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District Attorney's Office recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Authorize the District Attorney to submit a response to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for the Child Abuse Treatment Program Competitive Funding Opportunity with a total project value of $293,308 for the period of January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026;
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 149-2025 designating the District Attorney, or his designee, as the Authorized Agent for the purposes of submitting, accepting, and executing award documents via the CalOES Grants Central System, contingent upon County Counsel approval;
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the AT Program Mental Health Services Certification, as required by the Competitive Funding Opportunity solicitation, contingent upon County Counsel approval;
4) Approve and authorize the District Attorney, and/or his designee, to electronically agree to and accept the associated grant Certification(s) of Assurance of Compliance, contingent upon County Counsel approval; and
5) Approve and authorize the District Attorney, and/or his designee, to electronically submit the grant application and execute the Grant Award Agreement and required documents, including any extensions or amendments thereof which would not increase net county cost, contingent upon review and approval by County Counsel.
FUNDING: CalOES Victims of Crime Act Fund (49%), Victims of Crime Act Supplemental Funding (State General Funds) (39%), and County General Fund Match (12%).
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 2, 2025, CalOES released a notice of a Competitive Funding Opportunity (CFO) for the Child Abuse Treatment (AT) Program in the amount of $257,500 for the period of January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026. The funding requires a local match amount of $35,808, which brings the total project cost to $293,308. If awarded, this would be the District Attorney’s sixth consecutive award under this grant program. The purpose of the AT Program is to provide comprehensive psychotherapy services to children victimized by abuse and/or neglect.
The program will primarily fund Psychotherapy Clinician(s) through a service contract with the H.O.P.E.: Healthy Outcomes for Personal Enrichment Counseling Center (HOPE) and 1.0 FTE Victim Witness Program Specialist. The program will also fund a Chief Assistant District Attorney and a Program Manager on a part-time basis to provide supervision and grant management. Necessary operating costs to meet program objectives will also be funded. The intention of this project is to enhance existing services for child victims of crime, child violence and abuse, and/or neglect as well as their non-offending family members and caregivers. Psychotherapy services will be provided by qualified clinician(s) who have adequate education and experience working with this population. Furthermore, the program will keep family therapy available for non-offending family members and caregivers of abused/neglected children as part of the child’s treatment. To aid with these services, the dedicated Program Specialist will provide specialized direct advocacy services to victims of crime, including case management, criminal justice support, assistance with crime compensation benefits, counseling coordination, and referrals. Due to the continuation of this grant program, Amendment III to service agreement 8197 with HOPE will be processed and presented to the Board for approval at a later date.
As part of the formal CFO process, CalOES requests the acknowledged Certification(s) of Assurance of Compliance be included with the submitted application. As of July 15, 2024, CalOES has implemented a new Grants Central System (GCS) for applicants to manage their grants. It is via this online portal that the grant application shall be submitted, along with certifications complying with assurances and proof of authority. The Certification of Assurance of Compliance includes details regarding Federal Grant Funds, Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Drug Free Workplace Compliance, California Environmental Quality Act, Lobbying, Debarment and Suspension requirements, Proof of Authority from the Governing Board, Civil Rights Compliance, and the special conditions of Subaward. The attached resolution is being requested for adoption by the Board Chair, designating the El Dorado County District Attorney, or his designee, the Authorized Agent role under the GCS, resulting in granted permissions consisting of initiating, submitting, and accepting the AT Program grant agreement and related documents for period January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026, including any future grant amendments that do not increase Net County Cost, upon review and approval by County Counsel.
The AT Program CFO also requires applicants to include a Mental Health Services Certification, executed by the Board Chair, certifying the number of years the applicant has been providing mental health services to child victims/survivors of crime, abuse, and/or neglect. The department is requesting the Board Chair review and execute the enclosed certification.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to accept the grant, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
10/22/2024 Legistar file 24-1377: Board approved the District Attorney to accept the Child Abuse Treatment (AT) Program funding in the project cost of $293,038, adopted personnel update resolution to extend the expiration date one year for 1.0 FTE Victim/Witness Program Specialist I/II - Limited Term position, and executed Amendment II to Agreement 8197 with HOPE to extend services by one year and increase the NTE.
12/12/2023 Legistar file 23-1251: Board executed Agreement 8197 for psychotherapy services.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost for participating in this funding opportunity. Of the total $293,308 project award, $35,808 is earmarked as a local match requirement. The department plans to use a portion of the salary and benefits of the Program Manager and the Assistant District Attorney, as the cash match along with facility rental costs. Adequate funding is included in the department’s FY 2025-26 Budget and no amendments are necessary.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Upon approval, Clerk of the Board to:
1) Return one certified copy of the Proof of Authority resolution to the CAO Central Fiscal Unit, Attn: Justene Cline; and
2) Return one certified copy of the Mental Health Services Certification to the CAO Central Fiscal Unit, Attn: Justene Cline.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney