AGENDA DATE: 6/21/2023
TITLE:
Title
Community Human Services Needs Assessment & Expanded Agency Budget Review Team Opportunity
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Review of Albemarle County Human Services Needs Assessment and discuss opportunities to address the identified needs through an expanded Agency Budget Review Team.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Rosenberg, Bessette, Sumner, Dimock
PRESENTER (S): Kaki Dimock, Jacob Sumner
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: In response to the development of the Fiscal Year 2024 - 2028 Albemarle County Strategic Plan, staff have gathered and reviewed data representing community well-being to serve as an initial human services needs assessment. Data are presented and used to inform recommendations for future investments and activities.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Mission - To enhance the well-being and quality of life for all community members through the provision of the of the highest level of public service consistent with the prudent use of public funds.
DISCUSSION: A human services needs assessment may be used to monitor community conditions, evaluate the need for intervention, and/or inform the development of programming and investment. This initial human services needs assessment presents data and contextual information from the areas of homelessness, housing, criminal justice, food insecurity, behavioral health and financial need. Emerging needs in the areas of family homelessness, adolescent mental health, community safety, and navigation for seniors are identified based on data and analysis of current community capacity and context. Recommendations for investment of time, funding and/or resources are made for each category of emerging need. Staff recommend that a long-term funding component be added to the annual Agency Budget Review Team process that would provide performance agreements or contracts for up to $100,000 per year for activities specifically intended to address the concerns or gaps in service for these four areas. Under this new longer-term investment strategy, agreements could be renewed for an additional two years, based on measured impact.
BUDGET IMPACT: If the Board of Supervisors provides direction to the creation of the expanded investment in the Agency Budget Review Team annual solicitation, this item will be incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 25) five-year financial planning and annual budget development process for future Board discussion. As an example for illustrative purposes, an amount of $100,000 for four focus areas would have an estimated budget impact of $400,000. The actual amount would be determined by the Board of Supervisors in the annual budget process subject to total budget considerations including, but not limited to: County mandates and obligations, investment in the Strategic Plan, such as this initiative, and available revenues. Funding for future years would be reflected in subsequent budget development processes.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors provide direction to staff on the following that will inform program development and the FY 25 budget process:
1. General guidance about prioritizing needs identified in Attachment A.
2. Four performance agreements at a maximum of $100,000 each to support identified needs.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Human Services Needs Assessment - May 2023