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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Authorize the submission of a grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the County Victim Services Program for Fiscal Years 2021-22 and 2022-23, for an estimated grant funding amount of $159,395;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair and the HHSA Director to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance, and approve and authorize the Director of HHSA to also sign the Grant Subaward Face Sheet, as required by the grant;
3) Delegate authority to the HHSA Director to accept a funding award, if awarded, with all match being met by the subcontractor, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval, and authorize the HHSA Director, or designee, to execute and administer any subsequent administrative documents relating to said award, including required fiscal and programmatic reports; and
4) If awarded, authorize the HHSA Director to negotiate and enter into a subaward agreement, including any amendments thereto, for the County Victim Services Program funding with CASA of El Dorado.
FUNDING: Total estimated allocation of $159,395 in Victims of Crime Act federal funds; with a total required match in the amount of $25,720, which will be provided by CASA of El Dorado through in-kind volunteer hours.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On September 22, 2020, under Board Item 20-1164, the Board authorized the Director of Health and Human Services Agency to submit a grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for the County Victim Services Program. As a result of the application, the County was awarded $168,946 for a term of twelve (12) months. The totality of the funding was sub-awarded to CASA of El Dorado to provide Court Appointed Special Advocates for victims of child abuse and neglect. The initial grant application, consistent with the requirements of the County Victim Services Program Request for Applications (RFA), required a plan to be developed detailing the County’s Victim Services Program initiatives, which was developed with the input and approval of an established Victim Services Steering Committee (VSSC). The steering committee included leadership and representatives from the District Attorney's Office, HHSA, Probation Department, Sheriff's Office, non-profit services providers that serve victims of crime, and representatives from the Courts. The activities detailed in the resulting VSSC plan was a requirement to receive the one (1) year of funding granted to the County by Cal OES on January 21, 2021.
On June 1, 2021, Cal OES released a new RFA for the County Victim Services Program, notifying all eligible recipients of funding that continued funding would be contingent upon re-convening the Victim Services Steering Committee to discuss potential uses for funding and gaps that could be addressed to better serve crime victims. As a result, the VSSC was contacted and reconvened on July 29, 2021. After much discussion, the VSSC approved an updated plan to award the Victims Services Program grant funding, if received by Cal OES, to CASA El Dorado. With the funding made available through this grant, CASA of El Dorado provides court advocacy for ninety (90) youth (approximately sixty-percent (60%) of the youth served by CASA of El Dorado), by way of training and recruiting volunteers who serve as advocates, as well as through connecting youth with important education, medical, mental health, substance abuse, and community supports.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve the submission of the grant application and required signatures, the County would be ineligible to participate in the County Victim Services Program funded through Cal OES, and will not be awarded funding through this opportunity. As a result of the lack of the County Victim Services Program funding, the County would be unable to sub-award this funding to CASA of El Dorado.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) Item 20-1164, 9/22/2020, Agenda No. 15, Board approved the HHSA Grant Application for the County Victim Services Program.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Chief Administrative Office, Procurement and Contracts Division.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
In the previous sixty (60) months of funding for the Victim’s Services Program grant, all required matching funds have been met by CASA of El Dorado without failure. This model will be continued for the new grant cycle. However, should CASA of El Dorado fail to report $25,720 in match as required in the resulting subaward agreement, the County would be responsible for any unmet match or disallowed expenses, using County General Fund, consistent with the requirements of the Grant Program.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of the Chair on the required grant Certification of Assurance of Compliance; and return said certification to HHSA at 3057 Briw Rd promptly to submit to Cal OES by September 15, 2021.
2) Clerk of the Board to provide a Certified Minute Order to HHSA upon approval of the Minutes of the Board.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Goal: “Healthy Communities, Improved Health, Well-being, and Self-sufficiency of El Dorado County communities, residents, and visitors.”
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director