Agenda - 06-25-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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.h SECTION V. - COORDINATION, COOPERATION, COLLABORATION and COMMITMENT A. Describe the process and the participants in the process that you used to develop your plan of action. Describe the nature and extent of coordination, cooperation and/or collaboration involved in this process. How will on -going coordination, cooperation, and/or collaboration contribute to the success of your OFF Initiative? Who are the primary sponsors of your OFF Initiative? Describe the nature and extent of their involvement and commitment. Orange County has had stable political leadership at the level of County Commissioners for over a decade. During this period, the County Commissioners have been committed to steadily improving the provision of human services in the County. This environment has allowed a steady progression of improved services. The present grant fits in well with this evolution toward more comprehensive family- centered services. There have been several important steps in this process. The first occurred in 1979 when the Human Services Advisory Commission was established by the County Commissioners. This group continues to function as an important source of recommendations for improving and coordinating human services in the County. A Human Services Management Team was then developed to see that the primary County agencies concerned with human services move toward better integration of services. In 1983, all of the major human service agencies were co- located in the Richard Whitted Center, a renovated school building. In 1988, a County conference on youth was held that focused on the needs of the County's young people with a heavy emphasis on adolescent needs. In 1989, there was a follow -up County conference on poverty. This gathering was attended by a large number of citizens and leaders from the County and helped focus interest on breaking the cycle of poverty. This meeting greatly increased the community awareness of the structural factors in the economic and social life of the community that led to a persistence of poverty among both the welfare dependent and working poor families, particularly single - parent families, despite the relative strength of the county's economy. Orange County has been concerned about the need to develop more coordinated programs to deal with social issues for many years. In October, 1990, the County hosted a Human Services Coordination Workshop to promote and develop coordination and communication between human services providers. The efforts of County government have supported the development of some specific programs designed to help adolescents. The Adolescents -In -Need program has been in existence for nine years in the Orange County School System to assist any adolescent determined to be at -risk for family violence, untimely pregnancy or dropping out of school. This program initially was funded by federal funds but is now primarily funded by the County. This 6/19/91 The Orange County OFF Draft TWO Proposal 20 23