City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2023-01286 11/14/2023 Consent Item 21.
Grant: 2023-2028 Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Award File ID: 2023-01286
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or City Manager’s designee to:
1) accept the grant for the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program Cohort 3 in the amount of $2,999,915 and execute the grant agreement with the Board of State and Community Corrections (the BSCC; 2) establish the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Cohort 3 Grant Project (G19080800); and 3) establish the revenue and expenditure budgets in G19080800 for the amount up to $2,999,915 in the Operating Grants Fund (Fund 2702).
Contact: Rene Kausin, Youth Development Program Manager, 916.808.6157, [email protected], Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment (YPCE) Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
3-Exhibit A: City of Sacramento BSCC Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Cohort 3 Proposal 4-Exhibit B: BSCC Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Cohort 3 Grant Agreement Additional Description/Analysis
On October 19, 2022, the BSCC released a Request for Proposals seeking applicants for its Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program Cohort 3. On December 2, 2022, the City of Sacramento (the City) submitted a proposal seeking funding for #SacYouthWorks_Futures (#Futures.
The City's proposal was ranked #3 by the BSCC Review Panel, recommended to their Board for funding, and subsequently awarded the grant in the amount requested on April 13, 2023.
The City is a current BSCC grantee, having been awarded a three-year Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program Cohort 2 grant in May 2021 that concludes in October 2024.
BSCC Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program Cohort 3 funding will support 800 City
File ID: 2023-01286 11/14/2023 Consent Item 21.
of Sacramento youth in creating pathways to healthy futures and postsecondary success through the City’s #Futures’ program. #Futures integrates underage marijuana use prevention education with work-based learning to respond to youth and community needs emerging from the legalization of adult use marijuana. #Futures will engage youth (ages 12-19) in a 40-hour program, with 10 hours dedicated to prevention education, up to 10 hours of work-readiness training, and a minimum of 20 hours dedicated to applied service/work projects supporting city-wide prevention efforts or other community needs. #Futures builds on the strengths of the City’s community-based organizations (CBOs) in connecting and responding to the needs of our youth most impacted by systemic and structural challenges and barriers. The program will create a network of CBOs that will guide small cohorts of youth through experiences and build capacity of community-wide prevention efforts.
Policy Considerations: Budget Resolution 2023-0205, Section 11.1, requires Council approval of grant awards of $250,000 or more. The State of California requires the governing bodies of BSCC Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program to officially approve receipt of grant funds via resolution.
It is the recommendation of staff that the City initiate a new solicitation process for potential CBO partners who may assist in effectuating the #Futures program. Staff have communicated with the State regarding the City’s prior grant application and the State’s award, and the State has confirmed that the City may utilize new CBO partner(s), post solicitation, and that neither new solicitation efforts nor the onboarding of new community partners will jeopardize grant funding. An amendment to the grant agreement may be effectuated with the State should any new CBO partner(s) be awarded funds pursuant to the grant.
Economic Impacts: Not applicable
Environmental Considerations: This report concerns administrative activities and government fiscal activities that do not constitute a “project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines sections 15378(b)(2) and 15378(b)(4) and are not subject to the provisions of CEQA (CEQA Guidelines section 15060(c)(3)).
Sustainability: Not applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: California Healthy Kids Survey data for Sacramento County (2017 -2019) indicates that since the passage of Proposition 64, marijuana use has increased by grade level; underage use of cannabis and alcohol are similar over the course of a 30-day period; and older students (grades 9 and 11) are more likely to believe that marijuana consumption is less harmful than alcohol. Further, data from the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) found that youth
File ID: 2023-01286 11/14/2023 Consent Item 21.
believe that marijuana is easier to get and use now that it has been legalized for adult recreational use, with youth grades 11-12 reporting a 60% increase. National data about the harmful effects of short- and long-term marijuana continues to mount as well, especially at the intersection of multiple risk-factors that many of our most vulnerable youth face. Effects of short-term use include impaired short-term memory and motor coordination; altered judgment; and increased sexual risk behaviors, leading to sexually transmitted infections (a particular issue in Sacramento); and in high doses, paranoia, and psychosis.
Based on learnings from pilots during Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program Cohort 2, Cohort 3 will have a more intentional approach to address the intersection of underage marijuana and mental health and wellness. These lessons, and the recommendations they helped inform, are being incorporated into this project. Additionally, Cohort 3 will serve more youth (800 over 5 years) and will reach both middle school and high school youth, unlike the Cohort 2 grant which only serves high school youth.
YPCE staff recommend that the City initiate a new solicitation process for potential community partners who may assist in effectuating the #Futures program. Upon internal review, YPCE staff believe that a new round of solicitations will ensure open and transparent access to more potential sub-grantees. Therefore, upon acceptance of the subject grant funds, staff shall initiate a new round of solicitations. Staff have communicated with the State regarding this plan, and the State has consented.
Financial Considerations: The total Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant award amount is $2,999,915. Staff recommends establishing the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Cohort 3 Grant Project (G19080800) and the revenue and expenditure budgets in the Operating Grants Fund (Fund 2702) for the amount up to $2,999,915.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-xxxx
Adopted by Sacramento City Council
Accepting the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Cohort 3 Grant Award
BACKGROUND
A. The City of Sacramento (the City) submitted a grant proposal in the amount of $2,999,915 for #SacYouthWorks_Futures (#Futures) to the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program Cohort 3 Request for Proposals, administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections (the BSCC).
The BSCC Review Panel recommended the City’s proposal to their Board for funding, which subsequently awarded the City’s proposal in the amount requested. The proposal is attached as Exhibit A.
B. Responding to the needs of Sacramento youth from communities most impacted by the passage of Proposition 64 – legalizing the Adult Use of Marijuana – the #Futures program aims to support youth in creating pathways to healthy futures and college and/or career success. #Futures integrates underage marijuana and substance use prevention education and advocacy into a work-based learning model.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND AND STAFF REPORT, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City of Sacramento desires to participate in the Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program funded through the California State and Local Government Law Enforcement Account and administered by the BSCC.
Section 2. The City Manager or the City Manager's designee is authorized to accept a Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Grant Program Cohort 3 grant award from the BSCC in the amount up to $2,999,915 on behalf of the City of Sacramento.
Section 3. The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee is further authorized to sign the Grant Agreement with the BSCC, including any amendments thereof.
Section 4. The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee affirms that grant funds received hereunder shall not be used to supplant expenditures controlled by the City of Sacramento and to abide by the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement as set forth by the BSCC. The BSCC Grant Agreement is attached as Exhibit B.
Section 5. The Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Cohort 3 Grant Project (G19080800) is established.
Section 6. The City Manager, or the City Manager's designee, is authorized to establish revenue and expenditure budgets in G19080800 in the amount up to $2,999,915 (Operating Grants Fund, Fund 2702).
Attachments:
Exhibit A: City of Sacramento BSCC Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Cohort 3 Proposal
Exhibit B: BSCC Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Cohort 3 Grant Agreement
BSCC
Powered by Submittable
Title
City of Sacramento
by
Youth
Development
in
Proposition 64 Public
Health & Safety Grant Program, Cohort 3-
Request for Proposals
[email protected]
12/02/2022
id. 34230861
Original Submission
12/02/2022
KEY INFORMATION
The Proposition 64 Public Health & Safety Grant Program, Cohort 3 Request for Proposals is divided into five (5) sections. Section I - Applicant Information Section II - Proposal Abstract Section III - Proposal Narrative and Project Work Plan (upload attachment) Section IV - Proposal Budget and Narrative (upload attachment) Section V - Attachments: Mandatory and Optional (upload attachments) Each section has fields that require a response.
Applicants will be prompted to provide written text, numerical input, radial button choices, and upload attachments.
Documents in Word,
Excel, and/or PDF are allowable formats for upload attachments.
Some responses requiring narrative text input have a limited number of allowable characters for those fields. If a character limit has been enabled for a specific response field, a character counter will display the number of characters allowed and will then show the number of characters remaining as text is entered into the response field.
Character limits include all text, punctuation, and spaces. If the character limit is exceeded, a red prompt will appear with the message "You have exceeded the character limit." Applicants may start and stop their application, as needed, during the solicitation period. However, to save the information entered into the BSCC- Submittable Application, applicants must select "Save Draft" at the bottom of the application before existing. Applicants are prohibited from submitting the Prop 64 Grant Program, Cohort 3 application until all mandatory fields are completed (those with a red asterisk), character limits are in compliance, and required documents have been uploaded. Applicants should read the Prop 64 Cohort 3 RFP Instruction Packet prior to completing the application process. The RFP Instruction Packet contains all the necessary information to successfully complete and submit the Prop 64 application for Cohort
3. This document can be found at:
http://www.bscc.ca.gov/proposition-64-public-health-safety-grant- program/.
CONFIDENTIALITY
NOTICE:
All documents submitted as a part of the Proposition 64 Public Health & Safety Grant Program proposal are public documents and may be subject to a request pursuant to the California Public Records Act.
The BSCC cannot ensure the confidentiality of any information submitted in or with this proposal. (Gov. Code, § 6250 et seq.)
SECTION I -
APPLICANT
INFORMATION
This section requires information about the applicant (County/City), grant funds being requested, proposed project synopsis and project officials.
Name of Applicant
('Name' County or
City of 'Name')
City of Sacramento
Tax Identification
Number
94-6000410
Grant Funds
Requested - Whole
dollars only
2999915.0
Applicant's Physical
Address
915 I Street
City Manager's Office, 5th Floor
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
Applicant's Mailing
Address (if different
than physical
address)
1000 I Street, Suite 120
Office of Youth Development
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
Mailing Address For
Reimbursement
Payments
1000 I Street, Suite 120
Office of Youth Development
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
Project Title
#SacYouthWorks:Futures
Project Summary
#SacYouthWorks: Futures (#Futures) will support 800 City of Sacramento youth in creating pathways to healthy futures and post- secondary success. #Futures integrates underage marijuana use prevention education with work-based learning to respond to youth and community needs emerging from the legalization of adult use marijuana. #Futures will engage youth (ages 12-19) in a 40-hour program, with 10 hours dedicated to prevention education, up to 10 hours of work-readiness training, and a minimum of 20 hours dedicated to applied service/work projects supporting city-wide prevention efforts or other community needs. #Futures builds on the strengths of the City’s community-based organizations (CBOs) in connecting and responding to the needs of our youth most impacted by systemic and structural challenges and barriers. The program will create a network of CBOs that will guide small cohorts of youth through experiences and build capacity of community-wide prevention efforts.
Proposed Project
County/City Size for
Funding Distribution
Large-sized county or a city within a large-sized county Project Purpose
Areas (PPAs)
PPA 1: Youth Development/Youth Prevention and Intervention Lead Public Agency
(LPA) Information
This sub-section requires information about the governmental agency with local authority of or within the county or city that will be acting as the LPA. Additionally, this section requires names and contact information for the individuals identified as the Project Director, Financial Officer, Day-to-Day Project Contact, Day-to-Day Fiscal Contact, and the Authorized Officer with signing authority.
Lead Public Agency
(LPA)
Office of the City Manager
Project Director
Lindee
Lane
Project Director's
Title
Youth Development Policy Manager
Project Director's
Physical Address
1000 I Street, Suite 120
Office of Youth Development
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
Project Director's
Mailing Address (if
different than
physical address)
n/a
Project Director's
Email Address
[email protected]
Project Director's
Phone Number
+19168081171
Financial Officer
Crystal
Harland
Financial Officer's
Title
Administrative Officer
Financial Officer's
Physical Address
915 I Street
City Manager's Office, 5th Floor
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
Financial Officer's
Mailing Address (if
different than
physical address)
n/a
Financial Officer's
Email Address
[email protected]
Financial Officer's
Phone Number
+19168087868
Day-To-Day Program
Contact
Marissa
Eng
Day-To-Day Program
Contact's Title and
Agency/Department/Organization
Organizational and Practitioner Development Analyst, Office of Youth Development
Day-To-Day Program
Contact's Physical
Address
1000 I Street, Suite 120
Office of Youth Development
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
Day-To-Day Program
Contact's Email
Address
[email protected]
Day-To-Day Program
Contact's Phone
Number
+19168087866
Day-To-Day Fiscal
Contact
Theressa
Nunery
Day-To-Day Fiscal
Contact's Title with
Agency/Department/Organization
Administrative Technician, Office of Youth Development
Day-To-Day Fiscal
Contact's Physical
Address
1000 I Street, Suite 120
Office of Youth Development
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
Day-To-Day Fiscal
Contact's Email
Address
[email protected]
Day-To-Day Fiscal
Contact's Phone
Number
+19168081187
Name of Authorized
Officer*
Michael
Jasso
I hereby certify I am
vested by the
Applicant with the
authority to enter into
contract with the
BSCC, and the
grantee and any
subcontractors will
abide by the laws,
policies, and
procedures
governing this
funding.
checked
Date of Assurance
12/2/2022
Authorized Officer's
Title and
Agency/Department
Assistant City Manager, Office of the City Manager
Authorized Officer's
Physical Address
915 I Street | Sacramento
City Manager's Office, 5th Floor
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
Authorized Officer's
Email Address
[email protected]
Authorized Officer's
Phone Number
+19168081380
SECTION II -
PROPOSAL
ABSTRACT
The Proposal Abstract should provide a brief summary of the proposed project. This section will not be included in the rating of the proposal.
PROPOSAL
ABSTRACT
#SacYouthWorks: Futures (#Futures) builds on the success of local programs to support high school and middle school youth in the City of Sacramento (City) – especially those most impacted by systemic and structural challenges and barriers – in responding to the impacts of the passage of Proposition 64.
The goal of the project is to support youth in creating pathways to healthy futures and post-secondary success. #Futures integrates underage marijuana and substance use prevention education and advocacy into a work-based learning framework. The program builds on the assets and strengths of the City’s trusted community-based organizations (CBOs) in connecting, serving, and responding to the specific needs of our city’s youth.
As evidenced by the adoption of the City's Youth Development Plan & Framework for Children and Youth Programs, the City is committed to developing strategies, partnerships, and culturally-competent, accessible programs that champion intentional and equitable pathways for young people to succeed – especially our most vulnerable youth. With the legalization of marijuana, addressing underage marijuana use is critical to achieving the City's vision that ALL Sacramento children and youth be valued and reach their fullest potential. Short- and long-term impacts of marijuana use intersect and compound with risk factors facing the City’s youth. Local data indicates youth are receiving mixed messaging about the safety of underage marijuana use, leading to a decrease in the perception of harm. Furthermore, youth perceive marijuana as a tool to support mental health and wellness, despite research to the contrary. With alarming rates of anxiety and depression experienced by youth, equipping them with factual knowledge of the impacts of marijuana and alternatives to support mental health and wellness is critical to ensuring their healthy futures. The proposed project seeks to engage youth in prevention education by appealing to their aspirations and embedding informative programming into paid work-based learning experiences, which our youth and greater community have expressed are a responsive approach to support youth in creating pathways to success.
#Futures will establish a network of CBOs to engage 800 youth in 40 hours of work-based learning experiences over the five-year grant period. The program will include a minimum of 10 hours of underage marijuana and substance use prevention education, up to 10 hours of work-readiness training, and a minimum of 20 hours of applied service/work projects. Projects that address underage marijuana and substance use prevention, such as social media marketing campaigns, community events, and peer-education workshops, will be highly encouraged. CBOs will also engage in required network gatherings and trainings to support city-wide prevention strategies.
SECTION III -
PROPOSAL
NARRATIVE
This section requires responses
Proposal Narrative
Instructions
The Proposal Narrative section must address the following Rating Factors- Project Need, the Project Description, and the Project Evaluation - as outlined in the Prop 64 Cohort 3 RFP Information Packet, beginning on page 18 of the Prop 64 Cohort 3 RFP Instruction Packet. Narrative in this section must clearly identify and delineate each Factor Section (i.e., Project Need, the Project Description, and the Project Evaluation) when responding. Sources cited must be included within Proposal Narrative or may be referenced within the optional RFP- Additional Information attachment .
It is up to the applicant to determine how best to use the total character limit in addressing each section (i.e., Project Need, the Project Description, and the Project Evaluation) . However, the Applicant may use the percent of total point value for each section as a guide. The Rating Factors and weighted value are provided in the Prop 64 Cohort 3 RFP Instruction Packet (Page 15). The Project Work Plan must also be uploaded to this Section as it is rated under the Project Description Rating Factor (2.6).
Proposal Narrative
1. PROJECT NEED
The goal of our proposed project, #SacYouthWorks: Futures (#Futures), is to support youth in creating pathways to healthy futures and post-secondary success. #Futures responds to the needs of our city’s youth that have resulted from the passage of Proposition 64 – especially youth facing systemic and structural challenges and barriers. Data, youth, and community leaders indicate a clear need to increase underage marijuana and substance use prevention efforts, provide clear messaging about the negative impacts of underage marijuana use, and boost protective factors for youth.
EFFECTS OF UNDERAGE MARIJUANA USE & INTERSECTION OF RISK
FACTORS
National data about the harmful effects of short- and long-term marijuana use is concerning, especially considering the intersection of multiple risk factors our target youth population faces. Effects of short-term use include impaired short-term memory and motor coordination; altered judgment; increased sexual risk behaviors, leading to STIs (a significant issue in Sacramento(1)); and in high doses, paranoia and psychosis.(2)
Impacts of long-term or heavy use
include addiction, altered brain development, poor educational outcomes, and diminished achievement and life satisfaction.(3) Adolescents who have experienced traumatic events early in life are at a heightened risk for substance use.(4)
Children of color are much
more likely to have experienced traumatic events such as neighborhood violence, racial discrimination, or live in extreme poverty.(5)
Youth in our target communities are predominantly youth of color that have experienced adverse childhood or community experiences.(6)
Data indicates our target youth population fare worse
in terms of academic achievement, college/career readiness, suspension rates, and school connectedness compared to the state average.(7) (8)
A survey, conducted by a local youth development organization, confirms these needs and risk factors.(9)
Youth identified the
following as top challenges they are facing today: 1) mental health issues; 2) fear of failing; 3) drugs and alcohol; 4) family/household issues; 5) boredom; and 6) basic needs (e.g., food, money, housing).
The 2022 survey indicated increased concern about the impact of alcohol and drugs compared to the 2020 survey when it ranked sixth. (10)
MENTAL HEALTH & MARIJUANA USE
Also concerning is the perception many youths hold that marijuana is a wellness tool and way to cope with anxiety and depression.
According to the Cannabis Marketing Association, 81% of surveyed adolescents and young adults said they use cannabis as a wellness tool, and 89% of Gen-Z participants surveyed agreed that cannabis consumption is one of their favorite ways to relax.(11) Youth
development stakeholder interviews conducted in Sacramento in 2022, confirmed these perceptions. Stakeholders reported that youth were using marijuana to cope with anxiety and depression and believe it is an option because they see adults in their lives using it for those reasons.(12)
INCREASE IN USE & EASE OF ACCESS
The California Healthy Kids Survey for Sacramento County (2017- 2019) shows that since the passage of Proposition 64, marijuana use has increased by grade level; underage use of cannabis and alcohol are similar over the course of 30 days; and students in grades 9 and 11 are more likely to believe that marijuana consumption is less harmful than alcohol.(13)
Further, data from the Sacramento County
Office of Education (SCOE) found that youth believe that marijuana is easier to get and use now that it has been legalized for adult recreational use, with youth grades 11-12 reporting a 60% increase. (14)
The local stakeholder interviews conducted in 2022, also confirmed the ease of access to marijuana and vapes. Youth were able to access them from older friends, siblings, or parents who had it available in the house and not safely secured.
MARIJUANA MARKETING
State laws ban cannabis advertising on interstates and major state highways, resulting in advertising concentrated on major city thoroughfares, near bus and light rail routes, especially in communities impacted by systemic injustices – the same
communities that were disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs.(15)
Cannabis businesses market products with an undeniable
appeal to youth. Local advertisements feature models that appear more like peers than adults, products feature kid-friendly flavors, presentations, and brand names (e.g., “Hugs”) While data about underage marijuana use is still emerging, industry research on tobacco and alcohol demonstrates relationships between exposure to advertising, perception of harm, and increased usage for youth. (16)
Recent studies show an emerging trend; one study found youth who engaged with cannabis promotions were five times more likely to have used cannabis in the last year.(17)
Local data shows concerning trends with cannabis messaging. When asked if they had seen messaging discouraging underage use, 46% of youth responded either “no” or “not sure”.(18)
Furthermore, when
youth were asked whether marijuana ads gave them the impression it was safe to use, 58% responded either “yes” or “not sure”.(19) The
high percentage of respondents who were unsure is concerning and suggests that youth receive mixed messages about the safety of underage marijuana use.(20)
In addition, local youth have shared that
social media influencers are playing a role in promoting marijuana use as a tool to manage their mental health.(21)
#FUTURES & LOCAL SERVICE GAPS
#Futures will extend and expand the City of Sacramento’s (City) existing #Futures program funded by BSCC’s Proposition 64 Public Health & Safety Grant Program—Cohort 2. #Futures completed its pilot cohort in June 2022 serving 99 youth and is currently launching its second cohort serving 300 youth. #Futures demonstrated positive results in building capacity of youth development organizations to participate in underage marijuana use prevention efforts. 100% of community-based organizations that participated in the pilot cohort reported: 1) Strongly Agree it increased their knowledge of underage marijuana use, addiction, and brain development; 2) Agree/Strongly Agree that they have more tools and resources to support youth who are at risk of substance use; and 3) Agree/Strongly Agree that they have increased ability to include underage marijuana and substance use prevention education in their youth programs.(22)
For youth,
#Futures has proven to be responsive to youth needs and interests as the pilot cohort had high rates of retention (the pilot cohort had the capacity to serve 100 youth of which 99 completed the program).
In addition, through their service projects, youth demonstrated their increase in knowledge of the impacts of underage cannabis-use, increase in job-readiness skills, and motivation to engage the community in prevention efforts.
#Futures was developed based on two successful local programs: 1) #SacYouthWorks (#SYW), a city-wide youth development program engaging youth in work-based learning experiences; and 2) the Future Forward campaign created by the Sacramento County Coalition for Youth (SCCY), led by SCOE.
#SYW has served over 2,000 youth since 2020. Primarily supported by COVID-relief funding, #SYW has demonstrated success in (1) reaching the City’s youth populations experiencing systemic and structural challenges and barriers and (2) helping youth build protective factors and acquire skills to support post-secondary success. Youth and community demand for #SYW and #Futures continues to surpass the City’s capacity to deliver programming. For example, for #Futures second youth cohort, requests were submitted by 14 organizations to serve a combined total of 372, exceeding the program capacity of 300 by 24%.
SCCY’s Future Forward campaign launched after the passage of Prop 64 in 2018 and has successfully reached youth through educational institutions. The collaboration with #Futures, supported Future Forward in extending their community-based outreach and support to youth most impacted by systemic and structural challenges and barriers.
Many lessons were learned and opportunities identified from the 2022 #Futures pilot that emphasize the need for youth development and underage marijuana use prevention outreach and the gaps in services to address these needs. These lessons will be incorporated into our #Futures program proposed for BSCC’s Proposition 64 Public Health & Safety Cohort 3 Funding. Lessons include:
(1) Many youth-serving community-based organization leaders and community stakeholders want to address concerns about the impact of the prevalence of marijuana on youth, but face challenges in addressing the issue due to cultural norms. #Futures created an opportunity for leaders and youth to come together to find support and resources to address underage marijuana use as well as opportunities to create youth-friendly and culturally responsive prevention programming and messaging. As recreational marijuana use grows and cultural norms promote usage, programs like #Futures are essential to mitigating the impacts of the legalization of marijuana use for our youth.
(2) With mental health challenges on the rise, youth will continue to seek remedies to deal with anxiety, depression, and isolation, including marijuana. In many communities, as well as among social media influencers, it is an accepted mental health remedy, despite research to the contrary. Providing youth with alternatives, by equipping them with knowledge, tools, and opportunities to support mental wellness – such as connecting youth to trusted adults and meaningful opportunities – is critical to support prevention efforts.
PROCESS TO DETERMINE NEED
The process to determine the need for the #Futures project included 1) reviewing data sources; 2) speaking with various community stakeholders including a) youth; b) the #Futures pilot network of 7 community-based organizations (CBOs) plus additional city-wide stakeholders; c) the SCCY, a coalition of educators, youth substance use prevention and intervention providers; and d) youth advocacy and policy experts.
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Our proposed project, #Futures would extend and expand upon our existing #Futures Program. In its pilot cohort in 2022, #Futures served 99 youth. The second cohort serving 300 youth began on December 1, 2022. Continued funding of #Futures through BSCC’s Proposition 64 Public Health and Safety Cohort 3 Grant Program, will leverage #Futures current infrastructure, experience, resources, and lessons learned. Furthermore, as mentioned previously, #Futures itself integrates and leverages existing infrastructure, experience, resources, and lessons learned from the City’s youth work-based learning program, #SacYouthWorks, as well as SCCY’s Future Forward campaign. #Futures builds on the strengths of the City’s CBOs with established, trusted relationships in our City’s communities most impacted by systemic and structural challenges and barriers. #Futures’ goals and objectives closely align with Project Purpose Area 1 – Youth Development/Youth Prevention and Intervention.
The #Futures program has three main components: 1) a network of CBOs to build capacity for community-wide prevention and quality youth development programs, 2) work-based learning experiences for youth, and 3) underage marijuana and substance use prevention, education, and advocacy.
COMPONENT #1: #Futures creates a network of CBOs to guide youth through #Futures work-based learning and prevention components.
The purpose of engaging a network of CBOs is to 1) increase community-wide Prevention efforts; and 2) facilitate accessible, culturally-competent, and meaningful experiences that meet youth where they are.
CBOs will attend a minimum of 10 hours of Prevention training and network gatherings. An emphasis will be placed on equipping CBO leaders and staff with factual knowledge of the impact of underage marijuana use; facilitating connections with substance use prevention/intervention resources for youth; and creating a shared sense of urgency for addressing underage marijuana use. CBOs will implement #Futures programming using a shared framework and infrastructure, that also provides flexibility for CBOs to design experiences authentic to their mission, culture, and needs of their youth.
The City of Sacramento will work with a lead organization, PRO Youth & Families (PRO), to lead and coordinate the CBO network. PRO will provide a shared infrastructure to support the City and network including fiscal and administrative oversight, shared evaluation and data collection, communications and outreach, shared training opportunities for youth and CBOs, and technical assistance for CBOs.
COMPONENT #2: CBOs will guide cohorts of 10-20 youth in a minimum of 40 hours of work-based learning (WBL) experiences.
Youth will engage in up to 10 hours of work-readiness training, a minimum of 20 hours of an applied service/work project, and 10 hours of Underage Marijuana Use Prevention Education (outlined in component #3). The purpose of this component is to engage youth in meaningful experiences that support the development of post- secondary aptitudes and protective factors.
CBOs will design WBL experiences using foundational youth development principles and incorporate the themes of connect, learn, and earn. Youth connect with trusted adult mentors (CBOs) who guide them through the program and connect them to
meaningful applied service/work opportunities. Youth learn about work, through work, and for work. They develop post-secondary aptitudes (e.g., critical thinking and communication skills) and learn practical job skills (e.g., event coordination, social media marketing, etc.). Youth earn a stipend for completing the 40-hour program which incentivizes participation, provides economic relief, promotes equity in participation, and acknowledges the value of their time, commitment to learning, and service to the community.
COMPONENT #3: As part of the 40-hour program, youth will engage in 10 hours of underage marijuana use prevention education. In addition, CBO partners and youth will be highly encouraged to incorporate underage marijuana and substance use prevention into their applied service/work project. The purpose of this component is to support youth to increase their factual knowledge about underage marijuana use as well as build awareness and equip them with tools to address underlying causes of marijuana or substance use such as mental health and wellness needs.
Curriculum materials and tools will be developed to support CBOs in delivering the 10 hours of youth prevention education. The curriculum will use components of SCCY’s existing curriculum, “Future Forward: Preventing Youth Marijuana Use.” The Future Forward curriculum focuses on equipping youth with facts about underage cannabis use and consists of eight, 60-minute modules covering topics such as marijuana facts and laws, brain science, resiliency, positivity, coping strategies, and prevention campaigns.
Additional content will be developed to build on the Future Forward curriculum to support youth in building awareness and tools to support mental health and wellness. CBOs will be trained to deliver the curriculum directly to their youth.
#Futures will leverage SCCY’s Future Forward annual provider and youth summits to support education and training for the network of CBOs and youth. In addition, CBOs and youth will have an opportunity to connect with SCCY’s Future Forward initiatives for their WBL projects. Examples of connections include 1) designing and presenting a breakout session for the youth summit; 2) serving as youth advocates providing prevention and education
presentations for peers in the community; 3) creating messaging for the Future Forward campaign; and 4) engaging in monthly coalition meetings.
#Futures has a strong emphasis on supporting youth in developing protective factors including connection to positive peer and adult relationships, increased connection with the community, increased confidence to speak up and advocate for one’s beliefs, increased leadership skills, as well as fostering a sense of belonging.
TARGET AREA & POPULATION
#Futures will serve youth ages 12-19 residing in or attending schools within the City of Sacramento. Furthermore, youth will be from priority neighborhoods as defined by the City of Sacramento’s Inclusive Economic and Community Development Initiative and/or facing systemic and structural challenges and barriers.(23)
Engaging a
network of CBOs has proven successful in connecting with this target audience. The 2022 #Futures pilot cohort successfully engaged seven diverse CBOs (six of which are led by a person of color). 99 youth completed the #Futures pilot. Key characteristics and demographics of the #Futures participants included: 96% were youth of color (58% Black or African American; 16% Asian; and 11% Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish); 52% reported exposure to marijuana from peers, family members, or other community members; 45% reported mental and behavioral health challenges due to trauma; and 85% of youth in the pilot cohort live in zip codes considered "communities of concern" in the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment.(24)
This project estimates engaging 20 CBOs and serving 800 youth over the five-year grant period. The first year of the grant will focus on program planning to leverage the lessons learned and opportunities identified through implementation of #Futures with our current Prop 64 PH&S Cohort 2 funding, curriculum development, and CBO recruitment/identification for implementation of a revamped #Futures program that will begin in year two. #Futures, funded by Cohort 3, will have an initial cohort of approximately five CBO partners and 100 youth. In years three to five, the program will have one cohort of approximately 10-15 CBO partners and 200-250 youth each year.
EVIDENCE BASIS
#Futures incorporates a solid foundation of evidence-based, research-based, and promising practice components that have shown positive outcomes for local youth including increases in knowledge of the impact of underage cannabis use, college/career readiness skills, protective factors, and hope for the future. It uses an asset-based approach – an underlying principle of youth development – by leaning into and enhancing the strengths of Sacramento’s CBOs to support the accessibility for youth most impacted by systemic and structural challenges and barriers.(25) #Futures values youth as assets, encouraging youth-led
programming, engaging youth in meaningful work, and
demonstrating the value of youth work by providing a stipend. #Futures incorporates promising practices in work-based learning identified by the National Skills Coalition and the National Youth Employment Coalition including 1) providing paid experiences, 2) developing strong partnerships, 3) incorporating positive youth development practices and continued support services, and 4) supporting linkages to career pathways.(26)
The program also
includes elements identified by the Brookings Institution on quality work-based learning programs including 1) connecting to positive relationships with caring adults; 2) opportunities to build social capital; and 3) access to hands-on learning and meaningful tasks. (27)
#Futures incorporates several strategies identified in evidence-based substance use prevention efforts including 1) focusing on protective factors, 2) addressing social influence and developmental factors, and 3) reaching youth with messaging through multiple levels of influence by engaging a variety of stakeholders.(28)
#Futures also
includes evidence-based prevention education strategies including social resistance and competence-enhancement skills.(29)
PROJECT LEADERSHIP
The project will be directed by Lindee Lane who was appointed Youth Development Policy Manager of the City of Sacramento in 2018. She is responsible for the implementation of the City’s youth strategies as defined in the City Council-adopted Youth Development Plan & Framework for Children and Youth Programs. She designs and oversees programs like #Futures. She has extensive experience in youth development, has worked for several state-wide youth policy organizations, and holds a Master’s in Public Administration. Lane will receive program support from Marissa Eng, Organizational and Practitioner Development Analyst in the Office of Youth Development, and fiscal support from Theressa Nunery,
Administrative Technician in the Office of Youth Development. Fiscal oversight will be provided by Crystal Harland, Administrative Officer in the Office of the City Manager. Eng, Nunery, and Harland have extensive experience in grants management in their respective fields. Harland has specific experience in managing collaborative grants with the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC).
The City will work with a lead community-based organization, PRO Youth & Families (PRO) to implement the #Futures program. PRO and the City have worked together on various collaborative youth development programs that have engaged over 40 CBOs in directly serving more than 2,000 youth. PRO has been recognized as a local leader in youth development for decades. Currently, PRO delivers direct service youth development programs focused on promoting wellness and youth voice. In addition, due to PRO’s desire to drive more responsive programming for youth, PRO has developed the Youth & Family Collective (YFC) initiative that brings together organizations to empower youth, families, and nonprofits to learn, earn, and thrive. The YFC builds on existing community assets and works to foster connections and alignment of programs and services, supports capacity building for community organizations, and drives collaborative programs. To date, over 70 organizations have engaged in YFC programs and projects.
The Sacramento County Coalition of Youth (SCCY) will support PRO and the City with the implementation of underage marijuana and substance use prevention education and strategies. SCCY was initially organized in 2015 to address underage drinking in Sacramento County, and with the passage of Proposition 64, developed the Future Forward campaign to address underage marijuana use.
The network of CBOs will be selected through a competitive proposal process. Applications will be screened by PRO for eligibility requirements based on the BSCC’s criteria for NGOs receiving funding and on their alignment with the project framework. Eligible applications will then be reviewed and scored by an independent review committee, and ultimately approved by the City.
3. PROJECT EVALUATION
Lead CBO partner, PRO Youth and Families, will manage the project evaluation. PRO has a longstanding history of prioritizing evaluation and has cultivated a culture of continuous quality improvement. PRO has dedicated evaluation and monitoring staff with extensive experience working alongside federal, state, local government agencies, and third-party evaluators to design and implement robust evaluation plans and data collection tools for youth development programs. PRO understands the importance of creating youth- friendly evaluation tools while at the same time incorporating research-based evaluation tools and methodologies. Through its YFC initiative, PRO has developed unique experience in developing data collection tools and processes for collaborative programming that supports data collection across various organizations and programs.
A third-party evaluation firm will be contracted to serve as a consultant to provide technical assistance and support PRO’s evaluation staff in the design of evaluation tools, ensure the use of the latest research-based evaluation methodologies, provide validity checks on data, and support completion of the final local evaluation report. A committee formed by City staff and PRO will select an agency that understands the local context and needs of our project’s target youth population and has extensive experience evaluating youth development programs in the greater Sacramento area.
The project evaluation will utilize a phased-in, multi-method design including process and outcome measures to assess the main youth development goals of the project. During the implementation phase, PRO’s Monitoring and Evaluation Manager will monitor and assess monthly the following process measures: 1) selection of CBOs; 2) recruitment and enrollment of youth; 3) participation of training partners; 4) implementation benchmarks; 5) feedback from CBOs and participants; and 6) development and use of data tools.
During the service delivery phase, PRO’s Monitoring and Evaluation Manager will work with the program staff, the City, SCCY, and CBO partners to ensure that data collection tools are used to: 1) collect baseline and follow-up data for outcome measures; 2) monitor implementation of project components; 3) identify areas for change and improvement; and 4) complete quarterly reports. The first set of outcome measures assesses project goals for youth. These include assessments of youth attitudes and behaviors; knowledge of healthy behaviors and risk of underage marijuana use; protective factors; program quality; work-based skills; participation in and reaction to trainings and workshops; and participation in, and PhotoVoice documentation of, applied service/work learning projects. These will be measured using post-retrospective surveys, feedback surveys, PhotoVoice data, participation documentation, and focus groups to cross-validate data. The second set of outcome measures assesses the impact of the project on the CBOs and their capacity to support youth. These outcome measures include assessments of staff knowledge of healthy behaviors and risk of underage marijuana use; capacity to serve youth who are at-risk for substance use; collaboration and program referrals among CBOs; and predicted sustainability of project elements after the grant period ends.
Project implementation and progress toward goals will be assessed quarterly and annually. Process measures will be documented and analyzed for improvement. Youth outcome measures will be analyzed and data assessed to determine program impact and progress towards goals and objectives. Analyses of training and work- based/project-based data will determine how participation by youth affected changes in the outcome measures. The CBO outcome measures will be assessed at the conclusion of each youth cohort to document secondary program impacts. Monthly meetings with the City, PRO, and SCCY will be used to share ongoing project implementation and impact and resolve concerns or areas for improvement.
PROJECT WORK PLAN - Upload Required
City_of_Sac_Futures_Project_Work_Plan_BSCC_Prop_64_Cohort_3.pdf
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - OPTIONAL
Additional_RFP_Information_City_of_Sac_Futures_BSCC_Prop_64_Cohort_3.pdf SECTION IV:
PROPOSAL
BUDGET AND
NARRATIVE
The Budget sections must be filled out completely and accurately.
Applicants are solely responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information entered in the Budget Section. All project costs must be directly related to the objectives and activities of the project demonstrating how the funds will be used to address the local need(s) due to the impact of legalizing cannabis in California. The Budget Table must cover the entire five (5) year grant period.
Estimates beyond Year 1 of the grant are acceptable. For additional guidance related to grant budgets, refer to the July 2020 BSCC Grant Administration Guide, found under Quick Links on the Corrections Planning and Grant Programs home page:
http://www.bscc.ca.gov/s_correctionsplanningandprograms/ Proposal Budget and Budget Narrative Attachment
Final_Budget_Futures_BSCC_Prop_64_Cohort_3.xlsx
SECTION V -
ATTACHMENTS:
MANDATORY AND
OPTIONAL
The list of mandatory attachments are as follows: Letter of Eligibility Certification of Compliance with BSCC Policies on Debarment, Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Criteria for Non-Governmental
Organizations Receiving BSCC Funds Letter(s) of Commitment (upload as a single attachment if there are multiple letters) The Governing Board Resolution attachment upload is optional at Application submission. However, it will be required if the project is awarded Prop 64 Cohort 3 Grant Funds. These documents are stand- alone documents available on the BSCC Proposition 64 Homepage:
http://www.bscc.ca.gov/proposition-64-public-health-safety-grant- program/. Download, complete, and upload where prompted below.
Letter of Eligibility
Letter_of_Eligibility_BSCC_Prop_64_Grant_Proposal_-_signed.pdf Certification of Compliance with BSCC Policies on Debarment, Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement Certification_of_Compliance_City_of_Sacramento.pdf
Criteria for Non-Governmental Organizations Receiving BSCC Funds Criteria_for_Non-Govermental_Organizations_City_of_Sacramento.pdf Letter(s) of Commitment
Letters_of_Commitment_City_of_Sac_Futures_BSCC_Prop_64_Cohort_3.pdf Governing Board
Resolution (Optional)
n/a