20070313_rpt

COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Commission on the Status of Women

DATE:

March 8, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 13, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Margie O’Clair, President
Honora R. Miller, Director, CSW

SUBJECT:

2006 Annual Report

RECOMMENDATION:

Accept the 2006 Annual Report from the Commission on the Status of Women.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment(s): Realize the potential of our diverse population. Provide equal access to educational opportunities. Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal(s): 1- Our diverse population works well together to build strong communities, effective government and a prosperous economy. 4- Residents have many educational and training opportunities beyond high school. 5- Residents have access to healthcare and preventive care. 8- Help vulnerable people- the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and other- achieve a better quality of life.

BACKGROUND:

Since 1982, the Commission on the Status of Women of San Mateo County has served the Board of Supervisors by keeping actively informed about how women are doing in our county. The Commission identifies policies, programs and legislation to address the needs of women, girls and families and makes recommendations to the Board for consideration. The Commission also addresses women’s needs directly by helping create partnerships that ignite positive change. We also continue the tradition of honoring the achievements of women through the annual Women’s Hall of Fame, now in its 23^rd year.

In 2006, the commission began the year with six new commissioners and a new director. Commissioners were busy on a number of fronts from reaching out to women in jail to lending support to legislation and continuing an ongoing listening tour to learn directly from women of all ages about their quality of life in San Mateo County. The following is a brief overview of the commission’s activities:

DISCUSSION:

Women’s Correctional Center

• Laid the foundation for partnerships with the Service League, Sheriff’s Department and others to explore developing contact visits between incarcerated women and their children. This will include collaborating with parenting education experts in our county who can prepare moms and children for these visits.

• Began researching best-practice contact visitation programs in other Bay Area counties. It is our hope that this effort will support the Women’s Jail Task Force and the Jail Overcrowding Task Force in their work.

• Developed an ongoing relationship with CHOICES, a recovery program in the Women’s Jail that prepares women for successful return to their families and the community. As part of this year’s Hall of Fame, we are conducting a drawing for quilts made by CHOICES participants to raise money for the program.

• Co-sponsored the recent Women’s Criminal Justice Summit, led by Mary McMillan in the County Manager’s Office, designed to both learn from experts and share information as part of planning for upcoming criminal justice system changes.

Assessing the Status of Women

In 2006 the Commission continued its ongoing “What Do Women Want” Speak Ups campaign with targeted groups in the county. Our listening tour included focus group sessions with seniors, the African American Community Health Advisory Committee and participants in the Human Investment Project’s Self Sufficiency Program. These sessions are allowing us to collect material for periodic reports to the Board on what we are learning. They also are an opportunity to provide “on-the spot” answers and resources for issues raised during the sessions.

Events

2006 Women’s Hall of Fame: This event has recognized extraordinary and dedicated women throughout the years and continues to be a time honored San Mateo County tradition. Michele Garside, Mary Hollis, Ruth Kruidenier (posthumously) and Patricia Lee were inducted into the 22^nd Annual Women’s Hall of Fame on March 23, 2006. The Young Women of Excellence honored were Ashley Yates and Madison Yates.

Women By Women Art Exhibit: In collaboration with the Arts Commission, this exhibit, displayed in the gallery on the first floor of the Hall of Justice, showcased the work of local women artists focusing on the theme of women’s varied experiences.

Children’s Memorial Flag Raising: An annual tradition in our county since 1998, the Fourth Friday of April has been proclaimed by the Board of Supervisors as "Children's Memorial Day" in memory of Children who have died as a result of violence. As part of this resolution and to commemorate this day each year, San Mateo County flies the children’s memorial flag and the Commission coordinates a brief ceremony. The event was officiated by Supervisor Mark Church on Friday, April 28, 2006. Anand Chabra, MD, MPH, Director of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, spoke about the County’s Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Program and provided an overview of resources to educate parents and child care providers about ways to avoid the serious injuries that result from shaking babies.

Legislative Advocacy

The Commission continued its long-standing tradition of advocacy and education in the legislative arena by working with the Board of Supervisors in support of various state bills. The Commission brought the following three bills to the attention of the Board of Supervisors who supported each bill:

AB 2649 (Bass) Kinship Support Services

Provides adequate funding to support relatives becoming foster caregivers by eliminating the requirement that counties participating in the Kinship Support Services Program (KSSP) have at least 40 percent of their dependent children in relative care. This condition of 40 percent relative care placements is a major barrier to many counties access to KSSP funding. Bill did not advance out of committee.

SB 1289 (Cedillo), Foster children continuing aid and transitional services

Increases resources available for emancipating foster youth by allowing foster youth receiving AFDC-FC aid to continue receiving such aid until 21 years of age if the youth on his or her 18^th birthday either is attending high school, college or vocational/technical training or is employed. Bill did not advance out of committee.

AB 2555 (Oropeza) Pay Equity; Employer Penalties
Increases the damages for gender-based wage discrimination to a penalty of twice the balance of the wages due to the aggrieved employee, or four times the balance of the wages due if the employer's violation is willful. Vetoed by the governor.

Community Outreach

The Commission participated in various events in an effort to raise awareness and to reach out to members of the community, such as:

• Sponsored the CORA “Have a Heart” Luncheon with a $1000 donation in May 2006.

• Co-Presented at the International Latino Film Festival for the film, A dona da historia in Redwood City, October 2006

• Participated in the County Benefits Expo, October 2006

• Participated in the Women’s Living Expo, November 2006

• Represented the CSW at the Association of California Commissions on Women quarterly meetings.

New energy for 2007

The Commission recently developed our work plan for 2007-2009. In addition to the ongoing work described above, the plan includes:

• Collaborating with members of the San Mateo County Hospital Consortium on planning a major women’s health conference in 2008.

• Developing an educational program in collaboration with other groups, agencies and resources to increase the number of women involved in government and the political process in San Mateo County and cities, including both appointed and elected positions.

• Developing an educational campaign to encourage voter registration and a get out the vote campaign targeting women.

• Supporting the development of a San Mateo presence for the Women’s Initiative for Self Employment Program, a training-led micro-lender that has a successful track record in San Francisco helping low-income Bay Area women start and succeed in their own businesses.

• Focusing efforts to monitor legislation concerning women’s health, criminal justice, equity, education and youth.

• Creating a 5-year strategic plan to guide our future efforts in the most effective and focused way.

FISCAL IMPACT:

All activities undertaken by the Commission are covered by profits from the Women’s Hall of Fame awards banquet.

The Commission would like to thank the Board of Supervisors for your ongoing support and encouragement.



COUNTY OF SAN MATEO Inter-Departmental Correspondence
Commission on the Status of Women

DATE:		March 8, 2007
BOARD MEETING DATE:		March 13, 2007
SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:		None
VOTE REQUIRED:		Majority

TO:	Honorable Board of Supervisors
FROM:	Margie O’Clair, President Honora R. Miller, Director, CSW
SUBJECT:	2006 Annual Report

RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the 2006 Annual Report from the Commission on the Status of Women.

VISION ALIGNMENT:
Commitment(s): Realize the potential of our diverse population. Provide equal access to educational opportunities. Ensure basic health and safety for all.
Goal(s): 1- Our diverse population works well together to build strong communities, effective government and a prosperous economy. 4- Residents have many educational and training opportunities beyond high school. 5- Residents have access to healthcare and preventive care. 8- Help vulnerable people- the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and other- achieve a better quality of life.

BACKGROUND:
Since 1982, the Commission on the Status of Women of San Mateo County has served the Board of Supervisors by keeping actively informed about how women are doing in our county. The Commission identifies policies, programs and legislation to address the needs of women, girls and families and makes recommendations to the Board for consideration. The Commission also addresses women’s needs directly by helping create partnerships that ignite positive change. We also continue the tradition of honoring the achievements of women through the annual Women’s Hall of Fame, now in its 23^rd year. In 2006, the commission began the year with six new commissioners and a new director. Commissioners were busy on a number of fronts from reaching out to women in jail to lending support to legislation and continuing an ongoing listening tour to learn directly from women of all ages about their quality of life in San Mateo County. The following is a brief overview of the commission’s activities:

DISCUSSION: Women’s Correctional Center • Laid the foundation for partnerships with the Service League, Sheriff’s Department and others to explore developing contact visits between incarcerated women and their children. This will include collaborating with parenting education experts in our county who can prepare moms and children for these visits. • Began researching best-practice contact visitation programs in other Bay Area counties. It is our hope that this effort will support the Women’s Jail Task Force and the Jail Overcrowding Task Force in their work. • Developed an ongoing relationship with CHOICES, a recovery program in the Women’s Jail that prepares women for successful return to their families and the community. As part of this year’s Hall of Fame, we are conducting a drawing for quilts made by CHOICES participants to raise money for the program. • Co-sponsored the recent Women’s Criminal Justice Summit, led by Mary McMillan in the County Manager’s Office, designed to both learn from experts and share information as part of planning for upcoming criminal justice system changes. Assessing the Status of Women In 2006 the Commission continued its ongoing “What Do Women Want” Speak Ups campaign with targeted groups in the county. Our listening tour included focus group sessions with seniors, the African American Community Health Advisory Committee and participants in the Human Investment Project’s Self Sufficiency Program. These sessions are allowing us to collect material for periodic reports to the Board on what we are learning. They also are an opportunity to provide “on-the spot” answers and resources for issues raised during the sessions. Events 2006 Women’s Hall of Fame: This event has recognized extraordinary and dedicated women throughout the years and continues to be a time honored San Mateo County tradition. Michele Garside, Mary Hollis, Ruth Kruidenier (posthumously) and Patricia Lee were inducted into the 22^nd Annual Women’s Hall of Fame on March 23, 2006. The Young Women of Excellence honored were Ashley Yates and Madison Yates. Women By Women Art Exhibit: In collaboration with the Arts Commission, this exhibit, displayed in the gallery on the first floor of the Hall of Justice, showcased the work of local women artists focusing on the theme of women’s varied experiences. Children’s Memorial Flag Raising: An annual tradition in our county since 1998, the Fourth Friday of April has been proclaimed by the Board of Supervisors as "Children's Memorial Day" in memory of Children who have died as a result of violence. As part of this resolution and to commemorate this day each year, San Mateo County flies the children’s memorial flag and the Commission coordinates a brief ceremony. The event was officiated by Supervisor Mark Church on Friday, April 28, 2006. Anand Chabra, MD, MPH, Director of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, spoke about the County’s Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Program and provided an overview of resources to educate parents and child care providers about ways to avoid the serious injuries that result from shaking babies. Legislative Advocacy The Commission continued its long-standing tradition of advocacy and education in the legislative arena by working with the Board of Supervisors in support of various state bills. The Commission brought the following three bills to the attention of the Board of Supervisors who supported each bill: AB 2649 (Bass) Kinship Support Services Provides adequate funding to support relatives becoming foster caregivers by eliminating the requirement that counties participating in the Kinship Support Services Program (KSSP) have at least 40 percent of their dependent children in relative care. This condition of 40 percent relative care placements is a major barrier to many counties access to KSSP funding. Bill did not advance out of committee. SB 1289 (Cedillo), Foster children continuing aid and transitional services Increases resources available for emancipating foster youth by allowing foster youth receiving AFDC-FC aid to continue receiving such aid until 21 years of age if the youth on his or her 18^th birthday either is attending high school, college or vocational/technical training or is employed. Bill did not advance out of committee. AB 2555 (Oropeza) Pay Equity; Employer Penalties Increases the damages for gender-based wage discrimination to a penalty of twice the balance of the wages due to the aggrieved employee, or four times the balance of the wages due if the employer's violation is willful. Vetoed by the governor. Community Outreach The Commission participated in various events in an effort to raise awareness and to reach out to members of the community, such as: • Sponsored the CORA “Have a Heart” Luncheon with a $1000 donation in May 2006. • Co-Presented at the International Latino Film Festival for the film, A dona da historia in Redwood City, October 2006 • Participated in the County Benefits Expo, October 2006 • Participated in the Women’s Living Expo, November 2006 • Represented the CSW at the Association of California Commissions on Women quarterly meetings. New energy for 2007 The Commission recently developed our work plan for 2007-2009. In addition to the ongoing work described above, the plan includes: • Collaborating with members of the San Mateo County Hospital Consortium on planning a major women’s health conference in 2008. • Developing an educational program in collaboration with other groups, agencies and resources to increase the number of women involved in government and the political process in San Mateo County and cities, including both appointed and elected positions. • Developing an educational campaign to encourage voter registration and a get out the vote campaign targeting women. • Supporting the development of a San Mateo presence for the Women’s Initiative for Self Employment Program, a training-led micro-lender that has a successful track record in San Francisco helping low-income Bay Area women start and succeed in their own businesses. • Focusing efforts to monitor legislation concerning women’s health, criminal justice, equity, education and youth. • Creating a 5-year strategic plan to guide our future efforts in the most effective and focused way.

FISCAL IMPACT:
All activities undertaken by the Commission are covered by profits from the Women’s Hall of Fame awards banquet. The Commission would like to thank the Board of Supervisors for your ongoing support and encouragement.