On August 9, 2024, Yolo County submitted an application for the Engage Empower Implement (EEI) grant opportunity offered by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) to engage in vital community service efforts. SACOG is a public agency that works with local governments in the Sacramento region to address regional issues as they relate to equity, economy, and environment. The EEI Grant is a new funding program from SACOG that will establish and fund community-based outreach and engagement projects throughout the six-county Sacramento region, which includes Yolo County. The County strives to provide a healthy, safe, and inclusive place to live, work, and visit for all residents through community engagement, outreach, and educational opportunities. Yolo County also aims to reduce disparities and enhance quality of life by improving access to essential services for our most vulnerable residents. This includes children, youth, and families that reside throughout the County. Residents are in need of supports and services to learn valuable job seeking skills, to gain work experience, and to qualify for higher paying careers from which they can grow to be self-sufficient, healthy, independent adults. Through the EEI grant opportunity, Yolo County will be able to provide direct funding to support youth engagement services, local services feedback, and community participation through partnership and collaboration to address these needs.

The Final Budget Request Amount was $277,619 and it is disaggregated in the Summary Budget Table below. The EEI grant proposal was submitted on August 9, 2024, and on November 4, 2024, CAO staff received notice that the proposal was added to the final award list for SACOG Board approval on November 14th. The full budget request amount was accepted. A majority portion of this funding, $252,619, will be reimbursed from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The remaining amount of $25,000 will be received as a lump sum from SACOG directly.
 
Summary Budget Table

The County Administrator’s Office (CAO), in collaboration with Supervisor Villegas who is the County’s representative on the SACOG Board, submitted a proposal to partner with two local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and the Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE) as an essential stakeholder. RISE, Inc. and Health Education Council (HEC) are the two CBOs that have agreed to partner in creating key community outreach initiatives to achieve higher service delivery and improve access to quality opportunities for Yolo County constituents. The Application Narrative (Att. B.) and the Scope of Work (Att. C.) submitted to SACOG are provided as attachments to this staff report. The Application Narrative outlines the roles and responsibilities of each partner while the Scope of Work provides budgetary information.

RISE, Inc. will assist with audience identification in Yolo County, particularly, identifying youth in rural areas and connecting them to engagement activities such as After-School enrichment programs, Leadership Workshops, and College Exploration sessions. These engagement activities would be an avenue to collaborate with Yolo County Office of Education in a joint effort to empower youth residents across the County with these targeted service efforts.

The Health Education Council is pleased to expand resident engagement with enhanced outreach to target disinvested neighborhoods in West Sacramento. HEC will engage residents living in target West Sacramento neighborhoods, focusing on the northwest quadrant of the city. HEC will leverage its current strategies, partnerships, and diverse stakeholder partners to engage with residents of this target area to better understand the causes and resident-identified solutions to the disproportionate health inequities and potential issues of mobility to access care. Through a series of outreach sessions and key-informant interviews, HEC will listen to assets and concerns and identify opportunities for addressing barriers to healthier communities. These outreach efforts will build upon HEC’s existing projects and leverage partner networks in Yolo County to achieve the project’s desired outcomes.   

The Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE) is an additional stakeholder that will provide access to platforms, tools, and supports that assists individuals and families in navigating career exploration, training and upskill opportunities, college options, and events that promote opportunities for youth and young adults to prepare for the 21st Century workforce. Data provided by YCOE’s Roadmap to the Future was a valuable resource cited in our grant application and will be a resource to continue efforts requiring effective asset mapping and community engagement. In addition, the College and Career Readiness team at YCOE can provide upskilling and professional development for practitioners, staff of community-based organizations thus growing capacity, local accessibility, and programmatic support. YCOE is not a CBO or a government entity applicant for this grant but is rather a key stakeholder and will perform service efforts that reinforce and expand RISE, Inc.’s outreach and engagement activities. All requested funding on behalf of YCOE will be to provide administrative and community navigation support only in service to RISE, Inc.’s tasks and objectives.

The County of Yolo will be the grant administrator and support of the Community Based Organization partners to sustain effective outreach avenues that support their key initiatives. With this grant award, the County aims to achieve higher service delivery and improve the access to quality opportunities through these partnerships to reach children, youth, and families county-wide.

Currently, staff are working to finalize the grant agreements with the involved parties and anticipates returning to the Board in the next 60 days with the final documents for approval.