Title
District Attorney recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Authorize the submission of a grant application in the amount of $218,750 to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services for the Child Advocacy Center (KC) Program for Fiscal Year 2017/18 and 2018/19;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance; and
3) Upon Notification of Award, authorize the District Attorney to execute the Grant Award Agreement including any extension or amendments.
FUNDING: California Governor's Office of Emergency Services Victims of Crime Act Fund.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
The District Attorney recommends the Board approve this application and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The District Attorney's Office is in need of Child Advocacy Center (CAC) services through an accredited Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center (MDIC) program. The MDIC program currently operated by the District Attorney's Office is not an accredited CAC as defined by the National Children's Alliance (NCA). This funding will enhance victim service in El Dorado County and allow the agency to work towards the goal of NCA accreditation.
The County is eligible to receive $218,750, which includes a local cash match in the amount of $43,750, in Child Advocacy Center (KC) Program funding for Federal FY 2017/18 and FY 2018/19. With these funds, the County will
1) Obtain CAC accreditation, which includes assigning a Special Investigator as an MDIC Coordinator/Interviewer dedicated to improving multi-agency coordination while working towards NCA accreditation;
2) Improve and enhance its current paperless information and case management system called Gabriel for purposes of tracking and retrieval of NCA statistical information;
3) Enhance oversight of the multidisciplinary team;
4) Enter into a participating staff funding agreement with the Center for Violence Free Relationships to provide a direct link to counseling services; and
5) Provide access to training for multidisciplinary team members to stay abreast of new laws, research and accreditation requirements.
To meet the local cash match requirement, the District Attorney's Office will assign a Lead Deputy District Attorney to oversee the Special Victims Unit. It is estimated the Lead Deputy District Attorney will spend 25% of their time overseeing all aspects of child victim services and the legal services provided by other Deputy District Attorney's in the unit, preparing reports and grants, providing training and guidance, supervising staff and attending monthly multidisciplinary team meetings.
As set forth in the Request for Application (RFA), the District Attorney is required to obtain written authorization from the Board of Supervisors that the official executing the agreement is authorized to do so. The District Attorney recommends the Board approve the submission of the grant application and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance and Compliance (Rev. 5/2017) for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund. 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 for Subaward.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
It is anticipated that the revenue received for the salary and benefits of the MDIC Coordinator/Interviewer will reduce the departments Net County Cost by up to $29,016 for the fourth quarter of FY 2017/18. The District Attorney will return to the Board with a budget transfer upon receipt of the Notification of Award.
The FY 2018/19 budget will include revenue and expenditure requests for the remainder of the grant period.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Board Chair to sign two certified copies of the Certification of Assurance of Compliance and return to the Chief Administrative Office, Attention: Megan Arevalo
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney