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West Sacramento News-Ledger

Yolo County Awarded Engage Empower Implement (EEI) Grant to Boost Youth and Community

Nov 26, 2024 11:17AM ● By Yolo County News Release

WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - On Nov. 4, Yolo County received the Engage Empower Implement (EEI) Grant, a funding initiative from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) that supports community partnerships for enhanced public outreach and engagement, with a total grant amount of $277,619. In collaboration with Supervisor Villegas, the County Administrator’s Office (CAO), submitted a proposal in August to partner with two local organizations, RISE, Inc. and the Health Education Council (HEC), to develop community outreach initiatives focused on supporting youth engagement services.

“We are proud to partner with the Health Education Council to support underserved communities in West Sacramento,” said Oscar Villegas, District 1 Supervisor for the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. “By working directly with residents, we will address health inequities and build pathways to better outcomes for all. This effort reflects our commitment to ensuring every part of Yolo County has the opportunity to thrive.”

This project involves a collaborative effort to enhance community engagement, outreach, and educational opportunities for vulnerable populations in Yolo County, with a focus on children, youth, and families. The aim is to provide direct funding to support youth engagement services, local services feedback, and community participation to develop and implement programs that reduce disparities in underserved areas of the County.

RISE, Inc. will assist with audience identification in Yolo County, particularly, identifying youth in rural areas and connecting them to engagement activities such as After-School enrichment programs, Leadership Workshops, and College Exploration sessions. These engagement activities would be an avenue to collaborate with Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE) in a joint effort to empower youth residents across the county with these targeted service efforts.

The Health Education Council will enhance outreach to engage residents in disinvested neighborhoods of West Sacramento’s District 1. By leveraging existing strategies, partnerships, and stakeholder networks, the Health Education Council will listen to residents’ concerns and solutions regarding health inequities. Through outreach sessions and key-informant interviews, the Health Education Council will identify opportunities to address barriers to healthier communities, building on current projects to achieve the desired outcomes.

Yolo County Office of Education is an additional key stakeholder that will provide access to platforms, tools, and supports that assists individuals and families in navigating career exploration, training and upskill opportunities, college options, and events that promote opportunities for youth and young adults to prepare for the 21st Century workforce. In particular, the College and Career Readiness team at Yolo County Office of Education can provide upskilling and professional development for practitioners, staff of community-based organizations thus growing capacity, local accessibility, and programmatic support. Yolo County Office of Education will perform service efforts that reinforce and expand RISE, Inc.’s outreach and engagement activities. All requested funding on behalf of Yolo County Office of Education will be to provide administrative and community navigation support in service to RISE, Inc.’s tasks and objectives.

The County of Yolo will be the grant administrator and support of the community partners to sustain effective outreach avenues that support their key initiatives. The County strives to provide a healthy, safe, and inclusive place to live, work, and visit for children, youth, and families through the community engagement, outreach, and educational efforts afforded by this grant.