SUBJECT
Title
APPROVE ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS AND DONATIONS RECEIVED BY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024 TO A.B. AND JESSIE POLINSKY CHILDREN’S CENTER AND CHILD AND FAMILY WELL-BEING AND SEND LETTERS OF APPRECIATION TO THE DONORS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) Policy A-112 and the San Diego County Administrative Code Section 66 require Board approval to accept gifts and donations over $5,000. The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency, Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) periodically receives monetary gifts and in-kind donations of over $5,000 to benefit children temporarily residing at the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center (PCC) and children involved with CFWB. PCC is a County-operated Temporary Shelter Care Facility administered by CFWB and provides 24-hour care for up to 10 calendar days for children and youth under 18 years of age who can no longer safely remain with their family of origin due to abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment.
On March 12, 2024 (5), the Board approved to accept the gifts and donations valued at $144,668 for Calendar Year (CY) 2023. Today’s action requests the Board to accept gifts and donations valuing $47,893 for CY 2024: $13,760 for the benefit of children at PCC and $34,133 for the benefit of children involved with CFWB. This item supports the County vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all, specifically those communities and populations in San Diego County that have been historically left behind, as well as our ongoing commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This will be accomplished by furthering collective efforts to maximize resources through community partnerships and providing equitable access to these resources.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. In accordance with County Administrative Code Section 66 and Board Policy A-112, accept gifts and donations totaling $13,760 to the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center from Promises2Kids; and accept gifts and donations valuing $34,133 to Child and Family Well-Being from Promises2Kids.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign letters of appreciation, upon receipt, on behalf of the County of San Diego to the donors. If the Chair position is vacant, authorize the Vice Chair to sign letters of appreciation.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) periodically receives monetary gifts and in-kind donations of over $5,000 to benefit children temporarily residing at the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center (PCC) and children involved with CFWB. PCC is a County-operated licensed Temporary Shelter Care Facility administered by CFWB and provides 24-hour care for up to 10 calendar days for children and youth under 18 years of age who can no longer safely remain with their family of origin due to abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment. Some of the services provided at PCC include physical and mental health services, medication support, and crisis services to all youth entering the facility and throughout their length of stay. In Calendar Year (CY) 2024, PCC served 563 unduplicated children and of these, 38% were White, 35% were Black, 21% were Hispanic, 1% were Chinese, 1% were Iraqi, and 1% were Native American. Other ethnic groups comprising less than 3% of the population at PCC include Afghan, Asia Indian, Filipino, Other Asian, Romanian, Russian, and Samoan.
PCC represents a unique public-private community partnership that continues to generate periodic gifts and donations from individuals and private corporations for the children residing in this temporary shelter. The partnership maximizes resources available and ensures children at PCC and involved in CFWB have equitable access to gifts and donations that aid youth in maintaining connections to their communities and fosters their continued sense of belonging despite the barrier of being unable to safely live with their biological families or in their communities.
Monetary and in-kind donations received are monitored and publicly disclosed through the Child and Family Strengthening Advisory Board meetings and annual reporting to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Expenditures are internally tracked by HHSA and CFWB to ensure transparency and accountability of donations and gifts received and provide for the advancement and equitable distribution of resources.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
As a result of the generous contributions from community members and organizations in San Diego County, donations benefit and enrich the lives of children who are temporarily staying at A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center and involved with County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Child and Family Well-Being. The proposed action to accept gifts and donations received by HHSA supports the County’s Sustainability Goal #1 by engaging and building strong partnerships with community partners who provide donations. Sustainability Goal #2 is also supported by providing just and equitable access to special events, special activities, and other enhancements that directly benefit the children that would otherwise not be available to them.
FISCAL IMPACT
The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) received donations valued at $47,893 between January 2024 and December 2024 to support activities of children at the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center and to support children involved with CFWB. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
This item was presented to the Child and Family Strengthening Advisory Board as an informational item on January 24, 2025.
BACKGROUND
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) Policy A-112 and the San Diego County Administrative Code Section 66 require Board approval to accept gifts and donations over $5,000. The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB) periodically receives monetary gifts and in-kind donations over $5,000 to benefit children temporarily residing at the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center (PCC) and children involved with CFWB. On March 12, 2024 (5), the Board approved to accept the gifts and donations valued at $144,668 for Calendar Year (CY) 2023.
PCC is a County-operated Temporary Shelter Care Facility administered by CFWB and provides 24-hour non-medical care for up to 10 calendar days for children and youth under 18 years of age who can no longer safely remain with their family of origin due to abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment. The campus includes six residential cottages, a nursery for infants, a medical clinic, school, library, cafeteria, gymnasium, two swimming pools, three playgrounds, and a recreation field. In CY 2024, PCC served 563 unduplicated children with an average daily population of 21 children. Furthermore, PCC was built on County owned land with funds for the facility partially raised from private donations received through Promises2Kids. The County has an existing agreement with Promises2Kids that includes provisions for funding to support PCC operations via annual monetary contributions and in-kind support. As part of this agreement Promises2Kids shall provide an annual monetary contribution along with in-kind support for programs administered at PCC.
PCC represents a unique public-private partnership that continues to generate periodic gifts and donations from individuals and private corporations for the children residing in this temporary shelter. Monetary donations are deposited to the HHSA PCC Trust Fund. Typical expenditures pay for recreational and special events and for the purchase of toys and other items for the children. During CY 2024, PCC received the following monetary and in-kind donations of over $5,000 to benefit the children at PCC and throughout CFWB:
PCC In-Kind Donations
• Promises2Kids donated new toys, sports equipment, electronics, art supplies, and event tickets valued at $13,760.
Donations received throughout CFWB are disbursed to the children in care to assist with their educational and recreational needs. During CY 2024, the following cumulative donations over $5,000 were made to benefit children involved with CFWB:
CFWB Monetary Donations
• Promises2Kids donated $1,890.
CFWB In-Kind Donations
• Promises2Kids donated new toys, art supplies, electronics, sport equipment, clothing, and contributed to special events valued at $32,243.
Today’s action requests the Board to accept gifts and donations valuing $47,893 for CY 2024: $13,760 for the benefit of children at PCC and $34,133 for the benefit of children involved with CFWB.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Sustainability (Resiliency), Equity (Health), Empower (Transparency and Accountability), and Community (Partnership) initiatives in the County of San Diego 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, as well as the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe and thriving communities. This is accomplished by providing equitable opportunities for transitional age youth to receive services and supports to secure and maintain a safe environment, advancing their goal of self-sufficiency and preventing homelessness.
Respectfully submitted,
EBONY N. SHELTON
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - Letters of Appreciation