17500-17501
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
SECTION 17500-17501
17500. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to encourage certain counties to provide preventative support services to unemployed and displaced workers for the following purposes: (a) To enable unemployed workers and their families to maintain stability in their lives. (b) To bring together the resources and skills of the public and private sector to aid unemployed workers and their families. (c) To help prevent the emotional crisis often resulting from unemployment from leading to more serious and disabling health and mental health problems, including homelessness and suicide. (d) To help unemployed workers and their families avoid dependency upon public assistance programs. (e) To encourage a cooperative effort between the Employment Development Department and other local public and private services in providing supportive services to unemployed workers and their families. (f) The services provided pursuant to this chapter are to be carried out through coordination with the service delivery area, as designated pursuant to Section 15005 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, and shall be consistent with the appropriate service delivery area plan and employment and training plan for displaced workers, as described in Sections 15043 and 15076, respectively, of the Unemployment Insurance Code. 17501. (a) A county may, upon the affirmative vote of the board of supervisors, elect to contract with a contracting agency for services which provide counseling and referral and resource information services that conform to the purposes listed in Section 17500. (b) The services provided under contract may include: (1) Telephone crisis counseling. (2) Development and publication of resource guides. (3) Direct supportive counseling. (c) The services provided under contract may not include direct financial assistance to clients. (d) The direct services provided under contract shall be delivered at or near the local Employment Development Department offices or other related public service sites. (e) The contractor shall be encouraged to use volunteer resources in service delivery to the maximum extent possible.