Secures Grant Funding to Support Victims of Human Trafficking and Mobile Crisis Response Units, and Approves Teamsters Local 952 Contract
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley commented on this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting where the Board proclaimed March as Women’s History Month, approved a contract for Orange County’s Coordinated Entry System, voted on an encampment clearing plan, approved wage increases for workers represented by Teamsters, Local 952, and approved other key items.
Supervisor Foley brought forward a proclamation recognizing Women’s History Month and Equal Pay Day at the March 12, 2024 Board of Supervisors meeting. This year’s theme, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” recognizes women throughout history who understand the critical need to eliminate bias and discrimination from our lives, workplaces and institutions. Joining Supervisor Foley and the Board of Supervisors in recognizing Women’s History Month & Equal Pay Day were women leaders within the County of Orange including department heads, lawyers from County Counsel, and prosecutors from the District Attorney’s office.
Supervisor Foley released the following statements highlighting the votes by the Board of Supervisors from the March 12, 2024 meeting:
Coordinated Entry System Services: Renewed contract with Friendship Shelter, Inc for services that support Orange County’s Coordinated Entry System, a streamlined system that assists individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness on accessing emergency shelter, permanent housing, and supportive services resources.
“Providing meaningful help to a person experiencing homelessness is often challenging, our Coordinated Entry System makes that process easier,” said Supervisor Foley. “The Coordinated Entry System helps ensure meaningful, regional collaboration on ending homelessness and provides individuals with the resources they need to secure housing and care. This contract provides resources to assist individuals experiencing homelessness in South County.”
Partnership with Garden Grove on Encampment Resolution Program: Approved agreement with the City of Garden Grove that will have Orange County’s Office of Care Coordination implement Encampment Resolution Funding at an identified encampment site at Beach Boulevard and Trask Avenue. This is Round Two of Encampment Resolution Funding Program, in Round One the City of Costa Mesa was awarded funding for two years to address the encampment located at Talbert Regional Park.
“In 2021, my office Initiated a state grant application to remove encampments from Talbert Park in Costa Mesa and transition approximately 60 individuals experiencing homelessness to shelter and housing. I’m glad to see us expand this successful program to another hot spot area in the county,” said Supervisor Foley, “Transitioning unhoused people into shelters and permanent supportive housing remains my top priority. I’m committed to finding solutions that address these challenges head on and improving the quality of life for all Orange County residents.”
Spent Fuel Solutions Now Coalition Agreement: Approved agreement renewing Orange County’s participation in the Spent Fuels Solutions Now Coalition, a collaborative effort Co-Chaired by Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley and San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond that advocates for the relocation of spent nuclear fuel currently stored on site at the retired San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).
“We must move spent nuclear fuel from our coast. Temporary on-site spent fuel storage costs taxpayers approximately $2 million per day,” said Supervisor Foley. “Storing spent nuclear fuel on an earthquake fault, vulnerable to sea level rise, along a rail corridor, near a military base, and close to nearly 9 million residents perpetuates past inaction. Southwest Strategies is assisting the coalition to advocate for federal legislation, prioritization of funding, and the identification of permanent sites.”
Maintenance Easement for Longview Park in Laguna Niguel: Approved a Maintenance Easement between the City of Laguna Niguel and the County of Orange in order to facilitate access for regular maintenance of Longview Park.
“This commonsense agreement will help ensure that the City of Laguna Niguel has access to Longview Park for proper maintenance,” said Supervisor Foley. “I thank county staff and the City of Laguna Niguel for working together towards achieving this shared goal.”
Labor Agreement with Teamsters, Local 952 (Supplemental A): Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Teamsters, Local 952 that ratifies that terms and conditions of employment Teamsters member over a three-year period. Teamsters, Local 952 represents approximately 519 positions employed across 36 classifications at the County of Orange, including Custodians, Park Maintenance Workers, Landfills Equipment Operators, and as well as other essential employees.
“Teamsters Local 952 represents essential members of our County of Orange family,” said Supervisor Foley. “I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on securing long overdue wage and benefit increases for these essential public servants during this round of contract negotiations.”
National Vietnam War Veterans Day (Supplemental B): Adopted resolution recognizing March 29, 2024 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day in the County of Orange.
“In the pursuit of advancing human rights and democracy, nearly 2.7 million US Service members served throughout the course of the Vietnam War, 153,000 were injured, and nearly 60,000 US soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Supervisor Foley. “In the County of Orange, we commemorate March 29, 2024 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day to commemorate their service and to celebrate the vibrant Vietnamese American community that calls Orange County home today.”
Behavioral Health Training Services: Approved a contract with Western Youth Services, a provider located in Laguna Hills, who will provide behavioral health training services to community members throughout the county, with the goal of increasing recognition of behavioral health conditions. These trainings focus on several behavioral health topics, including prevention and early interventions strategies, Cyber Security, Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Adults, Stress Management, Recognizing Grief, Suicide Prevention for Parents and Caregivers of Youth, and Bullying Prevention.
“With the partnership of skilled and thoughtful operators in the Fabulous Fifth District, community members throughout Orange County are better able to support the mental wellness needs of residents,” said Supervisor Foley. “I look forward to continuing our work with Western Youth Services on meeting the behavioral health needs of Orange County’s youth and families.”
Human Trafficking Victim Advocacy Program: Secured nearly $150,00 of competitive funding to continue Orange County’s Human Trafficking Victim Advocacy Program, which will support a specialized team including a team of victims advocates. This collaboration has provided services to over 1,490 victims of human trafficking over the last decade.
“Human trafficking proves a serious and growing problem in Orange County. In 2021 and 2022, Orange County service providers received referrals from 479 victims,” said Supervisor Foley. “I am grateful for this competitive funding, which allows us to continue a vital program that has supported victims of human trafficking throughout the last decade.”
Behavioral Health Crisis Care Mobile Units: Secured $750,000 in additional funding to support the county’s Crisis Care Mobile Units, a program that provides community-based intervention designed to provide de-escalation and relief to individuals experiencing a behavioral health or substance use-related crisis wherever they are in the community. This funding will be used to fund staff in the Crisis Assessment Team (CAT) within this program.
“This program ensures that all residents, no matter where they are, receive the behavioral health care they need during a crisis,” said Supervisor Foley. “This funding supports a vital aspect of our continuum of care, ensuring that the County has the Crisis Assessment Team (CAT) staff to meet the needs of our community.”
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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), OCFA Legislation & Public Affairs Committee Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee Vice Chair, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Environmental Committee, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel, Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition Co-Chair, Orange County Housing Finance Trust Chair, and the Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.
