Title
District Attorney’s Office recommending the Board:
1) Authorize the District Attorney to accept a grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for the Child Advocacy Center Program for the total project cost of $227,650 for the period of April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026, based on the received Letter of Intent;
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 008-2025 designating the District Attorney, or his designee, as the Authorized Agent for the purposes of submitting, accepting, and executing applications and award documents via the CalOES Grants Central System;
3) Approve and authorize the District Attorney, or his designee, to electronically agree to and accept the associated grant Certification(s) of Assurance of Compliance;
4) Authorize the District Attorney, 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; and
5) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 009-2025, extending the expiration date of 1.0 FTE Victim/Witness Program Specialist I/II - Limited Term position one year, through March 31, 2026.
FUNDING: California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Victims of Crime Act (49%), State Victims of Crime General Funds (39%), and County General Fund (12%).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The District Attorney’s Office plans to submit a response to a Request for Application (RFA) for the Child Advocacy Center (KC) Program, administered by CalOES. The purpose of the KC Program is for Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) to provide direct victim services to child abuse survivors and their families through a multidisciplinary team approach. These services include victim-centered, trauma-informed forensic interviews, advocacy, direct or referral to therapy/counseling, and referrals for medical exams. The District Attorney's Office has participated in this program over the past seven consecutive grant cycles. On November 4, 2024, the office received an Intent to Fund letter from CalOES, confirming that the agency will be awarded $110,600 in Federal Victims of Crime Assistance (VOCA) funds and $89,400 in state funds for the Grant Subaward performance period beginning April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, with a $27,650 local match requirement for a total project cost of $227,650.
In 2018, KC program funding was accepted by the District Attorney’s Office and used to establish The Fausel House CAC in Placerville. The recent award funding the KC Program will allow staff to maintain all necessary National Children's Alliance (NCA) accreditation components and standards for The Fausel House CAC, as well as continue to enhance the coordinated team approach to the investigation and prosecution of child sexual and physical abuse cases. With this cycle of funding, the program will fund 0.05 FTE Forensic Interviewer and Trainer (District Attorney Investigator), 1.0 FTE Victim Witness Program Specialist, 0.50 FTE Forensic Interviewer (Investigative Assistant), 0.45 Victim Witness Program Coordinator, and 0.05 FTE Victim Witness Program Manager, in addition to membership/accreditation fees, program-related training, interviewing/case tracking software agreements, as-needed office supplies, cell phone lines for program staff, and office equipment rental. The program will also allocate a portion of mentioned salary and benefits cost to satisfy the local match requirement.
As part of the formal grant application 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 any 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 KC Program grant agreement and related documents for period April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2026, including any future grant amendments that do not increase Net County Cost, upon review and approval by County Counsel.
Due to the continuation of this grant program, the associated Limited-Term Victim/Witness Program Specialist position will be extended in correlation with the grant cycle, covering the period of April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2026. Per Personnel Rule 1105, specifying that limited term allocations have a fixed expiration date, which can be extended upon approval by the Board of Supervisors, a resolution is included under this item extending the Limited-Term Victim/Witness Program Specialist position.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to accept the grant award, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program and would lose the grant funding in support of the CAC.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
12/12/2023 Legistar file 23-1959 - Board accepted CalOES KC Program in the amount of $250,000 for the period of April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Human Resources
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost for accepting this grant award. Of the total $227,650 project award, $27,650 is earmarked as a local match requirement funded with County General Fund. The County plans to designate the District Attorney Investigator’s part time efforts towards the program, as well as a portion of the Program Specialists’, Investigative Assistants’, and Program Coordinators’ benefits as the local cash match requirement. Adequate funding is included in the department’s FY 2024-25 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 Personnel Allocation resolution to Human Resources, Attn: Michael Reddin.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Vern R. Pierson, District Attorney