Local Leaders Discuss a Countywide Plan for Children and Youth

Davis CA

20 August, 2021

7:32 PM

Description

Woodland, CA - On Thursday (August 19), various elected officials and community leaders from across Yolo County gathered for a virtual convening on children, youth and families. The four-hour meeting was the first in a series of two planned sessions, focused on how the county can improve coordination with American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to advance opportunities for youth and families. Event organizers invited over 50 representatives from varied interests across the county, including: Representatives from city government in Davis, West Sacramento, Woodland and Winters (including mayors, city councilmembers, and city managers); Representatives from county government (including county supervisors, the county administrator's office, and leaders from various departments and agencies) Educational leaders from the five school districts, the Yolo County Office of Education, Los Rios Community College District and Woodland Community College; and Nonprofit leaders from First 5 Yolo, the United Way, Yolo County CASA, and the Yolo Community Foundation. In introducing the event, Jesse Salinas, County Assessor, Clerk-Recorder and Elections Official, noted that the county was well-suited to enact a collaborative plan for children and youth. "There's something unique about Yolo County that we can do things that most other counties could never do," said Salinas. "The fact that we're here having this conversation just gives me great pride to say we can do something that is so significant that it will be the envy of not just the state but the nation as well." Other speakers stressed the importance of collaboration across agencies and jurisdictions with the application of ARP funding. Superintendent Garth Lewis said, "My observation is that since March 2020, partnerships and collaborative relationships [in Yolo County] have only been strengthened, deepened and achieved greater clarity." He encouraged county leaders to continue working together to expand and grow services for youth and families. During the convening, attendees were presented with current data on children, youth and families. First 5 Yolo Executive Director Gina Daleiden shared the impacts of the pandemic on young children and their families. Daleiden said, "The toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and families has some real implications for the future." She shared that 50 percent of households with children in the county have had difficulty paying bills. For school-age children, Micah Studer, Interim Associate Superintendent of Educational Services for Yolo County Office of Education, noted, "These are systemic issues that we can affect [with ARP funding]. The problem is not that we have students experiencing poverty. The problem is how are we going to create an impact so that our students won't experience poverty." In providing an update on the county's ARP funding process, Interim County Administrator Daniel Kim said, "[The county] wants to make sure we maximize opportunities by having partnerships with other governmental agencies." He noted that the county is set to receive nearly $124 million in ARP funding between the county, cities and school districts. He noted the funding could be "transformational" if applied correctly. Patti Herrera, Vice President for School Services of California, shared that the state is also investing in children and families, noting the state budget includes funding for universal kindergarten by 2025 and provides additional childcare slots. Herrera said, "The power of this convening is that you are going to take advantage of this fleeting moment of abundance to figure out how to design and build your infrastructure for these cross-collaborative purposes to support children and families in Yolo County in the long-term." At the closing, Board of Supervisors Chair Jim Provenza said, "We started [the convening] because of the ARP funding. But this is really broader than that particular source of funding. It's really a community effort – and a community commitment – to the emphasis on children. I really believe that if we as government and community leaders make that commitment, we will be much more successful at addressing these issues." Davis Vice Mayor Lucas Frerichs added, "I think the final result is a great starting point and really shows the commitment from across the city councils, the Board of Supervisors, school boards, the Yolo County Office of Education and some of our other partners. There is a real ability for us as local electeds to continue to do things in the 'Yolo Way' and look forward and think about what we want to see in the years to come." The second and final convening is set for September 9. The convenings were made possible with a grant from the James B. McClatchy Foundation. The convenings are being hosted by Superintendent Garth Lewis, Board of Supervisors Chair Jim Provenza, Assessor, Clerk-Recorder and Elections Official Jesse Salinas, and Davis Vice Mayor Lucas Frerichs. The convening was facilitated by Youth Development Network, a local nonprofit with a focus on youth development.