IN THIS ISSUEALAMEDA COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY • OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNITY RELATIONS • EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER

1 Agency Director’s Message1 VITA Volunteer Spotlight4 SSA Out and About: GSA Business

to Business Forum 4 Employee Promotions:

Dec. 2017 and Jan. 20185 Fund Development and

Grant Updates 6 A Day in the Life: Anissa Basoco-

Villarreal, Policy Director 7 Trophy Awarded to Dept of Adult

Protection for Public Service Video Ad

7 It Takes A Village: North Oakland Staff Celebrate Black History Month

APRIL 2018

A Message from the Agency Director

The Social Services Agency is scheduled to make its annual budget presentation to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors

on Tuesday, April 10. This is a County “ritual” that affords the general public and community organizations an opportunity to hear firsthand how we allocate our resources and identify our spending priorities for the programs and services provided to Alameda County residents. I use the term “ritual” very deliberately to acknowledge the importance of a transparent budget process that provides taxpayers an opportunity to see and hear how their tax dollars are spent.

This also provides SSA with an opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of our staff and departments. We will never have enough resources to address the myriad needs of the families, children, seniors, and individuals that can benefit from additional services. That is why it is essential that we help people to gain a better understanding of the funding mechanisms and resource allocations that support the programs and services provided to improve the quality of life for so many. On Tuesday when I am making my presentation that is what I will try to convey on your behalf.

Wish me luck! —Lori

Just as most of us are heading home after a long day at work, or catching a few extra winks on a Saturday morning, a group of dedicated volunteers are ready to kick things into high gear.

Under the nurturing leadership and service-driven passion of Sylvia Soublet, SSA Director of Public Affairs and Community Affairs and Jacqueline Jacobs, program coordinator, SSA’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program continues to go strong even in its 16th year of operation.

COMPILED BY: Andrea Wong, Program SpecialistOffice of Public Affairs and Community Relations

Big Smiles, Big Hearts: VITA Volunteer Spotlight

PHOTO CREDITS: Kavey Seng, Program ManagerWorkforce and Benefits Administration

Continued on page 2VITA volunteers know how to have a good time!

Alan Yalung and Darnell Williams show off their dance moves.

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Continued on page 3

Grace Lam,community member Volunteer Role: Tax PreparerTime with VITA: 4 years

The best part of VITA: I enjoy being part of the team and helping to complete tax returns for low-income families, who can save money from their hard work.

When I’m not at VITA, you’ll find me looking forward to having opportunities to serve the community in any other way possible.

Continued from page 1: VITA Volunteers

Kent Luecommunity member Volunteer Role: Screener, Tax Preparer, Quality ReviewerTime with VITA: 4 years altogether--but this is the first year with SSA!

The best part of VITA: I like working with a group of friendly, courteous, and professional people while helping individuals who may feel overwhelmed or in need of assistance with filing their individual tax returns.

When I’m not at VITA, you’ll find me working, relaxing at home, or traveling for vacation. Hawaii is my favorite vacation destination.

DereK Luecommunity member Volunteer Role: Screener, Tax Preparer, Quality ReviewerTime with VITA: 4 years altogether--but this is the first year with SSA!

The best part of VITA: I like helping people who need assistance filing their tax returns and seeing their reactions when they’re getting a bigger refund than they’re expecting.

When I’m not at VITA, you’ll find me working, reading comic books, watching movies, or going out with friends.

This year, approximately 140 Agency and County staff, as well as community members, are generously sharing their time, energy, compassion, and talents on top of their commitments to their regular jobs, family obligations, and other volunteer endeavors. We invite you to meet some of the friendly faces who been making the tax season not so taxing for customers throughout Alameda County.

eLvia QuiroGaaLameDa county treasurer–tax coLLector’s officeVolunteer Role: Tax PreparerTime with VITA: 7 years

The best part of VITA: What I enjoy best about volunteering at VITA are the people. The volunteers and site managers are exceptional people and getting to know them has been a highlight. The customers that come in are always so grateful for the services that we provide. It feels so good to be able to help them keep their hard earned income where it belongs… with them rather than spending it on a corporation that charges excessively for this service. I also enjoy the challenge of looking at each case individually and finding solutions to their tax questions and to help them maximize their refund.

When I’m not at VITA, you’ll find me spending time with family, enjoying a good book, trying new recipes, and volunteering just a little more with other causes close to my heart.

Father and son duo

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Continued from page 2: VITA Volunteers

aLan yaLunG,aLameDa county sheriff’s officeVolunteer Role: Tax Preparer, Intake SpecialistTime with VITA: 5 years

The best part of VITA: What I like best is the sight of happy clients availing of our free tax services. It is very fulfilling when you see these clients that you helped coming back year after year for our free and professionally rendered tax services.

When I’m not at VITA, you’ll find me cooking, jogging and hiking.

starLa Gay, community member (anD former county empLoyee)Volunteer Role: Site Coordinator, Thomas L. Berkley officeTime with VITA: 5 years

How I made the leap to become a Site Coordinator: There was a need—and I would have been volunteering anyway. Also, it was an opportunity to grow within my volunteer experience.

The best part of VITA: My silly side says: I am a tax NERD! So, VITA satisfies my need to crunch numbers and sniff fresh 1040s. My serious side says the same--AND I love public service. I am a social justice advocate and passionate about the central concepts of charity and assistance to the least fortunate. VITA allows me to combine my skills and passion into a great community service.

When I’m not at VITA, you’ll find me hanging with my two girls, reading a book, checking to see if the latest Game of Thrones or Name of the Wind book FINALLY has a release date, doing community work, or sleeping.

K. DarneLL WiLLiams aLameDa county treasurer–tax coLLector’s officeVolunteer Role: Tax Preparer or wherever I’m needed!Time with VITA: 4 years

The best part of VITA: Helping people and being part of a team.

When I’m not at VITA, you’ll find me volunteering at my church or gardening.

SSA’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will continue through April 30, 2018. Read more for locations, hours of operation, and tax documents to bring.

Appointments are required. Customers may call (510) 271-9141 or go online to http://alamedasocialservices.org/eitc.cfm

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SSA Out and About: GSA Business to Business ForumWRITTEN BY: Kathy Chen, Financial Services Officer, Contracts Unit,

and James Potter, Supervising Admin Specialist, Purchasing/Payables

WorKforce & benefits aDministrationGrace Akoidu Employment CounselorTiffany Bounds Employment CounselorGizelle Calvin Employment CounselorSharon Criss Employment CounselorAmanda Garcia Employment CounselorBrittney Gittens Supervising Clerk IIEric Hand Eligibility Services Technician IVEricka Hill Employment CounselorTamikka Johnson Eligibility Services Technician IVMandy Lopez Eligibility Services Technician ITammy Lue Eligibility Services Technician IVJeanette Lujan Employment CounselorMonique McClendon Employment CounselorSabrina Nelson Employment CounselorMaria Potter Employment CounselorMitzi Richardson Employment CounselorSoraya Rios Employment CounselorMelissa Santana Program ManagerSarah Schmidt Eligibility Services Technician IVRoland Shao Eligibility Services Technician IVJamia Shuttleworth Employment CounselorKay Spencer Employment CounselorConstance Thomason Employment CounselorAlisha Thompson Employment CounselorMark Vellutini Employment CounselorBrandie Walker Employment CounselorCarol Watson Employment CounselorLisanne White Eligibility Services Technician IVTosha White Employment Counselor

aGency aDministrationLatisha Dotson Staff Development SpecialistJesslyn Kwong Eligibility Services Technician IVLilian Luu Eligibility Services Technician IVMark Mithaiwala Staff Development SpecialistArvetta Nelson Staff Development SpecialistNoe Reynoso Employment CounselorTin Thang Eligibility Services Technician IVKelly Watson Staff Development Specialist

chiLDren anD famiLy servicesMario Garcia Child Welfare SupervisorKim Truong Specialist Clerk IKelly Wood Child Welfare Supervisor

Movin’ On Up: Employee Promotions

December 2017 & January 2018

aDuLt anD aGinG servicesJanet Campbell Program ManagerNicole Hayes Program Manager

Alameda County’s General Services Agency (GSA) hosted the first County-wide vendor outreach Business to Business Forum on January 9 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.

The purpose was to identify and engage small local businesses, increase awareness of the County’s contracting opportunities, introduce County departmental and agency staff, and to certify additional Small, Local, Emerging Businesses (SLEB) firms.

Sandra Oubre and Kathy Chen represented SSA in the planning effort. James Potter, Frederick Robinson, Charlotte Smith, and Kathy Chen managed our Agency’s booth at the event. More than 100 people attended the event. Many new vendors visited SSA’s booth and were offered Agency brochures, giveaway items, and information on upcoming contracting opportunities. It was a lively and intimate networking event lasting into the evening.

Guest speakers from local firms shared their experiences doing business with Alameda County. Participating County departments also gave brief presentations. James encouraged attending vendors to participate in the Alameda County’s SLEB program and provided an example of how the program can benefit all businesses that participate. He also informed the audience of how SSA supports GSA Procurement (Purchasing) and their goal to attain 75% SLEB vendor usage for acquiring goods and services throughout Alameda County.

James Potter, Kathy Chen, and Frederick Robinson

“The experience was good and SSA can anticipate being invited to the next event

when it occurs.” —James Potter

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We are pleased to share SSA has been awarded the Housing & Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) grant by the California Department

of Social Services, in partnership with Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS). Alameda County will receive $1,962,954 in grant funding to ensure homeless GA clients with the highest needs are provided timely services including housing navigation, disability advocacy, and housing research and financial assistance to return to permanent housing as quickly as possible. HDAP will serve a minimum of approximately 70 participants over the course of the three year program. Funds will be used to provide housing financial assistance in partnership with Bay Area Community Services (BACS), the lead nonprofit agency for the implementation of HDAP. Under the direction of Assistant Agency Director Andrea Ford, SSA’s Workforce & Benefits Administration (WBA) will determine GA clients who are eligible for referral to HDAP and Coordinated Entry, and work collaboratively with Alameda County Care Connect to help place clients into permanent supportive housing.

In support of CalFresh technology improvements, the WBA also received a provisional award of $200,000 from the Cy Pres DRAM Settlement Fund to provide enhancements to IVR/VIVR (Interactive/Visual Interactive Voice Recognition) technology to implement telephonic signatures and 24-hour hotline to increase enrollment and recertification in SNAP.

SSA’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) received an approval from the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) - Administration for Children & Families (ACF) to apply for an additional 12 months of grant funding in support of Year 4 of the Youth At-Risk of Homelessness program, which funds the Youth Transitions Partnership (YTP) providing interventions with current and former foster care youth age 14 and older who are facing a challenging transition to adulthood including homelessness and unstable housing. Assistant

Fund Development and Grant UpdatesWRITTEN BY: Lynn Peralta, Fund Development Portfolio Manager, Office of Policy, Evaluation and Planning

Agency Director Michelle Love and the DCFS team have successfully been awarded a Year 4 extension grant of $670,000 to complete implementation and formative evaluation activities, and ultimately, allow the evaluation team to work more rigorously to prepare for a summative evaluation.

In January 2018, DCFS received an allocation award of $422,318 from the California Department of Social Services for the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children. The Bridge Program aims to increase the number of foster children successfully placed in home-based family care and increase capacity of child care programs which consists of three primary components: (1) emergency child care vouchers, (2) child care navigators, and (3) trauma-informed care training and coaching. Three Resource and Referral Agencies—BANANAS, Child Care Links, and 4Cs—will provide voucher slots and subsidies for emergency placements and compelling reasons.

Assistant Agency Director Randy Morris of Adult & Aging Services has received a green light from the Stupski Foundation to review an Alameda County grant proposal to support the IHSS Care Partners Program, which provides hospice and palliative care in partnership with Health Care Services Agency. The grantwriting team has prepared a proposal request of $300,000 in support of the Care Partners Program. Additionally, the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Aging released a grants notice for the Evidence Based Falls Prevention Program. SSA’s Area Agency on Aging will apply for a sustainability grant of up to $600,000 over three years to develop capacity, bring to scale, and sustain evidence-based falls prevention programs that will help to reduce the number of falls and/or fall-related injuries in older adults.

In partnership with the Alameda County Workforce Development Board, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office is moving into planning phase for the Second Chance Smart Reentry program which was awarded a grant of $999,965 in September 2017. WDB Director Patti Castro and her team will implement an Impact Coach model in collaboration with a contracted community-based partner. WDB is also in the process of reviewing Request for Proposal applications for the Sub-Regional Workforce Network and Comprehensive AJCC, having received a total of five applications.

A special thanks to Lori Cox and Agency Executive Team (AET) Directors who have provided guidance and vision for each of these initiatives and the grants planning process. For more information on grants or potential funding opportunities, contact Lynn Peralta, Fund Development Portfolio Manager, at (510) 271-9190 or email speralta@acgov.org. To view the full Annual Fund Development 2017 Report, click here.

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Introducing Anissa Basoco-Villarreal, Policy Director

A DAY IN THE LIFE • Pictorial Series

Let’s take a sneak peek into the role of Anissa Basoco-Villarreal who leads the Office of Policy, Evaluation and Planning, better known as “OPEP.” One might ask, what does the Policy Director do? As a member of the Agency Executive Team, Anissa is one busy director who ensures things at the SSA run smoothly! She provides

guidance and recommendations to the Agency Director, Executive Leadership, and community stakeholders on the SSA’s position for state and federal legislation, educates the community on Agency advocacy efforts and policy processes, and serves on a variety of statewide legislative committees and local workgroups. In addition, she supports policy perspective to Finance in budget development and contracts, manages fund development initiatives, and helps build capacity in advancing data-driven decision making Agency-wide.

WRITTEN BY: Lynn Peralta, Fund Development Portfolio Manager, Office of Policy, Evaluation and Planning

Anissa presents a CFS budget proposal at the CA State Senate Budget Sub-Committee 3 on Health & Human Services.

Anissa regularly attends weekly Alameda County Board of Supervisors meetings with Lori Cox to stay up-to-date on policy, legislation, and decisions that relate to the SSA.

Here Anissa hosts the SSA’s Results-Based Accountability (RBA) Training attended by cross-departmental staff in October.

Anissa has oversight of the RBA Workgroup, a committee tasked with developing the framework for performance-based contracting and evaluation. Here the OPEP team smiles for the cameras after RBA training!

Part of Anissa’s work involves leading vision planning meetings for groups including the SSA’s Senior Management Team (SMT). This summer the SMT convened and revisited the agency’s strategic vision and goals during group brainstorm sessions.

Anissa also supports the coordination of community events such as the SSA Renaissance Job Fair, engaging and providing all-around support to clients, employers, staff, and participants.

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Shining a Light on Elder Financial Abuse:Trophy Commemorates Outstanding Public Service

Commercial and Awareness Campaign

Gleaming brightly in Agency Director’s Office is the trophy that has arrived to commemorate the Silver Award for Commercial–Public Service awarded to SSA’s Department of Adult Protection and Better World Advertising

by the 2016 International Davey Awards for their “Don’t Worry, Mom” elder financial abuse awareness video ad. The video ad, which was broadcast through cable providers as well as online via Facebook and YouTube, was recognized for its creative work among smaller media, advertising, and marketing agencies.View the video here.

Performers: Torin Newsome, Sophia Spencer, Felicia Jones, Monica Murphy, Eric Hand, Tacuma King (drummer and community member), Raimone Bradford, Ashantaki Collins, Amanda Ball, and Dayala Bonadie.

It Takes a Village: North Oakland Staff Celebrate Black History Month

PHOTOGRAPHS BY: Doris Morrison, Employment Counselor, WBAVIDEO BY: Sophia Spencer, Employment Counselor, WBA

Many dedicated hands—and more names than space could allow!— helped make the February 22 event a success. A sumptious luncheon and an original performance of spoken word and song were the highlights of this celebration of history, pride, and camaraderie.

Check out this video: http://safeyoutube.net/w/QxTc

contact the buZZSend comments to Sylvia Soublet • ssoublet@acgov.org

Content and Design Editor: Andrea Wong