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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board approve and authorize the Director of Health and Human Services Agency and Board Chair to sign the revised Certification of Assurance of Compliance, pertaining to the Request for Application issued by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the County Victim Services Program for Fiscal Years 2020-21 and 2021-22.
FUNDING: $84,473 in 2018 and $84,473 in 2019 Victims of Crime Act funds, for a total estimated allocation of $168,946; with a total required match in the amount of $42,236, which will be provided by CASA El Dorado through in-kind volunteer hours.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On May 17, 2016, the Board authorized the Director of Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) 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 $272,638 over twenty-four (24) months, which was later increased to $470,678 of a total of forty-two months. The totality of the funding was subawarded to CASA 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, proposed a plan developed with the approval of a Victim Services Steering Committee. The first forty-two months of funding were the result of activities detailed in this plan.
On July 1, 2020, Cal OES released a new Request for Applications 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 Victim Services Steering Committee reconvened on both August 13, 2020 and August 27, 2020. After much discussion, on August 28, 2020, the only viable option still under consideration was to continue subaward of the funding to CASA El Dorado.
With the funding made available through this grant, CASA provides court advocacy for 90 youth (approximately 60% of the youth served by CASA), by way of recruiting and training volunteers who serve as advocates, as well as through connecting youth with important education, medical, mental health, substance abuse, and community supports.
On September 22, 2020, under File ID 20-1164, HHSA brought the Certification of Assurance of Compliance (Certification) and the grant application to the Board for approval and signature. The signed Certification and the grant application were submitted to Cal OES. On December 15, 2020, Cal OES sent a revised Certification to HHSA’s Grants Unit and noted that the agreement would not be issued until the revised Certification was completed, signed, and submitted to them. HHSA processed the revised Certification for the next available Board Agenda.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve and sign the revised Certification, Cal OES will not issue the agreement or funding for the County Victim Services Program funded through Cal OES, and as a result, the County will be unable to subaward this funding to CASA El Dorado.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 09-22-2020, 20-1164, HHSA County Victim Services Grant Application
2) 10-08-2019, 19-1439, HHSA Grant Application County Victim Services
3) 10-11-2016, 16-0992, HHSA, Amendment to Agmt with CASA El Dorado for Cal OES Program
4) 05-17-2016, 16-0232, HHSA Cal OES Grant Extension and Amendment
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
In the previous 42 months of funding, the fund match requirements has been met by CASA El Dorado through in-kind volunteer hours without failure. This model will be continued for the new grant cycle. However, should CASA El Dorado fail to report 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. Anticipated match could be up to $42,236 in General Fund.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of the Chair on two (2) originals of the revised Certification.
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) signed Certification to HHSA at 3057 Briw Road.
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