Board clears JobsNow contract changes and HHS grant for JobsNow participants

The Board of Supervisors approved a resolution authorizing a revised Acumen contract and a corresponding Human Services Agency action to accept an approximately $20,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support San Francisco’s JobsNow program.

Supervisor Avalos (Supervisor Avalos) described JobsNow as a long-running program aimed at connecting people on public assistance with employment opportunities and noted the program’s federal authorization was uncertain: “if we don't have a new reauthorization of the jobs bill, currently being held up in the senate, the program will end September 30, of this year.” The board took items 19 and 36 together; the items were passed “same house, same call” and approved without recorded roll-call opposition on the floor that followed the board’s routine vote process.

The board accepted language shortening the Acumen contract term to end October 31, 2010, so the city could both preserve continuity for participants and retain flexibility to transition payment or administrative functions in-house if the federal program is not reauthorized. Supervisors said the intent is to avoid any disruption for current participants while preparing to run portions of the program internally and to issue a request for proposals to select a contractor for any remaining functions. Supervisors also noted there has been controversy about previous contractors but emphasized the priority of avoiding service disruption.