Title
District Attorney's Office recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Authorize the District Attorney to accept a grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the Child Abuse Treatment Program with a total project cost of $321,876 for the period of January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023, based on the received Letter of Intent;
2) Approve and authorize the Board Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance;
3) Authorize the District Attorney to execute the Grant Award Agreement required documents, including any extensions or amendments thereof which would not increase net county cost, contingent upon review and approval by County Counsel; and
4) Approve and authorize the Board Chair to execute Agreement 5316 Amendment III with H.O.P.E: Healthy Outcomes for Personal Enrichment Counseling Center to extend the term one year through June 30, 2024 and increase the not to exceed amount by $160,440 for an updated not to exceed amount of $490,320.
FUNDING: California Governor's Office of Emergency Services Victims of Crime Act funds.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On May 4, 2022, the District Attorney's Office received notification from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) that they intend to fund the department for participation in the Child Abuse Treatment (AT) Program, pending the submission of an application, requesting the VOCA federal amount of $257,500. This will be the District Attorney’s third consecutive award under this grant Program. The purpose of the AT Program is to continue providing comprehensive psychotherapy services to children victimized by abuse and/or neglect.
The primary focus of this program remains to fund the equivalent of 1.0 FTE Psychotherapy Clinician(s) through a service contract with H.O.P.E: Healthy Outcomes for Personal Enrichment Counseling Center (HOPE), 1.0 FTE Victim Witness Program Specialist, and other as-needed operating program expenses using the grant award. Additionally, the grant will fund a District Attorney Investigator, an Assistant District Attorney, and a Program Manager on a part-time basis to meet the cash match requirement. The objective of this project is to enhance existing services for child victims of crime and/or child abuse and/or neglect. Psychotherapy services will be provided by the most qualified clinicians who have applicable education and experience working with this population. Furthermore, the Program will keep family therapy available for family members of abused/neglected children as part of the child’s treatment. To aid with these services, the 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.
Agreement 5316 Amendment III with HOPE will cover service period of January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023 and allow clinicians to provide counseling under the grant. Per amendment III, HOPE will continue to provide the equivalent of 1.0 FTE Psychotherapy Clinician(s) to work specifically with child abuse victims and their families (secondary victims) by providing trauma-informed mental health services. The billing rate for therapy services is $75/hr., not exceeding $156,000 for the grant cycle. Furthermore, the contract may bill up to $3,000 for grant program related training costs and up to $1,440 for cell phone stipend (to cover up to two clinicians). All contract costs will be directly funded by the grant award.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board opt not to approve the District Attorney to accept the grant award and execute Amendment III to Agreement 5316, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar 21-1689, December 14, 2021 - The Board approved and authorized the Chair to execute Agreement 5316 Amendment II with HOPE Counseling.
Legistar 21-0972, June 29, 2021 - The Board accepted Federal FY 2021-22 CalOES Child Abuse Treatment (AT) Program in the amount of $321,875 for the period of January 1, 2022- December 31, 2022.
Legistar 21-0945, June 22, 2021 - The Board approved and authorized the Chair to execute Agreement 5316 Amendment II with HOPE Counseling.
Legistar 20-1523, December 15, 2020 - The Board approved and authorized the Chair to execute agreement 5316 with HOPE.
Legistar 20-1402, November 10, 2020 - Board accepted Cal OES Child Abuse Program (AT) in the amount of $321,875 for the period of January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost. Funding is included in the FY 2022-23 budget. The total project award of $257,500 carries with it a match burden of $64,376. The grant application submitted identified using a portion of facility rental costs, the Assistant District Attorney and the District Attorney Investigator’s salary/benefit costs, and a portion of the Program Manager’s salary/benefit costs to fulfill the match requirement. In the event the combination of these expenses is not sufficient to fulfill the match requirement, the County would be responsible for the difference.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to:
1) Obtain the Board Chair's signature on two copies of the Certification of Assurance of Compliance forms and return one certified copy to the Chief Administrative Office, Central Fiscal Unit, Attention: Justene Cline; and
2) Obtain the Board Chair's signature on two copies of Amendment III to Agreement 5316 with HOPE and return one certified copy to the Chief Administrative Office, Central Fiscal Unit, Attention: Justene Cline.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney