COUNTY OF SONOMA
Human Services Department
3600 Westwind Blvd., Santa Rosa, CA 95403
P.O. Box 1539, Santa Rosa, CA 95402
ANGELA STRUCKMANN
Department Director
p:
f:
(707) 565-5800
(707) 565-5890
MEMORANDUM
DATE: May 9, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Angela Struckmann, Director, Human Services Department RE: Report on Impacts of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Prohibition Measure
The Human Services Department (HSD) has evaluated the potential impacts of passage of the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations prohibition measure. The primary and most predictable impact would be to our Employment and Training Division, which provides services to employers and employees in the community. A secondary and more difficult to predict impact could be to our Economic Assistance Division, where there may be an increased demand for CalFresh and Medi-Cal benefits.
The employment related services administered through HSD Job Link that would be responsive to the potential community needs created by passage of the measure include:
• Rapid response services for affected employers/employees, providing information about unemployment insurance, job search, training programs and other helpful information designed to assist with minimizing the length of time individuals are unemployed. • An array of basic career services for affected employees provided at the Job Link center:
assistance with resumes, access to a computer lab and online trainings, access to group workshops, and access to Employment Development Department staff. These services are universally available on a drop-in basis as space allows with no formal enrollment process.
• Intensive 1:1 services for 10-12 laid off individuals (with existing funding), including individualized vocational assessment and counseling, tailored assistance with job search and placement, and financial assistance for training programs. These services are provided based on available Job Link funding. The program currently has a 10-week waiting period to see a counselor.
In order to provide intensive services to impacted individuals who are likely to seek assistance, Job Link estimates needing additional funding in the amount of $1,496,000. This is based on an
assumption of 25% uptake of the total number of affected employees, which would equate to 110 individuals, using our known per person training cost and the cost of employment counselors. The cost breakdown below reflects a six-month program for affected workers.
Training cost per person $10,000
Number of people 110
Caseload per counselor 25
Number of counselors 4.4
Cost of counselor position $90,000
Total $1,496,000
If additional funding was not available, it would take 24-30 months for Job Link to serve all affected individuals and would cause displacement of other job seekers in the community in need of Job Link services.
Sincerely,
Angela Struckmann
Director
(707) 565-5800
[email protected]