ACS Member Executive Directors Meeting

Monday, October 5, 2015

Minutes

Department of Citizen Services Transition/Infrastructure Considerations

Attendees: Keisha Benjamin, Barbara Coleman, Mike Couch, Bita Dayhoff, Joan Driessen, Jackie Eng, Bruce Fulton, Risa Garon, Toni Gianforti, Kathy Helt, Jennifer Pollitt-Hill, Andrea Ingram, Cyndi Rogers, Brenda Sackandy, Joe Willmott

Summary: The nonprofit leaders discussed their perspectives on the structure of the Department of Citizen Services and factors they felt should be accounted for as change in this structure is considered. Some of the key takeaways included:

  1. We should be clear about the problem that this change is designed to solve.
  2. We should take a fresh look at DCS priorities.
  3. Are we focusing on the most vulnerable in our community?
  4. Are we directing county money toward the areas where we can make the greatest impact?
  5. Are there any gaps that need to be addressed?
  6. Attention should be paid to how any changes would help to simplify and streamline the process for clients/residents and nonprofit organizations that provide services.
  7. As change is considered, attention should be given to establishing a structure that is conducive to effective communication and decision-making.
  8. Community Service Partnerships should remain at the Department of Citizen Services where staff has programmatic expertise and is familiar with the relationship among County departments/offices and community organizations. This also creates a partial buffer from the political process.
  9. We should examine natural linkages that can be leveraged to streamline bureaucracy and improve service provision (e.g., Recreation & Parks and Children’s Services?)
  10. If a Department of Health and Human Services is created, the larger bureaucracy might:
  11. Impede effective and efficient delivery of services due to increased levels of bureaucracy
  12. complicate communication and decision-making
  13. There should be a focus on coordinating service provision in areas of need. The Coordinated System of Homeless Services could be used as a model.

In the area of Grants Administration:

  1. There was general agreement that continued funding of operational expenses for nonprofits is critical.
  2. The grants management expertise within Citizen Services is valuable and should be maintained.
  3. To improve transparency, consideration should be given to:
  4. Allowing those applying for funding to directly address the review committee
  5. Providing a public list of the grant reviewers
  6. Ensuring that those on the review committee are both familiar with the problems being addressed and the County nonprofit community
  7. Providing nonprofit applicants with critiques, the reviewer’s scoring sheets, the criteria used in rating applications, and the priority rankings.
  8. The knowledge of the nonprofit organizations and their programs, as well as the established relationships with leaders and staff are beneficial.
  9. Some improvement could be made in the acquisition and management of federal and state funds.

October 6,2015