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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.28.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ D4 February Newsletter.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying. . From:Clerk of the Board To:Jessee, Meegan Cc:Lee, Lewis Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: D4 February Newsletter Date:Friday, February 28, 2025 12:19:56 PM Attachments:image002.png Please see Board Correspondence - From: Office of Supervisor Susan Ellenberg <supervisor.ellenberg@bos.sccgov.org> Sent: Friday, February 28, 2025 10:42 AM To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net> Subject: D4 February Newsletter Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg banner image Dear friends and neighbors, It has been lovely to enjoy some fresh air and clear skies after the recent rains. The change in weather has been a welcome break, but as I take in the crisp days, I’m also reflecting on my recent State of the District program and the important conversations it sparked. This (very rainy!) night was about more than reflecting on the work of my team —it was about recognizing the strength in each of us and the responsibility we all share in building a district where everyone is seen, supported, and uplifted. A heartfelt thank you to the incredible keynote speakers who magnificently represented the breadth of D4: Brooke Ramirez (representing Campbell), Maria Ines Ortega Barrera (representing West San Jose), and Mary Grizzle (representing Santa Clara). Each of these women exemplifies the heart of community leadership, showing us how stepping forward with passion, commitment, and care can spark meaningful change and empower those around them. Seeing so many community members from different backgrounds come together was truly inspiring. From our youth poets whose voices carried so much wisdom, to the high school bands who filled the room with energy and spirit, to the dozen county departments who staffed resource tables and provided vital information on County programs & services (my mother-in-law LOVED the Go Bag from our Office of Emergency Services), to every single person who showed up to be part of the evening — thank you. The work ahead won’t be easy, but when we lead together, when we fight for one another, and when we believe in the power of community, we can create real, lasting change. Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s keep building—together. February Board of Supervisors Meetings – February 4: DFCS Quarterly Report Highlights At the February 4, 2025 BOS meeting, the Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) shared key updates on their ongoing efforts to enhance child safety, workforce development, and community partnerships: 1. Child Safety: DFCS highlighted their continued focus on safeguarding children, particularly those impacted by substance exposure. While there was a slight uptick in recurring maltreatment cases, overall incidents of repeated maltreatment have decreased over the past five years. 2. Workforce Development: Social Services Agency staff engagement remains a priority, with training and listening sessions designed to boost morale and address feedback. A recent staff survey showed that 61% of employees felt engaged, with many advocating for better communication and leadership involvement. 3. Community Partnerships: DFCS has strengthened collaborations with organizations like Santa Clara Valley Healthcare and the Public Health Home Visitation Program. These partnerships have played a vital role in tackling complex cases, including those involving substance abuse. Community Violence Prevention Strategic Plan The Community Violence Strategic Plan, created in response to my referral in January 2024, outlines a multi-year approach to community violence prevention, emphasizing primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions. The plan includes a collaboration with multiple community organizations and County departments, focusing on racial equity, systems-level transformation, and public health solutions. A key aspect of the plan is the establishment of an Office of Violence Prevention, modeled after Los Angeles County’s approach, which will guide funding, coordination, and community engagement across violence prevention efforts. The workplan's goals are: 1. Reducing violence in high-risk populations and communities. 2. Enhancing County coordination and collaboration on violence prevention. 3. Measuring outcomes to ensure the effectiveness of violence prevention initiatives. A $5M appropriation for a Community Violence Prevention Fund (CVPF) aimed at supporting initiatives for a future Office of Community Violence Prevention (OVP) was proposed for distribution over three years. This item will be revisited in the FY25-26 budget process for further consideration and action. February 25: Midyear Budget Update & Report on Fiscal Threats from the Federal Administration The Board of Supervisors received a report from County CEO James Williams outlining the potential impacts of federal budget reductions on key programs. These cuts are likely to target critical services such as TANF (CalWORKS), SSI, Medi- Cal, CalFRESH, and climate-related programs. Federal funding, which includes state funds derived from federal sources, accounts for 30% of our budget. However, the allegedly "discretionary" portion of our budget, just 21%, must also cover essential business necessities, including veterans' services, homeless shelters, disaster planning, and tax collection. As we face these uncertain times, there is significant concern within our community. The shift from a period of funding expansion to one of contraction, driven by rising costs and federal reductions, has left many wondering about the future of these vital services. I want to emphasize the need for collective action across all sectors—public, private, nonprofit, labor, education and business—to address these challenges. Update on the Financial Status of the County Health and Hospital System Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) provided an update on the financial status of the County Health and Hospital System and the importance of both preserving and expanding access to health care to meet the needs of our residents. With the County’s upcoming acquisition of Regional Medical Center (RMC), SCVH will soon handle nearly half of all emergency department visits in the County, further cementing its role as a critical healthcare provider for our community. RMC’s addition is particularly vital for East San Jose, where 40% of the County’s Medi-Cal population resides within a five-mile radius. Restoring Level 2 trauma services is expected to return 30% of the County’s trauma volume to RMC, ensuring that life-saving care is more accessible to residents. Importantly, the operational costs of RMC will be absorbed within SCVH’s existing budget for FY24-25, with no additional burden on the General Fund. With over half of the County’s budget dedicated to health and hospital services—including behavioral health, custody health, public health, and an extensive hospital and clinic network—SCVH remains a cornerstone of care for nearly half a million patients each year. Over 85% of these patients rely on government-sponsored insurance, underscoring the County’s commitment to serving as a safety net for those in need. While the future of federal funding remains uncertain, Santa Clara County remains steadfast in its mission to provide accessible, high-quality healthcare to all residents. Behavorial Health Quarterly Update Since July 1, 2022, in direct response to my referral (in partnership with Supervisor Lee) that declared mental illness and substance use disorders a public health crisis, Santa Clara County has added or increased access to 208 behavioral health beds, achieving 39% of our overall goal of 530 new beds. Another 227 beds are in progress, bringing us to 43%. With 95 more beds needed) to meet our interim goal, we continue investing in critical behavioral health infrastructure. Key developments: · The new 77-bed Behavioral Health Services Department center, now 80% complete, is set to open in 2026 to serve children, youth, and adults. · The County has submitted three proposals for state funding under the Prop 1 Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program, with award notices expected in May 2025. · We’ve invested $23.3 million in 988 and mobile crisis response programs, including the TRUST team, our most-utilized mobile crisis response service. · A new clinic, called COMPASS (Compassionate Addiction Services & Support), is in the works and will be located near District 4’s Burbank, Buena Vista, and Rose Glen neighborhoods. COMPASS will provide low-barrier access to substance use treatment services, including same-day walk-in services. · Inpatient Addiction Consult Service (IACS) will be launched to provide specialty addiction medicine consultation, improving outcomes and coordination of care for hospitalized individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). The Hub (at Meridian & Parkmoor) and Support for Foster Youth The Board of Supervisors received updates on the construction and operation plan for the new Hub and co-located apartment units at Parkmoor, a resource center offering education, employment, housing, and support services for current and former foster youth. Construction is set to be completed in August, with relocation beginning in September and an official opening celebration in November. During the transition, services will remain available at the existing Hub on King Road. The new facility will include a children’s play area and child supervision services for young parents attending classes and workshops. I look forward to working with Administration to explore additional childcare options to better support working parents. Investing in Rehabilitation Over Punishment - Last Friday, I toured the County’s Secure Youth Treatment Facilities at Juvenile Hall and James Ranch, which now houses transitional-aged youth ages 18-25 following the closure of California’s Division of Juvenile Justice in 2020. These facilities focus on rehabilitation through cognitive behavioral interventions, education, and vocational training, with many residents enrolling in college—often becoming the first in their families to do so. This is what true rehabilitation should look like: providing transitional-aged youth with the tools to set meaningful goals and create positive change. As we continue strengthening these programs, we must prioritize rehabilitation over punitive measures to build safer, stronger communities. You can read a deeper dive into my impressions and reflection on the day in this month’s blog post. Supporting Small Businesses Thank you to the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to present to your membership on the vital role of small businesses in our economy. While economic growth isn’t a core County responsibility, small business success directly impacts the well-being of our communities. During the pandemic, the County provided grants, low-interest loans, and funding for workplace safety improvements to help businesses stay afloat. Today, we remain committed to engaging with our small business community to ensure long- term success and economic resilience. Celebrating Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships On February 22, I attended the First 5 Childcare Apprenticeship Cohort 2 Graduation. This program is preparing the next generation of early childhood educators, with 38 graduates ready to strengthen childcare services in our community. Woo hoo! Childcare is a public good that supports families, employers, and our local economy. This program’s success is thanks to the dedication of educators, mentors, and family childcare providers working together to ensure high-quality early childhood education. Congratulations to Cohort 2—you are shaping the future! TRUST Ride-Along: Mobile Crisis Response to community members in crisis When someone is in a mental health or substance- disorder crisis, the only option for decades was to call 911. Since July 1, 2023, another option exists: 988. Utilizing 988 allows law enforcement more bandwidth to respond to harm or crimes in progress. In Santa Clara County, a call to 988 may lead to one of four mobile crisis response teams being dispatched. The most frequently requested and dispatched responder is our TRUST team. TRUST, or Trusted Response Urgent Support Team, provides 24/7 mobile crisis response throughout the county. From March to August 2024, they responded to over 2,100 calls—more than half requiring direct field intervention. I recently visited the TRUST call center run by Pacific Clinics and participated in a ride-along in their newest, ADA-accessible van. I was extremely impressed with the operation and the care of the direct responders and learned that when they aren’t responding to calls they are proactively visiting with unhoused community members, establishing trust (no pun intended) and providing resources. The need for these services is growing. Awareness of 988 is increasing, but still fewer than 25% of residents polled are familiar with it. Please spread the word and help me promote these lifesaving services to ensure mental health care is accessible to all who need it. You can get a firsthand look and reflection of my ride-along on my YouTube channel - https://youtu.be/V23ExrsU9hw? si=_8e7cekteU11_zEd Blog Post and Podcast Every month, I use my blog and podcast to shine a light on projects and ideas that deserve more attention—hence the name And Just One More Thing. This month was no different, but I also had the rare opportunity to get directly involved in ways newsletter, I toured two facilities deeply tied to my office’s priorities: Pacific Clinics and the TRUST team, as well as the County’s Secure Youth Treatment Facilities (SYTF) at Juvenile Hall and James Ranch. I approached both visits with plenty of questions and walked away with even more reflections— reinforcing my commitment to strengthening and shaping these services to be the best they can be. With that in mind, this month’s theme is reflection. The podcast takes a different approach from its usual format, instead presenting a newsreel-style video capturing my ride-along with the TRUST van. Meanwhile, the blog post dives deeper, offering a candid, and at times frustrated, perspective on my justice system tours. Our juvenile facilities stand as clear examples of how we can do better, not just for young people, but for people in our adult facilities as well. As always do not hesitate to reach out to our office for any assistance you may need. Sincerely, Susan Ellenberg Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors D4 Video Video Sourcewise Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Child Advocates of Silicon Valley Silicon Valley Strong County Boards and Commissions Health Services Older Adult Services Housing Assistance LGBTQ+ Resources Food and Financial Support Video 70 West Hedding East Wing, 10th Floor San Jose, CA 95110 (408) 299-5040 Email Supervisor Ellenberg District 4 Website Unsubscribe from future messages.