To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator, Economic Development Collaborative
Staff Name and Phone Number: CEO Christina Rivera, Deputy County Administrator Christel Querijero 565-2431, Policy Analyst Yoan Vivas 565-1743, Economic Development Collaborative Director Ethan Brown
Vote Requirement: Informational Only
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Local Immigrant Integration and Secured Families Collaborative
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Receive an informational update on the Local Immigrant Integration and Inclusion Grant Gap Analysis and the status of the Secure Families Collaborative immigrant education and preparedness contract.
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Executive Summary:
In September 2024, the Board accepted $141,235 in state funding under the Local Immigrant Integration and Inclusion Grant (LIIIG) program to support a countywide survey and gap analysis of immigrant services. A total of 1,012 individual surveys and 70 organizational surveys were collected, highlighting high demand for services among women and families, especially within Mexican and Latin American populations. Key gaps were identified in legal services, health navigation, family preparedness, workforce development, and access in areas like Sonoma Valley and the West County. The project also advanced integration with United Way’s 211 system to centralize immigrant resources and is developing a district-level asset map to guide future service coordination.
In February 2025, the Board approved $500,000 for an agreement with the Secure Families Collaborative (SFC) to expand immigrant education and preparedness in response to the changes in federal enforcement. Since launching in June, SFC’s grantees have delivered Know Your Rights workshops, family preparedness planning, health equity support, social wraparound services, and radio outreach. The program has been successful despite challenges associated with rapidly shifting federal policy and a shortage of legal service providers.
Discussion:
Local Immigrant Integration and Inclusion Grant (LIIIG)
On September 24, 2024, <<https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6866627&GUID=5C71E701-754A-422F-B0FF-AB1C920FFEEE&Options=ID|Text|&Search=LIIIG>> the Board of Supervisors authorized the County Executive and the Director of the Economic Development Collaborative to execute a grant agreement to accept $141,235 in funding from the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) under the Local Immigrant Integration and Inclusion Grant (LIIIG) funding program. The funding supported a partnership between the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), the Secure Families Collaborative (SFC), and the County Executive’s Office to conduct a countywide gap analysis of immigrant services and to develop a publicly accessible asset map during the performance period of October 2024 through September 2025.
Considering shifting federal policies and heightened fears within the immigrant community, the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) submitted a request to GO-Biz to amend the LIIIG scope of work, which GO-Biz approved on May 15, 2025. The revised scope reallocated funding originally designated for the development of an asset map toward a new partnership with 211 United Way of the Wine Country. Under this arrangement, 211 collaborated with the SFC to conduct outreach, collect surveys at community events, provide phone-based support, and integrate immigrant-related resources into its website, 211sonoma.org <https://211sonoma.org/>, a well-known and trusted source for safety net services information.
To conduct the gap analysis, SFC collected anonymous survey responses from immigrant community members through one-on-one assistance, trainings, and events. To identify existing resources, SFC worked with nonprofits, public agencies, and other organizations, with support from EDC and the Sonoma County Office of Equity, to gather information about available services.
LIIIG Gap Analysis
Included as Attachment A, the gap analysis prepared by Secure Families Collaborative provides a consolidated overview of services available to immigrant communities in Sonoma County and highlights areas where unmet needs remain.
• Survey Responses:
o Individual Surveys: 1,012 responses collected.
§ 66% of respondents identified as female.
§ 79% reported Mexico as their country of origin, followed by Haiti, China, and Central American countries.
§ 38.5% reported annual household income under $30,000, with an average household size of four.
§ 1,732 resource requests were documented, covering a range of services.
o Organizational Surveys: 70 responses collected.
§ Respondents include 48 community organizations, 6 clinics, 14 County departments and 2 employers.
• Gaps Identified:
o Demographic Gaps: High demand among women and families, particularly from Mexican and Latin American immigrant populations.
o Service Gaps: Notable needs in legal services (long waitlists for deportation defense and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals), housing and health navigation, family preparedness, workforce development, and culturally responsive mental health. Community members also emphasized gaps in social belonging and inclusion initiatives.
o Geographic Gaps: Persistent underrepresentation in areas such as Sonoma Valley, West County, and the coastal Fifth District.
o Capacity Gaps: Limited staffing and organizational capacity, particularly among smaller community-based groups, including shortages in multilingual capacity for Indigenous and East African languages.
The LIIIG findings indicate unmet needs in workforce development and economic opportunity for immigrant residents. While not a direct outcome of this grant, the County launched a Food Entrepreneurship Program <https://sonomacounty.gov/sonoma-county-launches-new-program-to-support-food-entrepreneurs> in May 2025 to support small-scale food producers and cottage food operators, many of whom are immigrants and women of color. The program offers training, technical assistance, and guidance on licensing and permitting to help entrepreneurs formalize and grow their businesses. This initiative complements the County’s broader immigrant integration efforts by addressing barriers to economic participation and supporting pathways to self-sufficiency. Additionally, online and in person job seeker trainings and assistance are offered at no cost, in English and Spanish, through Sonoma County Job Link. Trainings include resume writing, job interview skills, job searching, and career exploration.
Beyond employment support needs, SFC identified several other gaps in safety net services for immigrants, with housing being the largest concern for respondents at 33.4%. To address these gaps, SFC included recommendations for community organizations and local government agencies, city or county, working directly with immigrants in Sonoma County to consider for future initiatives and service delivery strategy. And while there are no direct recommendations for the County, SFC’s findings will be shared with the Immigration Ad Hoc to help inform potential initiatives.
The final outcome of the LIIIG is a partnership with United Way 211. 211 reorganized their website to create a centralized hub for information on all immigrant-related resources and services identified through SFC’s survey process. 211 will continue to keep immigrant resources on their website up to date. <https://211now.com/sonoma-county-resources-for-immigrants/>.
Secure Families Collaborative (SFC) Education and Outreach
On February 4, 2025 <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7107967&GUID=89E636ED-FE66-4CD8-866E-F94CBC5DFC2B&Options=Advanced&Search=>, the Board approved $500,000 for an agreement with the SFC to support countywide education and preparedness efforts related to federal immigration policies. The Board originally established the Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative in 2018 to respond to community needs arising from changes in federal immigration policy and the North Bay wildfires.
The most recent contract, executed on April 4, 2025, funds a collaborative network of community-based organizations to enhance community awareness, expand access to legal and social services, and ensure accurate and timely information sharing. Under this agreement, SFC is responsible for administering and distributing funds, managing contracts, and coordinating services to ensure equitable access across the county. On March 19, 2025, SFC issued a request for proposals to community-based organizations after an extensive outreach campaign, followed by a kick-off meeting for awarded grantees on June 5, 2025. Attachment B includes details on each grantee’s award amount and contracted scope of work. Additional details on the SFC, along with information on each grantee’s progress to date, are provided in Attachment C. Program activities are scheduled to run through May 31, 2026.
The following service delivery metrics from SFC’s report highlight the initial consolidated outcomes achieved during the first months of implementation.
Quarter 1 Accomplishments (June-August 2025):
• 1,447 individuals participated in Know Your Rights presentations at homes and community meeting centers.
• 187 families completed family preparedness plans.
• 80 individuals received individualized follow-up for health and equity planning.
• 75 health navigation resource guides were distributed.
• 31 families accessed social wraparound services.
• 19 warm referrals were made to legal nonprofit partners.
• Radio messaging through local stations was initiated, providing organizations an opportunity to highlight their mission, promote events and outreach activities, and inform listeners about available immigrant resources.
Based on early performance, SFC projects that grantees are on pace to exceed proposed deliverables.
Challenges Reported:
• Rapidly changing federal immigration laws and policies, creating uncertainty and fear among both community members and partner staff.
• Nationwide shortage of legal service providers, limiting the ability to meet community demand.
The Local Immigrant Integration and Inclusion Grant (LIIIG) project and the Secure Families Collaborative Education and Preparedness initiative highlight the importance of collaboration with trusted community partners to strengthen and sustain Sonoma County’s immigrant services network. Through partnerships with organizations such as the Secure Families Collaborative, United Way 211, and other community-based groups, the County is fostering long-term capacity and improving coordination among service providers. Engaging partners who are deeply rooted in immigrant communities helps ensure that programs remain culturally responsive and accessible. This collaborative approach is helping to build a stronger, more connected service infrastructure that supports both immediate needs and long-term community resilience.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 1: Expand integrated system of care to address gaps in services to the County’s most vulnerable.
Objective: Objective 3: Create a “no wrong door” approach where clients who need services across multiple departments and programs are able to access the array of services needed regardless of where they enter the system.
Pillar: Racial Equity and Social Justice
Goal: Goal 2: Establish equitable and data-driven distribution of services
Objective: Objective 2: Identify gaps in the Safety Net system of services and identify areas where departments can address those gaps directly, and seek guidance from the Board when additional resources and/or policy direction is needed.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
Yes
Racial Equity Analysis included as Attachment D.
Prior Board Actions:
April 22, 2025: ?Immigrant Services Update & At-Risk/Unprotected Workforce Resources <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7303028&GUID=57CFC556-F582-4127-A99B-01B1B68C7CF5&Options=ID|Text|&Search=Immigration+Services>
February 4, 2025: Undocumented, Immigrant, and Refugee Support <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7107967&GUID=89E636ED-FE66-4CD8-866EF94CBC5DFC2B&Options=Advanced&Search=>
January, 10, 2025: Federal Policy Changes <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7107967&GUID=89E636ED-FE66-4CD8-866EF94CBC5DFC2B&Options=Advanced&Search=>
September 24, 2025: California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development Local Immigration Integration and Inclusion Grant <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6866627&GUID=5C71E701-754A-422F-B0FF-AB1C920FFEEE&Options=ID|Text|&Search=LIIIG>
September 17, 2024: Update on County Services for Immigrant Communities <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6857962&GUID=F339EA04-9560-4B65-968A1732A19C0CF9&Options=Advanced&Search=%3e%20%3chttps://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?>
Fiscal Summary
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Attachments:
Attachment A - LIIIG Report
Attachment B - SFC Grantee Summary
Attachment C - SFC Education and Outreach
Attachment D - Racial Equity Analysis 2025
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
n/a