OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Alameda County Social Services Committee Meeting: April 27, 2026

Board of Supervisors — Monday, April 27, 2026
BodyAlameda County, California
SessionBoard of Supervisors
DateMonday, April 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:38:32
Transcript — Verbatim
0:22

Good afternoon and welcome to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Social Services Committee meeting for Monday, April the 27th, 2026.

0:31

May I have broke call, please?

0:33

Supervisor Fortunatar Boss.

0:36

Present.

0:37

Supervisor Tim.

0:38

Present.

0:39

We have a core.

0:40

Thank you.

0:41

Could you go over instructions and participation in person and online?

0:46

For both in-person and remote attendees when addressing the committee, please give your name for the record prior to your presentation.

0:52

If you wish to speak on a matter not on the agenda, please wait until the chair calls for public comment on non-agenda items.

0:58

To notify the clerk you wish to speak, please fill out a speaker clip, speaker slip and submit it to the clerk.

1:05

Only matters within the board of supervisors' jurisdiction may be addressed.

1:09

Time limitation shall be at the discretion of the chair.

1:13

If you're online, please please use the raise hand function.

1:16

If you're calling in, please dial star five to raise and lower your hand.

1:22

Thank you.

1:23

Thank you very much.

1:25

We will start with our first informational item, which is the CalFresh program update.

1:30

Yes, I'll like to invite Roland Shell and Jaime and Desco to the podium.

1:35

Um next month is CalFresh Awareness Month.

1:38

So we typically try to give you all the CalFresh update in preparation for Calfresh Awareness Month.

1:43

And what you'll hear is a little bit about HR1, but the focus really is just about the CalFresh program.

1:48

So Jaime.

1:50

Good afternoon.

1:56

Okay, sorry about that.

1:58

Um good afternoon, Supervisor Tam, Supervisor Fortunato uh Bass, Director Ford.

2:04

My name is Jaime N Domesco.

2:06

I am an associate program specialist at Alameda County Social Services Workforce and Benefit Administration.

2:15

I am joined by my colleague Roland Shaw, who's a program specialist.

2:19

We're here today to provide an update on the CalFresh program.

2:23

Uh thank you for having us today.

2:26

Next slide, please.

2:28

Thank you.

2:28

Next, I'll go through the agenda.

2:31

We'll start with a brief overview of the CalFresh program, followed by CalFresh Awareness Month activities.

2:39

Then we'll cover Sunbugs, the Calfresh Fruits and Vegetable EBT Pilot Program and EBT theft.

2:46

We will also go over recent non-citizen eligibility changes and updates to the able-bodied adults without dependence under HR1.

2:55

We'll close with a snapshot of current Calfresh program data.

3:00

Next slide, please.

3:01

Thank you.

3:04

To provide a brief overview of the CalFresh program, CalFresh is federally known as SNAP.

3:11

It's one of the largest food assistance program, actually the largest food assistance program in California.

3:18

It serves as a critical safety net for low-income individuals and families.

3:23

The program provides monthly benefits on an EBT card, which is which functions similar to an uh a debit card to purchase food at grocery stores or farmers markets.

3:36

People can apply for CalFresh through multiple channels, including in-person at any of our social services agency offices, uh, by phone, mail, fax, and online at benefitscal.com.

3:50

Next slide, please.

3:54

Thank you.

3:56

Calfresh Awareness Month.

3:58

As Director Ford mentioned, May is CalFresh Awareness Month, and our focus is on making sure people understand that the CalFresh program exists and understand how to access it.

4:09

That includes increasing awareness, addressing myths and misconception about the CalFresh program, and continuing to support uh families and individuals with the application and the renewal process.

4:22

The image that you see on the right with the young girl and the mother uh says CalFresh Work is one of our posters for this year's CalFresh Awareness Month.

4:35

Next slide, please.

4:36

Thank you.

4:36

This year's theme is CalFresh Works.

4:40

It speaks directly to the common misconception that CalFresh is only for people who are not working.

4:46

In reality, though, a large portion of our CalFresh recipients are working families and individuals who still struggle to make um in meet uh and afford food due to high cost of living.

5:01

So the CalFresh program assists households to ensure that they consistently have access to nutritious food during times of high cost of living.

5:11

That's CalFresh Works.

5:13

So both our participants and the program also works.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Child Welfare Services█████████████████████████████████████████████61%
Food Security███████████████████26%
Immigration Policy██3%
Personnel Matters██3%
Procedural█2%
Youth Programs█2%
Workforce Development█1%
Public Engagement█1%
Homelessness█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Alameda County Social Services Committee Meeting - April 27, 2026

The Social Services Committee of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors met on April 27, 2026, to receive informational updates on the CalFresh program, Child Abuse Prevention Month activities, foster care services, and the eighth audit update on child welfare services. Key discussions centered on the impact of federal HR1 legislation on CalFresh eligibility, declining enrollment, foster care placement challenges, and progress on audit recommendations.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dion Earner (private citizen) commented on the child abuse prevention presentation, noting that the concept of prevention services dates back to the late 1980s family preservation model. He suggested evaluating the balance between $1.1 million spent on prevention versus costs at the other end of the child welfare system, and questioned whether more funding should be directed upstream.

Discussion Items

CalFresh Program Update

  • Jaime N Domosco and Roland Shaw (Social Services Agency) presented. CalFresh Awareness Month in May 2026 will use the theme "CalFresh Works" to counter misconceptions that the program only serves non-working individuals. The county is partnering with Alameda County Community Food Bank for outreach.
  • SunBucks: In Alameda County, 111,926 cards were issued ($13.4 million in benefits) as of April 5, 2026, with 67.2% pinned. Statewide, 80% of cards were pinned, but 80% of the total value loaded on mailed cards was expunged due to non-use.
  • CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Pilot: A dollar-for-dollar match up to $60/month is available at one participating store in Newark. No immediate plans for expansion.
  • EBT Theft: Theft declined by approximately 92% since February 2024 due to chip cards and other measures.
  • HR1 Changes: As of April 1, 2026, non-citizens (e.g., refugees, asylees, parolees) are no longer eligible for federal CalFresh unless they later obtain Legal Permanent Resident status. Alameda County estimates 5,400 individuals will lose benefits. The county is partnering with the East Bay Refugee Immigration Forum and developing a food distribution plan. Refugee support service funding may provide short-term assistance; a plan is expected within two months.
  • Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD): As of March 31, 2026, approximately 26,000 non-exempt ABAWDs were identified (down from 27,000 in January). Work requirements or exemptions apply; time limits begin June 1, 2026.
  • Overall CalFresh Data: Total recipients dropped from ~179,000 in March 2025 to ~167,900 in March 2026 (a 6.3% decline). Applications fell from a monthly average of 6,000 to 4,200. Staff cited fear in immigrant communities and the end of pandemic-era policies as likely causes. The county processes 98-99% of applications within 30 days.
  • Supervisors asked about zip-code-level data (top five: 94601, 94621, 94603, 94544, 94605) and the plan for impacted non-citizens.

Child Abuse Prevention Month

  • Colette Katwala and Carlin Stewart presented. The Child Abuse Prevention Council oversees 12 organizations funded through CAPIT contracts (each ~$84,000/year) and a CBCAP contract ($94,000/year). Total prevention services budget is approximately $1.1 million. The Strong Families Alliance coordinates referrals among providers.
  • An ARPA one-time grant of $811,000 served 2,148 families in 2025, focusing on basic needs and concrete supports.
  • The state is shifting from mandated reporting to community supporting; Assembly Bill 2085 (2022) clarifies that poverty alone is not neglect.
  • The Community Pathways program allows families to access voluntary services without a child welfare hotline call. The contract with A Better Way for this program is funded under the "Another Road to Safety" initiative; total prevention services budget is $1.1 million.
  • Supervisors noted the importance of prevention and the need for metrics to evaluate effectiveness.

Foster Care Presentation

  • Jess Samp (Program Manager) reported approximately 700 children (ages 0-17) in out-of-home foster care in Alameda County, plus about 230 children at home under supervision. About half of foster children are placed with relatives. There are 200 non-minor dependents (18-21), with 80% in specialized transitional placements.
  • The Resource Family Approval (RFA) process includes background checks, home inspections, training, and psycho-social assessments. The county has about 1,200 approved resource families; 150-200 new homes are approved annually, but the total remains stable due to exits.
  • The Transitional Shelter Care Facility (formerly the assessment center) reopened in late March 2026 after a hiatus. As of the meeting, no youth had been placed yet; the facility is intended for children in placement transition.
  • High-needs youth: About 42 children with complex needs (defined as five or more placement moves in a year) are a focus. Short-term residential treatment programs (STRTPs) are often full, causing placement delays. The county is unable to place children out of state.
  • The caregiver appreciation dinner is scheduled for May 15, 2026.
  • Supervisors discussed vetting of resource parents, the Santa Clara County tragedy, and the need for more foster homes.

8th Audit Update

  • Director Love and staff presented. The 12-month progress report on the state audit is due September 23, 2026. CDSS conducted an on-site visit March 26, 2026, with focus groups (16 workers, 10 supervisors), 15 individual interviews, and a case review of 77 cases on April 21, 2026. Findings and recommendations are expected in about 12 weeks.
  • Open referrals backlog: data as of April 7, 2026, shows three referrals from 2021 still open, with more recent years having higher numbers. Investigations in progress and pending closure figures were provided.
  • Staff safety culture survey: Eight presentations and focus groups have been held; additional focus groups on psychological safety are scheduled for May 2026. An action plan is due by June 2026.
  • Hiring: Continuous hiring for bachelor's and master's level child welfare workers; 11 bachelor's and 13 master's hired in 2025. Attrition in 2026 so far is 9 (including retirements and probationary releases). Upcoming exam dates: May 15, July 15, September 15, November 16, 2026.
  • Youth Transitions Partnership program (ages 14-21, expanded to 24) uses coaching and dialectical behavioral therapy; positive feedback from youth focus groups.
  • Audit dashboard is publicly available online.
  • Implementation status: 4 of 15 recommendations fully implemented (#6, 7, 9, 13); 9 pending (#1-5, 8, 10, 14, 15). Some depend on the transitional shelter care facility and on meet-and-confer outcomes with SEIU.
  • Supervisors discussed the need for better data on quality of care and staffing challenges. Staff noted they are working with Cal State East Bay and other partners on recruitment.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal votes were taken; all items were informational.
  • The CalFresh team will share zip-code-level data on impacted non-citizens with all supervisors.
  • The county will continue outreach for CalFresh Awareness Month and develop a plan for food distribution to those losing benefits due to HR1, with details expected within two months.
  • Child abuse prevention efforts will continue; the county is working with contractors to possibly amend contracts for refugee support services before the fiscal year end.
  • The foster care team will monitor utilization of the reopened Transitional Shelter Care Facility and continue recruitment efforts.
  • The audit implementation will proceed; CDSS findings expected in about 12 weeks. The staff safety action plan is due June 2026. Meet-and-confer with SEIU regarding supervisors and emergency response is ongoing.
  • The committee received public comment and adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon and welcome to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Social Services Committee meeting for Monday, April the 27th, 2026. May I have broke call, please? Supervisor Fortunatar Boss. Present. Supervisor Tim. Present. We have a core. Thank you. Could you go over instructions and participation in person and online? For both in-person and remote attendees when addressing the committee, please give your name for the record prior to your presentation. If you wish to speak on a matter not on the agenda, please wait until the chair calls for public comment on non-agenda items. To notify the clerk you wish to speak, please fill out a speaker clip, speaker slip and submit it to the clerk. Only matters within the board of supervisors' jurisdiction may be addressed. Time limitation shall be at the discretion of the chair. If you're online, please please use the raise hand function. If you're calling in, please dial star five to raise and lower your hand. Thank you. Thank you very much. We will start with our first informational item, which is the CalFresh program update. Yes, I'll like to invite Roland Shell and Jaime and Desco to the podium. Um next month is CalFresh Awareness Month. So we typically try to give you all the CalFresh update in preparation for Calfresh Awareness Month. And what you'll hear is a little bit about HR1, but the focus really is just about the CalFresh program. So Jaime. Good afternoon. Okay, sorry about that. Um good afternoon, Supervisor Tam, Supervisor Fortunato uh Bass, Director Ford. My name is Jaime N Domesco. I am an associate program specialist at Alameda County Social Services Workforce and Benefit Administration. I am joined by my colleague Roland Shaw, who's a program specialist. We're here today to provide an update on the CalFresh program. Uh thank you for having us today. Next slide, please. Thank you. Next, I'll go through the agenda. We'll start with a brief overview of the CalFresh program, followed by CalFresh Awareness Month activities. Then we'll cover Sunbugs, the Calfresh Fruits and Vegetable EBT Pilot Program and EBT theft. We will also go over recent non-citizen eligibility changes and updates to the able-bodied adults without dependence under HR1. We'll close with a snapshot of current Calfresh program data. Next slide, please. Thank you. To provide a brief overview of the CalFresh program, CalFresh is federally known as SNAP. It's one of the largest food assistance program, actually the largest food assistance program in California. It serves as a critical safety net for low-income individuals and families. The program provides monthly benefits on an EBT card, which is which functions similar to an uh a debit card to purchase food at grocery stores or farmers markets. People can apply for CalFresh through multiple channels, including in-person at any of our social services agency offices, uh, by phone, mail, fax, and online at benefitscal.com. Next slide, please. Thank you. Calfresh Awareness Month. As Director Ford mentioned, May is CalFresh Awareness Month, and our focus is on making sure people understand that the CalFresh program exists and understand how to access it.

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