECTIVE
ON THE USE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
BLOCK GRANT FUNDING. TO HELP
POVERTY LEVEL AMERICAN INDIANS
AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES IN
CALIFORNIA STRIVE FOR SELF
SUFFICIENCY. CALIFORNIA IS ONE
OF, IF NOT THE ONLY STATEMENT.
NATION TO HAVE ESTABLISHED AN
AMERICAN INDIAN SET ASIDE UNDER
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK
GRANT PROGRAM SINCE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF CSP G IN 1982
, CALIFORNIA HAS MAINTAINED THAT
AMERICAN INDIAN SET ASIDE WITHIN
THE STATE'S TOTAL C SPG
ALLOCATION. AND SEE I, D. C IS
ONE OF ONLY THREE ELIGIBLE SPG
ORGANIZATIONS, ALONG WITH THE
CUTTING TRIBE AND L. A COUNTY
THAT ARE BOTH, UM NATIVE NATIVE
AMERICAN INDIAN AGENCIES, TRIBE
AND NCDC ARE ALSO IN ADDITION,
WHAT ARE CALLED LIMITED PURPOSE
AGENCIES OR LPS, UM ARE MIGRANT
SEASONAL. UM SISTER AGENCIES ARE
ALSO A SPECIALIZED FORM OF AN L
P A. UM WE WERE GRANTED THAT
STATUS AS AN L P A BECAUSE OF
RELATIONSHIPS WE HAD WITH THE
COMMUNITY SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION BACK BEFORE SEE
SPG. AND WHEN THE CSP G ACT CAME
IN ARE. ELIGIBILITY FOR THE C S
A PROGRAMS GRANDFATHER DOES IN
AS LP AGENCIES UNDER THE PUBLIC
LAW AND ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE
TO SERVE ALONGSIDE ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY. UM SEE
SPG ENTITIES THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA. AND SEE I, D. C IS A
NONPROFIT 501 C THREE INDIAN
ORGANIZATION, BUT WE ARE MADE UP
AS AN INTER TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP OF 13
INDIAN TRIBES AND TRIBAL
ORGANIZATIONS, UM, ARE DIRECT
ORIGINAL DIRECT SERVICE AREA
WHEN WE WERE CREATED IN THE MID
SEVENTIES CONSISTED OF FOUR
COUNTIES IN THE NORTHWESTERN
PART OF THE STATE BUS. THE NAME
UM, HOWEVER, SINCE 1986 AND CDC
HAS ALSO BEEN THE PRIMARY
STATEWIDE, SEE SPG SERVICE
PROVIDER FOR THE AMERICAN INDIAN
SET ASIDE NETWORK WE HAVE 57
COUNTIES AND OVER 100
RESERVATIONS AND RANCH AREAS
UNDER CONTRACT, WHICH GET
ALLOCATIONS FOR SERVICES WITH
CSD THROUGH CSP G. LAST YEAR, WE
HAD OVER 25,000 NATIVE PEOPLE,
ASSISTED DIRECTLY BY SEA, SPG
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WITHIN THE
STATE, AND APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER
40,000 PEOPLE WERE SERVED BY NEW
COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT WERE
CREATED THROUGH CSP G. SERVICES
WERE OFFERED THAT ADDRESSED
IMMEDIATE NEED AND HAD LONG TERM
IMPACT IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. UM IN
ORDER TO FACILITATE THE DELIVERY
OF SERVICES TO THE AMERICAN
INDIAN ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I, D. C
HAS AN ESTABLISHED SUBCONTRACTOR
NETWORK OF AMERICAN INDIAN
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DELIVER
DIRECT SEE SPG SERVICES TO OFFER
RESERVATION NATIVE PEOPLE. THE
MAJORITY OF THESE SUBCONTRACTORS
HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY DESIGNATED
BY THE U. S DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AS NATIVE AMERICAN GRANTEES,
PROVIDING SERVICES UNDER THE
WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND
OPPORTUNITY ACT, A RC SPG
PROGRAM BECOMES A COMPLIMENT TO
THE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
SERVICES OF THOSE AGENCIES. THE
ABILITY TO CASE MANAGE CLIENTS
WITH BOTH CSP G. N W I. O
RESOURCES PROVIDES MUCH MORE
FLEXIBILITY IN ADDRESSING THE
BARRIERS CLIENTS FACE AND
ACHIEVING SUCCESSES WITH EACH
CLIENT. IN MOST INSTANCES, THE
ADDITION OF CSP G FUND, IT HAS
EXPANDED THE CAPACITY OF THESE
SUB CONTRACTOR AGENCIES.
STRENGTHEN THEIR MANAGEMENT AND
OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS AND PROVIDED
A CATALYST, DEVELOP ADDITIONAL
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THEIR
AMERICAN INDIAN SERVICE
POPULATIONS. THE I. D. C
RESPONDED TO THE PANDEMIC BY
ESTABLISHING AN ONLINE
APPLICATION PROCESS AND WORKING
WITH SUPPLY BANK, A SISTER
AGENCY THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD
SOME ABOUT CREATING TRIBAL PPE
DISTRIBUTION CENTERS AND TESTING
SITES THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN
INDIAN COUNTRY. UM WE HAD BUILT
OFF OF THE EFFORTS OF WHAT WE
LEARNED AND WHAT WE DID DURING
THE PANDEMIC. AND R. C S P G
NETWORK CONTINUES TO DEVELOP
MORE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS NOW AS
WE COME OUT OF THAT PANDEMIC. UM
SOME EXAMPLES OF CURRENT
PROGRAMS INCLUDE CREATING AND
SUPPORTING DISASTER RESPONSE
NETWORK STATEWIDE FOR INDIAN
COMMUNITIES, UM, CREATING
STATEWIDE LOW INCOME TRIBAL
SCHOOL SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION
PROGRAMS AGAIN WORKING IN
CONJUNCTION WITH SUPPLY BANK. UM
PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY EXPANSION IN
AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITIES. A
LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT
NOW HAS TO DO WITH OFFSHORE
WINDMILLS AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS
AGREEMENTS AS WELL AS A DAM
DECOMMISSIONING, WHICH IS
ANOTHER BIG THING HAPPENING IN
THE NORTH PART OF THE STATE. UM
AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF LOT OF
BUILDING SUPPORT AND A NEED FOR
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE PREVENTION FOR INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE, AND PARTICULARLY IN
YOUTH. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
THAT THAT I'M VERY PROUD THAT
OUR NETWORK HAS DONE IN RECENT
YEAR IS TO DEVELOP ONLINE
TELEHEALTH MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELING SPECIFICALLY TARGETED
AT YOUTH. UM, YOU'VE BEEN
DEFINED AS YOU KNOW, 14 TO 26
YEARS OLD, AND IT'S OUR OUR
MODEL IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IS
BASED ON A MODEL THAT WAS
ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED BY ONE OF
OUR SUBCONTRACTORS IN THE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AMERICAN
INDIAN RESOURCE CENTER IN SAN
DIEGO AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
UM, SHARING THOSE BEST BEST
PRACTICES AMONGST THE NETWORK IS
SOMETHING THAT WE TRY TO MEET
AND DO ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
RESERVATIONS AND RANCH AREAS IN
CALIFORNIA ARE ALL DESIGNATED AS
POCKETS OF POVERTY WITHIN THE
CSP G NETWORK. AND C. N C I. D
C. ALSO CONTRACTS DIRECTLY WITH
EACH TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OR THEIR
DESIGNATED TRIBAL ENTITY FOR THE
PROVISION OF CSP G SERVICES ON
AND NEAR THE RESERVATIONS ARE
RANCH AREAS. UM AS WITH OFF
RESERVATION AND RANCHERIA
SUBCONTRACTORS, MANY OF THE
TRIBES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY USED
THEIR C SPG FUNDING TO AUGMENT
EXISTING PROGRAMS, INITIATE NEW
SERVICE PROGRAMS AND EXPAND
THEIR CAPACITY TO SELF DETERMINE
THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY NEED TO
OPERATE, PROVIDE THE BEST
OUTCOMES FOR THEIR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES. NONE OF THESE
TRIBES ARE GETTING A LOT OF
MONEY. UM TRIBES ON OUR WE HAVE
OVER 100 TRIBES ON OUR CONTRACT.
AND MANY OF THE SMALLER TRIBES
GET UNDER $1500 A YEAR. EVEN
THIS SMALL ALLOCATION OF CSP G
RESOURCES TO A SMALL TRIBE. CAN
OFTEN PROVIDE CRITICAL LOCALLY
DIRECTED FUNDING THAT ALLOWS THE
TRIBES TO CREATE LEVERAGE
PROGRAMS THAT THEY OTHERWISE
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXECUTE.
PROGRAMS ON RESERVATIONS SPAN,
THE POTENTIAL UNIVERSE OF
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY CONCENTRATIONS
IN COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECTS.
OTHER RELATED HEALTH AND
WELLNESS PROJECTS, YOUTH
EDUCATION SUPPORT PROGRAMS,
YOUTH CAREER EXPLORATION. WORK
EXPERIENCE, CULTURAL AND
LANGUAGE PROGRAMS ADDRESSING
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA. ADULT
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SUPPORT.
SERVICES FOR ELDERS, WHICH IS A
BIG COMPONENT IN INDIAN COUNTRY
EMERGENCY SERVICES AND SIMILAR
ACTIVITIES. THERE WAS SOME
QUESTIONS EARLIER ABOUT PRIORITY
POPULATIONS, AND I JUST WANTED
TO ECHO WHAT I THINK ENCOURAGED
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE NETWORK IF
YOU LOOK AT THE PRIORITY
POPULATION SETTING POLICY FOR
OUR LIFE, HEAT, LIE WAP AND SEE
SPG YOU WILL FIND ELDERS. SINGLE
PARENTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
FAMILIES WITH DISABLED PEOPLE IN
THEM THE SAME PRIORITY
POPULATIONS AND I THINK WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT BEFORE. UM AND
THAT THAT GOES ACROSS QUITE A
FEW PROGRAMS, AND THOSE VALUES I
THINK ARE ENDEMIC CULTURALLY TO
WITHIN THE WITHIN THE INDIAN
COMMUNITY. UM WE'RE APPRECIATIVE
OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT ARE
AMERICAN INDIANS SET ASIDE
NETWORK HAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE
NON NATIVE SPG AGENCIES IN
CALIFORNIA, SUCH AS THE
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY
REPRESENTATIVES ON THIS PANEL
WITH ME, AS WELL AS THE STRONG
SUPPORT OF THE STAFF AND
LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMUNITY SERVICES AND
DEVELOPMENT. AS WE WORK ON
ADDRESSING POVERTY, PROMOTING
SELF SUFFICIENCY IN INDIAN
COUNTRY, AS DESCRIBED IN THE
DRAFT STATE PLAN BEFORE YOU
TODAY FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT OF THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE
THEMSELVES AND ESTABLISHING AND
MAINTAINING THE AMERICAN INDIANS
SET ASIDE PROGRAM WITHIN THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY SERVICE
BLOCK GRANT LEGISLATION, AND WE
HOPE TO CONTINUE TO BE PARTNERS
AND ADDRESSING AND IMPROVING THE
UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY
STATISTICS WITH AN INDIAN
COUNTRY IN CALIFORNIA ON AN
ONGOING BASIS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH QUESTIONS FROM
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. SENATOR. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR PRESENTATION. UM. MR
DONOVAN. I THINK YOU ANSWERED IT
IN YOUR QUESTION, BUT I WAS
CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF
YOUR OVERALL BUDGETS COME FROM
CSD OR COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK
GRANTS JUST TO GET AN IDEA
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU LEVERAGE.
OTHER PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS, BUT
APPROXIMATELY WHAT DOES THAT
PERCENTAGE THAT YOU COUNT ON
EVERY YEAR? WE, UM. A LITTLE
CONTEXT. SO FOR WE'VE BEEN
AROUND FOR 43 YEARS, AND FOR 40
OF THOSE YEARS WERE PRIMARILY
FEDERALLY FUNDED. UM THROUGH THE
RECENT PANDEMIC CARES FUNDS
ETCETERA THAT CAME THROUGH. UM
WE ARE NOW 50 50 SO $16 MILLION
LAST YEAR. UM, AND WE'RE
TRENDING TOWARDS 18 FOR THIS
NEXT FISCAL YEAR. UM, LAST YEAR.
WE WERE EXACTLY 50 50 NEXT YEAR
. OUR FISCAL YEARS. 10 1. IT'LL
BE THE FIRST YEAR IN OUR
EXISTENCE THAT WE ARE PRIMARILY
SEE SPG FUNDED WHEN YOU INCLUDE
THE ENERGY DOLLARS IN THE ENERGY
PROGRAMS THAT THAT COME ALONG
WITH THAT, SO, YEAH, INTERESTING
TIMES. OKAY SO ALMOST ALMOST
COMPLETELY FUNDED BY CSB G
DOLLARS NEXT YEAR WILL BE AT 10
MILLION IN CSP G DOLLARS. HOW
ABOUT OUR OTHER AGENCIES? IS IT
SIMILAR WITH YOU AS WELL? NO,
NOT MUCH. OKAY? I'M SORRY. I
CAN'T SEE YOU. YOU'RE RIGHT
BEHIND ME. UM SO WE GET AN
ALLOCATION DEMOGRAPHIC AWAY
ALLOCATION, WHICH IS ABOUT $3
MILLION. THERE'S IT'S A FORMULA,
SO WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY
ANYWAY TO EXPAND IT, BUT WHAT WE
DO IS WE LEVERAGE IT. SO UM, FOR
EXAMPLE, UM SOME OF THE WORK
THAT WE DO WITH THE EMERGENCY
EMERGENCY. THE, UM EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, UM, IS
LEVERAGING THEIR DOLLARS. UM THE
OTHER, UM, WHEN WE DID THE
OASIS, UM, WATER PARK. THEY WERE
HAVING ISSUES WITH THE WATER AND
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO MOBILIZE
QUICKLY. SO UM, RCS PG DOLLARS,
WAS ABLE TO BRIDGE AND LEVERAGE
OTHER FUNDING THAT WAS COMING
FROM THE COMMUNITY. TO ADDRESS
THE WATER ISSUE. THAT WAS ONE OF
THE EXAMPLES WE GAVE YOU. UM,
BUT THEY'RE NOT THE SAME TIME WE
ARE LEVERAGING OTHER FUNDING
WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, FOR
EXAMPLE, SO CSB G IS LIBERATING
, ALMOST 101 $150,000 OF
DEPOSITS SO THAT PEOPLE WHEN
THEY GET THE CALL FOR THE
VOUCHER, THEY DON'T GO TO THE
CASHING PLACE OR THEY DON'T GO
WITHOUT THE VOUCHER. THEY LOSE
THEIR VOUCHER. SO WE ARE
LIBERATING MY MONEY THERE. SO
THE WAY THAT WE HAVE APPROACHED
C S V G IS LEFT THAT THAT
LEVERAGING POWER THAT IT HAS. SO
IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY
HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE LEVERAGING
BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TO TRACK
ALL THAT DATA. UM WHAT WE DO SEE
IS THE LEVERAGING WITH THE
INTERNAL WHAT WE WERE WHAT HE
WAS MENTIONING. MY COLLEAGUE WAS
MENTIONING WITH THE LIGHT AND
THE LIGHT. WHAT PROGRAMS? THE
WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. SO, FOR
EXAMPLE, THE WEATHER STATION
PROGRAM IS VERY JUST
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ENERGY
EFFICIENCY. HOWEVER IF YOU HAVE
A ROOF OR A FLOOR THAT IS NOT
CONDUCIVE TO THE WORK, WE WILL
GO YOU GO WITHOUT, SO WE'RE ABLE
TO BRIDGE SOME OF THOSE, UM OR
ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES
THAT ARE LOCKING THE MONEY IN
UM, ALSO, WE BRING IN
PARTNERSHIP SO I DON'T KNOW HOW
YOU WOULD QUANTIFY THIS. BUT
AFTER WE WEATHERIZE A HOME, WE
ARE PARTNERED WITH GRID GRID
ALTERNATIVES THAT THEY'RE COMING
IN WITH THEIR SOLAR PANELS, AND
THEY'RE INSTALLING THOSE PANELS
FOR FREE ON THE ON THE LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES AND WHERE
THAT WE'RE SERVICING WITH OUR
WEATHER STATION SO THAT
LEVERAGING POWER IS UNLOCKING
THEIR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AS
WELL. AND I CAN GO ON AND ON
WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS IN
WHICH WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE
PUBLIC, PRIVATE, THE STATE AND
THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND IT ALL
IT ALL STARTS BECAUSE CS BGS
PRESENT AND IT'S AVAILABLE TO
MOBILIZE AND SPARKED THAT
CHANGE. THANK YOU. I HAVE
ANOTHER QUESTION KIND OF SIMILAR
TO THIS AND MAYBE WE'LL START.
UM UM, WITH MR CARE. AND THEN
YOU COULD KIND OF MOVE ON. UM,
I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW DO
YOU TRACK THE OUTCOMES? THOSE
REAL STORIES BEHIND THE NUMBERS
? AND HOW DO HOW DOES THAT HELP
TO EVALUATE YOUR IMPACT? WE HAVE
A WE UTILIZE A ONLINE CLOUD
BASED TRACKING SYSTEM THAT
MEASURES BOTH SERVICES AND OUT
AND OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS, INPUTS
AND OUTPUTS, SERVICES AND
OUTCOMES. AND UM, IT'S MADE IN
REAL TIME TO ALL OF OUR
DEPARTMENTS FOR ALL PROGRAMS OF
OUR AGENCY. WE ACTUALLY SELECTED
THE SAME VENDOR THAT THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA SELECTED FOR ALL
OF THE SEA SPG AGENCIES TO PUNCH
IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL STANDARD
DATA AND THEIR ANNUAL REPORTS
FOR CSP G AND HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH THEM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
TO INTEGRATE THAT COMPLETELY
INTO OUR SYSTEM. SO WE GET REAL
TIME DATA. UM WE HAVE A PLANNING
DEPARTMENT THAT IS ENGAGED IN A
ITS OWN STATE PLAN PLANNING
PROCESS AND I'M GONNA GO BACK A
LITTLE BIT TO YOUR FIRST
QUESTION. WE GET ROUGHLY $2
MILLION A YEAR TO COVER 57
COUNTIES. 106 TRIBES. BUT THAT
SINK IN FOR A MINUTE. IT
REPRESENTS MAYBE ABOUT A THIRD
OF THE AGENCY'S FUNDING. UM WE
RECENTLY WERE ABOUT A THIRD
PHILANTHROPIC FUNDED AND THEN
HOST OF FEDERAL AND STATE
SOURCES FOR THE REST OF OUR
FUNDING. UM WE DO A OUR OWN
STATEWIDE COMMUNITY NEEDS
ASSESSMENT AND COMMUNITY ACTION
PLAN TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS $2
MILLION CAN BE BEST USED TO
LEVERAGE OTHER FUNDING AND ALL
THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES WE SERVE
AS WELL AS 57 OF THE 58 COUNTIES
IN CALIFORNIA L. A COUNTY BEING
FUNDED DIRECTLY AND NOT BEING
PART OF OUR CONTRACT. UM AND IT
IS, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE
REALLY DEDICATED OURSELVES TO.
WE HAVE SOMETHING IN C SPG
CALLED ROMA RESULTS ORIENTED
MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
AND WE HAVE CERTIFIED STAFF WITH
CREDENTIALS WHO EVERY YEAR
MAINTAINED THEIR CONTINUING
EDUCATION AND EVERY YEAR WORK
EVERYTHING. EVERYBODY FROM THE
BOARD ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE
FRONT LINE WORKERS ON THE
PHONES. TO LET THEM KNOW HOW
THEY'RE PART OF A TEAM THAT IS
SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING TOWARDS
RESULTS TOWARDS RESULTS THAT WE
DO NOT JUST UNITS OF SERVICE,
NOT JUST MARKING OFF. HOW MANY
PEOPLE GOT THIS OR GOT THAT BUT
TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE AND
MEASURE REAL CHANGE? SO IT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY TAKE
SERIOUSLY HERE, AND I THINK THE
REST OF THE NETWORK DOES, TOO. I
APPRECIATE THAT. I DO HAVE ONE
MORE QUESTION, BUT I WANT TO
GIVE YOU OPPORTUNITY JUST TO
RESPOND TO THE CURRENT QUESTION
. I'M SURE I COULD GIVE YOU ONE
VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW WE DO
THAT AGAIN. MY COLLEAGUE GREG
MENTIONED RESULTS ORIENTED
MANAGEMENT AND ONE WAY THAT WE
TRACK RESULTS IS, FOR EXAMPLE, I
MENTIONED THAT OUR PROGRAM
PLACED 109 159. PARTICIPANTS
INTO EMPLOYMENT LAST YEAR. WELL
THOSE 159 ARE TECHNICALLY WITH
US FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AFTER
THAT JOB PLACEMENT DATE, WE
FOLLOW UP ON OUR PARTICIPANTS AT
THE 30 DAY MARK THE 60 DAY MARK
AND THEN AT THE 90 DAY MARK TO
CHECK IN, SEE IF THEY'RE WORKING
OR IF THEY ARE IN NEED OF ANY
SUPPORT. PERHAPS THEY NEED
TOOLS. PERHAPS ANY
TRANSPORTATION WITH THEN CHECK
IN WITH THEM QUARTERLY SO EVERY
THREE MONTHS UP TO AFTER THAT
FOR TWO YEARS, UM, WHAT WE FIND
IS THAT THAT FIRST JOB THAT WE
PLACED THEM IN TWO YEARS AGO.
WELL THEY'VE NOW UPGRADED WITHIN
THAT COMPANY OR UP SKILLED INTO
A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY. UM SO WERE
THERE ALONG THE WAY TO SUPPORT
THEM THROUGH THAT TO GET TO
THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL. WHICH YOU
KNOW THESE DAYS, YOU KNOW WE CAN
FIND ANYBODY A JOB. IT'S ALL
ABOUT FINDING THEM AND HELPING
THEM KEEP A CAREER. YEAH I
APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE AS WELL
, BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT, UM
, ERADICATING POVERTY, IT'S
LIFTING PEOPLE OUT OF A
SITUATION AND ALSO PREVENTING
THEM FROM COMING BACK TO THAT
SITUATION, SO THE RESULTS REALLY
MATTER IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY, UM
, A TIMESTAMP OF HERE AND NOW
HOW YOU WERE ABLE TO IMPACT THEM
TODAY, BUT HOW DOES THAT HELP TO
LIFT THEM AND LEAVE THE EIGHT
POVERTY IN THEIR FUTURE? AND FOR
THEIR FAMILIES MOVING FORWARD.
GREAT. UM FOR US. WE ALSO HAVE
MECHANISMS IN PLACE,
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE ARE
COLLABORATING WITH OTHER
AGENCIES. THEY KEEP TABS ON THE
CASE WORKERS SO WE HAVE, UM, UH
, PARTNERSHIPS WITH CASEWORKERS
IN THE OFFICE ON AGING. THAT WAS
ONE OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT
WE'VE BEEN STRENGTHENING FOR A
LONG TIME. BUT WE REALLY
ACCELERATED THAT AFTER OUR
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND
THE PANDEMIC. SO WE ARE ABLE TO
KNOW IF THESE INTERVENTIONS ARE
FRUITFUL IN A TECHNICAL WAY IN
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. THEY'RE
ALSO PART OF OUR CONTRACT. SO
ANY TIME THAT WE HAVE ANY TYPE
OF SOVEREIGNTY OR SUBCONTRACTOR
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR
REPORTING BACK TO US AND FROM US
LEARNING, BUT THE TRUTH, IT'S A
SKILL IN THE ART TO LEAD THIS
THIS SEAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE
ALSO THE TOUCH IN THE COMMUNITY
, THE ONE THAT DOES THAT TALKS
ABOUT WHAT THE DATA IS NOT
SHOWING YET, AND THAT STARTS
KIND OF POINTING TO THAT POINT
WHERE YOU'RE SAYING THERE MIGHT
BE AN ISSUE HERE THAT WE MAYBE
NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO, AND
THERE IS NO DATA ABOUT IT. SO IT
IS THROUGH THAT VERY CLOSE
COLLABORATION AND VERY UNIQUE.
TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY OF LEADERS
THAT WE KNOW OF OUR
INTERVENTIONS ARE WORKING AND
WHAT I WOULD SAY IN CLOSING IS
THAT THE MORE WE START
COLLABORATING, THE MORE WE START
SHARING DATA, THE BETTER WILL BE
UNDERSTANDING HOW OUR
INVESTMENTS ARE WORKING AND HOW
TO MAKE THEM MORE FRUITFUL IN
THE FUTURE. YOU TALKED ABOUT
SHARING DATA, AND I THINK THAT
THAT KIND OF INFORMS MY NEXT
QUESTION, BECAUSE, UM, I HEARD
OF ALL OUR PRESENTERS, A
REFERENCE TO THE COMMUNITY NEEDS
ASSESSMENT, AND IT'S THE
COMMUNITY. THE DATA GATHERED IN
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
THAT THEN INFORMS YOUR ABILITY
TO CREATE YOUR PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES AND GET AWARDED THE
FUNDS. AND THEN ALSO TO EVALUATE
YOUR IMPACT AND THE RESULTS. SO
UM, EDUCATE ME A LITTLE BIT ON
WHAT IS THE TOOL THAT YOU USE
FOR THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS
ASSESSMENT IS THAT THE SAME
ACROSS CSD FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS
? WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT DATA
? AND HOW DOES THAT HOW DOES
THAT WORK IN IN THE IN THE REALM
OF DATA INFORMATION THAT YOU
GATHER. ME FIRST. OKAY UM, I
WON'T SPEAK FIRST CSD. I'LL TELL
YOU HOW WE DO IT IN THE CENTRAL
VALLEY. UM IT'S EVOLVED OVER THE
YEARS. THE BASIC FORMULA HAS
KIND OF STAYED THE SAME. THE
TOOL IS WHAT HAS EVOLVED OVER
THE YEARS, BUT OUR BASIC FORMULA
IS, UM, WE ARE BOOTS ON THE
GROUND. WE SCHEDULE, PUBLIC
HEARINGS AND PUBLIC FORUMS WHERE
WE DON'T ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS,
NOR DO WE PRETEND TO SOLVE OUR
COMMUNITIES PROBLEMS THAT
EVENING. WE ARE MERELY
SOLICITING INFORMATION. UH WHAT
THOSE FOLKS THAT SHOWED UP THAT
EVENING ARE SEEN IN THEIR
COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY FEEL WE
SHOULD FOCUS OUR, UM, OUR AWARD
TOWARDS UM SO THAT'S THE FIRST
STEP. ANOTHER SECOND STEP IS, UM
EVERYTHING IS DIGITAL THESE DAYS
AND ELECTRONIC. UM WE, HOWEVER,
STILL USE AN ACTUAL NEEDS
ASSESSMENT SURVEY THAT IS PAPER
AND PENCIL. IN ADDITION TO
ELECTRONIC RIGHT, IT'S ALSO ON
OUR WEBSITE. YOU CAN ACCESS OUR
NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY FIVE
DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT THE FOCUS IN
THE PRIMARY RETURN OF THAT
SURVEY IS PAPER AND PENCIL
BECAUSE THE FOLKS WERE SERVING
LOW INCOME COMMUNITY. IT'S
EASIER. IT'S I'M DOING PENCIL
AND PAPER TODAY, RIGHT? YOUR
YOUR INTERNET IS NEVER GOING TO
GO OUT. UM YOU'RE NOT GOOD FOR
YOUR LAPTOP, WHATEVER THAT MAY
BE RIGHT. THE PAPER AND PENCIL
HAS BEEN KIND OF THE STAPLE FOR
US. SO UM, WE CONTINUE TO DO
THAT. SO THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT
SURVEY WE DISTRIBUTED OUT TO
LOCAL PARTNERS, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. WE KEEP THEM IN OUR
LOBBIES AT THE FRONT DESK, AND
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO FILL
THOSE OUT, RIGHT? UM AFTER THAT,
WE COMPILE THE INFORMATION AND
COMPILE THE DATA. UM AND WE
CREATE CATEGORIES TO WHERE THESE
COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY ARE
FALLING INTO. AFTER THAT, WE PUT
TOGETHER A COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
WITH THAT INFORMATION. IT GOES
PUBLIC FOR 30. DAYS FOR COMMENT
GOES TO C. V. O. C S BOARD OF
DIRECTORS TO REVIEW AND COMMENT
ON AS WELL AS WELL AS TO THE
COMMUNITY. THE PUBLIC, UH, GETS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON
WHAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER FROM OUR
PUBLIC HEARINGS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
SURVEYS, ETCETERA. AFTER THAT,
IT GOES TO OUR PROJECT OFFICERS
THAT CSD AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE OFF
AND RUNNING SHORTLY AFTER THAT.
SO FOR US, WE'RE DOING A LONG
TIME, SO YOU USUALLY START RIGHT
AROUND IN MARCH AND GO PRETTY
HEAVY IN APRIL AND MAY. THEN WE
TAKE THE MONTH OF JUNE TO
COMPILE AND SUBMIT BY THE JUNE
30TH DEADLINE. UM. WE HAVE AN
APPROACH OF LEVERAGING OUR LOCAL
RESOURCES, SO WE HAVE AN
APPROACH OF LEVERAGING OUR LOCAL
RESOURCES. SO THIS LAST
ASSESSMENT THAT WE DID WAS A
COLLABORATION WITH THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
RIVERSIDE. THEY HAVE RESEARCH
RESEARCHERS THAT ARE REALLY
INTERESTED IN SOCIAL ISSUES, SO
THEY HELPED US WITH THE BIG DATA
, THEY WERE ABLE TO LOOK INTO
TRENDS THAT WERE ABLE TO LOOK
INTO UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
WE HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE IN OUR
COMMUNITY LEVEL DATA. I DON'T
WANT TO GET SO THE CENSUS DATA
WAS JUST VERY DIFFICULT DURING
THE TIME THAT WE WERE COLLECTING
IT AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M
REFERRING TO THAT THERE WAS A
LOT OF DIFFICULTY WITH THE DATA
THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE
CENSUS. REDISTRICTING WAS ALSO
REALLY HARD TO TOP TOPIC IN MY
AREA, BUT EVENTUALLY THE DATA
SETTLED AND WE WERE ABLE TO
CONDUCT THE ASSESSMENTS THE WAY
THAT THAT WE'VE DONE IT
HISTORICALLY WHIPS A PAPER AND
PEN FOR SURE WE'RE DEVELOPED IN
SPANISH AND IN OTHER LANGUAGES
THAT ARE IN OUR AREA. THEY'RE
DONE THROUGH THE TRUSTED
PARTNERS. THOSE PARTNERS,
GETTING THOSE SURVEYS AND ASKING
THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO ANSWER IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US. WE
ALSO CREATED TECHNIQUES ON
TECHNOLOGY. WE CREATED THE
SURVEYS FOR THE NON PROFITS THAT
WE SERVE AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT
CAN ANSWER DIGITALLY. AND THEN
WE ALSO COMBINE THAT WITH THE
SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY AGENCIES
THAT ALSO ANSWERED SO THE
COMBINATION OF ALL OF THAT
INFORMATION AND THE BOARD THE
COMMISSION, OUR COMMISSION WERE
CALLED THE COMMISSION. OUR
COMMISSIONERS ARE THE LOW INCOME
ARE DOING THIS ANALYSIS IN THIS
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE
FOUND. AND FROM THERE WE DRAFT
OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT,
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF
IT IS THAT THIS IS THE
INFORMATION THAT WE GIVE TO OUR
ADVOCATES AND THAT HAS THE
BACKING OF OUR INSTITUTIONS,
SAYING THAT THIS IS INFORMATION
YOU CAN TAKE TO YOUR LOCAL
AGENCIES. YOU CAN GRANT RIGHT
WITH THIS INFORMATION. YOU CAN
BE TRANSFORMATIVE WITH THIS
COMMUNITY LEVEL DATA. BUT IT IS,
UH, I WILL SAY IT'S A HUGE
EFFORT. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE,
VERY DIFFICULT TO DO,
PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE STAYING
TRUE TO THE TO THE VOICE AND THE
IN THOSE NEEDS REALLY COMING
FROM THE COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK
THAT TECHNOLOGY IS COMING. YOU
KNOW, IN IN A IN A WAY WHERE WE
COULD REALLY LEVERAGE IT, AND
THAT'S WHY I REALLY ADVOCATE
THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO
TECHNOLOGY. EVEN WHEN IT HAS NOT
BEEN. HISTORICALLY THERE. IT
SHOULD NOT BE CONTINUING TO BE
THE VOICE OF IT'S NEVER BEEN
DONE THAT WAY. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN
PAPER AND PEN, BECAUSE THOSE ARE
THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE LEFT
BEHIND. IF WE CONTINUE TO DO
THAT, SO, YES, LET'S CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE THAT PAPER AND PEN, BUT
LET'S ALSO EDUCATE AND CONNECT.
AND REALLY BRING THOSE VOICES
INTO THE TECHNOLOGY AREA. I WILL
. MR. GARRETT, DID YOU WANT TO
COMMENT? JUST BRIEFLY. I DON'T
HAVE THAT I AGREE WITH
EVERYTHING THEY'VE SAID,
ALTHOUGH THAT'S INTERESTING TO
HEAR US ALL. TALK ABOUT HOW WE
DO OUR SURVEYS. UM OUR SURVEY
WAS STATEWIDE. UM WE SEND IT OUT
TO OVER 100 AND 10 TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS AND TO A MULTITUDE
OF INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE AND
TRIBAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND
HAVE FOUND THAT WE WERE IN THE
SAME PLACE. AS CENTRAL VALLEY
WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT IT
HAS CHANGED. WE'VE GOT TO SURVEY
THIS DESIGN SUCH THAT IT CAN BE
DONE OUR PHONE ON A TABLET ON A
COMPUTER. UM IT'S VERY ADAPTIVE
, AND EVERYBODY HAS A PHONE. MY
MOTHER HAS A PHONE. EVERYBODY
HAS A PHONE. IF YOU PUT
SOMETHING TOGETHER, THAT'S
SIMPLE ENOUGH. THEY CAN RESPOND
TO IT. TO COMMUNITY SURVEYS AGO
. IT WAS 90% PAPER. THIS LAST
ONE IT WAS 95% ONLINE. EVEN
THOUGH WE OFFERED PAPER OPTIONS
AND EVERY PLACE SO I THINK THAT
I WANT TO ECHO THE THINGS THAT
THE MORE WEEKENDS START USING
TECHNOLOGY TO GATHER THIS
INFORMATION AND MAKE SENSE OF
IT. WE GATHER IT MORE
EFFICIENTLY. WE GET MORE
PARTICIPATION, AND WE JUST NEED
TO BE SURE THAT THOSE VIEW
OUTLYING PEOPLE THAT THE ELDER
WHO DOESN'T HAVE A COMPUTER OR A
PHONE THAT WE CALL THEM AND
INTERVIEW THEM THAT WE FILL OUT
THE SURVEY FOR THEM IN AN
INTERVIEW FASHION WE PUNCHED THE
SURVEY IN FOR THEM AS LONG AS WE
DON'T LET THOSE OUTLIERS FALL
THROUGH THE CRACKS. I THINK WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH USING TECHNOLOGY TO BE
EFFICIENTLY GATHERING THE
INFORMATION WE NEED. WE HAD
FOCUS GROUPS. REGIONAL FOCUS
GROUPS WITH DIFFERENT FOCUSES.
SOME OF THEM WERE IN HIGH
SCHOOL. SOME OF THEM ARE AN
ELDER HOMES. SOME OF THEM WERE
FOR UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE IN
DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE STATE. WE
TALKED INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS
WITH TRADITIONAL LEADERS, TRIBAL
LEADERS AND TRIBAL CHAIRS. WE
DID A LOT OF SECONDARY RESEARCH
. WE'VE GOT HELP FROM CECILIA
AND SOME TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
FROM THE CSP G NETWORK. UM WE
PUT A FULL COURT PRESS WE
STARTED WORKING ON OUR COMMUNITY
ACTION PLAN, AND OUR COMMUNITY
NEEDS ASSESSMENT, PARTICULARLY
LAST YEAR. UM AND CARRIED
FORWARD INTO THIS YEAR. SO UM, I
IT'S A IT'S POSTED ON OUR
WEBSITE, THE DOCUMENT, AND ALL
OF THE ATTACHMENTS AND
DEPENDENCIES ARE POSTED UNDER
THE ABOUT PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE.
THANK YOU. WE WANT TO THANK THIS
PANEL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION. UM AND NOW WE
WILL HAVE OUR TIME FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. UH WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENTS AND THREE DIFFERENT
WAYS. UH FIRST, WE'LL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE THAT ARE
IN THE ROOM TO MAKE ANY PUBLIC
COMMENTS. AND THEN IF THERE'S
ANY OF THOSE WHO ARE AT A REMOTE
TESTIMONY STATION, UH TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS AND THEN
FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO
PARTICIPATE VIA THE PHONE LINE,
THIS IS YOUR TIME AS WELL.
PLEASE BEGIN TO CALL IN NOW THE
NUMBER SHOULD BE ON YOUR SCREEN
TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. SO
BEGINNING WITH THOSE THAT ARE IN
THE ROOM. ARE THERE ANYONE IN
THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS
TIME? JUST COME ON UP. AND JUST
A CHAIR. UH STATE YOUR NAME AND
AFFILIATION, PLEASE. AFFILIATION
HI. MY NAME IS SARAH NICHOLSON
AND I'M 1/5 GENERATION
CALIFORNIAN. THAT'S A GOOD
AFFILIATION. MY FIRST QUESTION
FROM WHAT I WANT TO SAY WE'RE
NOT DOING QUESTIONS. IT'S JUST
COMMENTS. YEAH IT'S RHETORICAL.
OKAY ANYWAY, SO FIRST OF ALL,
LET ME SAY THANK YOU FOR HAVING
THIS HEARING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE TO OUR GREAT STATE. OUR
COMMUNITIES. I WANT TO THANK ALL
THOSE WE HEARD FROM TODAY AND
ALL OF THE WORK THAT EVERYONE IS
DOING. TO HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES
OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN
MY WORLD THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.
SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO LEAVE A
QUESTION IN EVERYONE'S MIND. UM
AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR
LEGISLATORS. IS NUMBER ONE. WHAT
IS THE DEFINITION OF A
CALIFORNIAN? I HEARD A COUPLE OF
REFERENCES TO, UH. VULNERABLE
CALIFORNIANS. I BELIEVE THAT WAS
THE WORD CORRECT A COUPLE OF
TIMES VULNERABLE CALIFORNIANS.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO KEEP
THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND.
WHAT DEFINES A CALIFORNIAN?
OKAY? THE SECOND THING THAT
JUMPED OUT AS I WAS LISTENING
WAS THAT THERE WAS AN AGENCY
THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1963.
AND THAT RECENTLY OUR HOMELESS
POPULATION IN THAT COMMUNITY HAS
DOUBLED. IN THE LAST 10 20
YEARS. I AM FROM MORGAN HILL,
CALIFORNIA SAN MARTINO, ACTUALLY
, TECHNICALLY BUT POINT OF
REFERENCE. GILROY, MORGAN HILL,
SAN JOSE UM. I WAS BORN AND
RAISED THERE. MY FATHER'S
RETIRED CENTERS, A FIREFIGHTER.
I WAS THE FOURTH OF SIX
CHILDREN. SO BECAUSE OF THE
CHOICES MY PARENTS MADE TO HAVE
A LARGE FAMILY FOR MY MOTHER TO
STAY HOME AND WORK AND FOR MY
FATHER TO WORK TWO JOBS TO
SUPPORT SIX CHILDREN. OUR
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS WAS A
LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN IF THEY
WOULD HAVE MAYBE ONLY HAD TWO
KIDS OR FOUR KIDS, RIGHT? I
DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY SUCH
THING AS A SINGLE MOTHER. YOU
CAN'T GET PREGNANT BY YOURSELF.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WOMEN ARE
RAISING CHILDREN BY THEMSELVES
WHERE THEIR FATHERS SO. THERE
ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE
NEED TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT, AS
WERE, UM, WORKING TO EMPOWER.
YOU KNOW OUR OUR FELLOW HUMAN
BEINGS AND BRING HIM OUT OF
POVERTY. I APPRECIATE A LOT OF
THINGS I APPRECIATE HEARING
ABOUT SELF SELF SUFFICIENCY.
SELF RELIANCE TEACHING PEOPLE
HOW TO GET A JOB. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT JUMPED OUT WAS. THIS
CAREER PATH AND THAT LIKE THESE
KIND OF MENIAL JOBS, DON'T
MATTER. WE NEED FAST FOOD
WORKERS WE NEED JANITORIAL
SERVICES. WE NEED ALL THOSE
WORKERS HERE. SO I'M NOT HERE,
NECESSARILY WITH THE ANSWERS.
BUT JUST SOME MORE. THINGS TO
CONSIDER, UM TO GET BACK TO HELP
US CONSIDER WHAT THE ROOT CAUSES
ARE. SO ARE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
I AND I FEEL THAT THOSE WHO
PRESENTED DID A GOOD JOB AND
JUSTIFYING THE FUNDS THAT HAVE
BEEN GIVEN TO THEM AND I CAN SEE
THAT THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD.
I WANT TO MAKE CONCERNS WAS
THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH. IF YOU
BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME IF WE
KEEP GIVING MORE AND MORE MONEY.
DOES THIS INVITE MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE IN OUR STATE? THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT I'VE SEEN. IN UH
, GOING BACK TO WHY I MENTIONED
WHERE I'M FROM? BECAUSE I'VE
SEEN THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE AND
I'VE SEEN THE ECONOMIC CHANGE IN
MY LIFETIME. AND FOR ME AS A
SINGLE WOMAN WITH NO CHILDREN. I
CANNOT SAY I CANNOT. IT IS VERY
DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING
WITHOUT A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
WITHOUT A CAREER PATH. TO LIVE
IN THE AREA THAT I GREW UP IN.
FOR ME. WHAT I HAVE WITNESSED IS
THE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS. FROM.
OTHER COUNTRIES AND OTHER
STATES. BOTH LEGALLY AND
ILLEGALLY. RIGHT? AND SO AGAIN,
I WOULD JUST MENTION HIS
LEGISLATORS LIKE LOOKING AT THAT
BIG PICTURE. WHAT ARE THE LAWS
THAT ARE BEING PASSED. THERE ARE
CONTRIBUTING. TO THIS DISPARITY
AND TO THIS POVERTY AND WHAT
LAWS ARE NOT BEING PASSED. SO I
WOULD JUST BEG THAT YOU WOULD
CONSIDER A AGAIN WHAT DEFINES A
CALIFORNIAN? WHO ARE RECEIVING
THE SERVICES. ARE THEY
CALIFORNIANS? ARE THEY PEOPLE
THAT ARE JUST CONSTANTLY COMING
IN? AND I ARRIVED YESTERDAY AND
NOW I GET SERVICES BECAUSE AS
LONG AS THAT CONTINUES, THERE'S
NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH MONEY,
AND IT'S GONNA CONSISTENTLY
INVITE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE AND
I FEEL LIKE THE PROBLEM IS JUST
GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET WORSE.
SO THOSE ARE JUST MY THOUGHTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE
IT. OKAY. NOW WE'LL GO TO IS
THERE ANYONE? OKAY ANYONE ELSE
IN THE ROOM AT THIS TIME? SAYING
NINE WE WILL GO RIGHT INTO THE
PHONE LINES. OPERATOR IS THERE
ANYONE ON THE PHONE LINES AT
THIS TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR FOR THOSE
WHO WISH TO SPEAK RIGHT NOW,
PLEASE PRESS ONE AND ZERO, PRESS
ONE AND ZERO IF YOU WISH TO
COMMENT. AND ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR
COMMENTS, PLEASE PRESS ONE THAN
ZERO. MR CHAIR, NO ONE TO SIGNAL
THAT THEY WISH TO SPEAK. OKAY
WELL, NOW WE WILL BEGIN. WE WILL
DO OUR CLOSING. AND FIRST I WILL
GIVE IT TO MY COLLEAGUE, SENATOR
ALVARADO GIRL FOR ANY CLOSING
REMARKS THAT SHE MAY HAVE OH, I
JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR
PRESENTED ER PRESENTERS FOR
BRINGING ME BACK TO MY COLLEGE
YEARS AND, UM, REFLECTING ON MY
FIRST JOB AS A YOUNG COMMUNITY
ACTION PARTNERSHIP. UM
FLEDGLING, I GUESS I WILL CALL
MYSELF I WILL SAY THAT'S THE
START OF MY POLITICAL CAREER.
WAS THAT COMMUNITY ACTION
PARTNERSHIP, SO THANK YOU. UM I
ALSO JUST WANT TO, UH, ASK, UM,
SO I REPRESENT 13 COUNTIES IN IN
CALIFORNIA AND HOPING THAT
COMMUNITY ACTIONS IN MY IN MY
DISTRICT WILL INVITE ME TO COME
TO YOUR PROGRAMS FIRSTHAND. MEET
SOME OF YOUR CLIENTS AND
FAMILIES THAT YOU WORK WITH, AND
YOU'RE BORED TO REALLY
UNDERSTAND HOW COMMUNITY ACTIONS
ARE IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY ON
THE GROUND LEVEL THAT GRASSROOTS
BOOTS ON THE GROUND. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT HERE AND
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SENATOR I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUE ON THE SENATE SIDE, AS
WELL AS COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO
WERE ABLE TO COME BY AND
PARTICIPATE WOULD LIKE TO THANK
THE DEPARTMENT AND THE PANELISTS
WHO ALSO PARTICIPATED IN TODAY'S
HEARING. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HEAR
FROM THOSE WHO SERVE COMMUNITIES
DIRECTLY. TO HELP INFORM THIS
COMMITTEE AS WE MAKE POLICY
DECISIONS, I LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING HOW THE SERVICES PROVIDED
WITH CSB G FUNDING, CONTINUE TO
ADAPT TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS
OF OUR STATE AND HOW THE
LEGISLATURE CAN CONTINUE TO
SERVE AS A PARTNER. THERE IS NO
DOUBT ABOUT IT NEEDS WILL
CONTINUE TO SHIFT PROBABLY EVEN
FASTER THAN WE HAVE. HAD BEFORE
WE WILL CONTINUOUSLY BE
CHALLENGED WITH MORE AND MORE,
UM CRISES IN CALIFORNIA. MORE
NATURAL DISASTERS, MORE PUBLIC
HEALTH UM, EMERGENCIES AND WE'RE
GONNA NEED EVERYONE AND, UM ON
DECK TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH
THOSE. SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE
WHO ARE VERY THANK YOU ALL VERY
MUCH YOU ARE SERVING OR BOTH
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND WITH
THAT WE WILL BE ADJOURNED FOR
THE DAY.