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 Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program with a total project cost of $224,128 for the period of January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025, based on the received Letter of Intent;
2) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 185-2024 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;
3) 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;
4) 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; and
5) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 186-2024, extending the expiration date of 2.0 FTE Victim/Witness Program Specialist I/II - Limited Term positions one year, through December 31, 2025.
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
This is the third consecutive year of the District Attorney’s participation in the Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach (UV) Program. The purpose of the UV program is to increase access to culturally appropriate victim services for unserved/underserved victims/survivors of crime. These services include the enhancement of existing programs to commit staff time to specifically address the needs of the identified unserved/underserved victim/survivor population, hiring staff that reflect the identified population, training all staff on the cultural norms of the population, and increasing outreach efforts. On October 1, 2024, the office received an Intent to a Fund letter from CalOES, confirming that the agency will be awarded $196,906 via a combination of VOCA funds and state VCGF funds for the Grant Subaward performance period beginning January 1, 2025 through December 2025, with an additional $27,222 required local match, for a total project amount of $224,128.
Under this program, the District Attorney’s Victim Witness Unit (VWU) has committed to focusing on a cultural/ethnic-specific population; that being the Spanish-speaking community of El Dorado County. Direct services provided by program staff shall include, but not be limited to crisis intervention, counseling, outreach, criminal justice support, and victim advocacy. In order to continue the implementation of these initiatives, the VWU plans to fund 2.0 FTE Limited Term Victim Witness Program Specialists. Both positions shall be bilingual in Spanish or another related language as to provide the most effective services to the underserved population. Additionally, staff will attend Advocate Training as well as provide training material for other staff within the department regarding how to best assist the Spanish-speaking victim population. Specialized community outreach will also be at the forefront of the program’s vision, in the hopes it will spread valuable information to the Spanish-speaking population.
Due to the continuation of this grant program, the associated two Limited-Term Victim/Witness Program Specialist positions will be extended in correlation with the grant cycle, covering the period of January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025. 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 positions.
It is anticipated the grant award of $196,906 will fund most of the Program Specialists’ salary and benefits, as well as all program operating expenses. The grant award carries a local cash match requirement, in the amount of $27,222, which is anticipated to fund the Program Manager’s part time efforts towards the program, a portion of the Program Specialist’s benefits, and a portion of the office facility lease.
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 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 UV Program grant agreement and related documents for period January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025, including any future grant amendments that do not increase Net County Cost, upon review and approval by County Counsel.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to accept the grant, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
12/12/2023 Legistar file 23-1982: Board approved the District Attorney to accept the CalOES Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach (UV) Program in the total project cost of $246,133 for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 and executed personnel resolution to extend 2.0 FTE Limited Term Victim/Witness Program Specialist positions one year.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Human Resources and County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost for accepting this grant award. Of the total $224,128 project award, $27,222 is earmarked as a local match requirement funded with County General Fund. As previously mentioned, the County plans to designate the Program Manager’s part time efforts towards the program, a portion of the Program Specialist’s benefits, and a portion of the office facility lease 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 Pierson, District Attorney