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County Counsel recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign The Family Wellness Court Memorandum of Understanding Between the County of El Dorado, El Dorado County Office of Education and Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.
FUNDING: Each party bears its own previously budgeted expenses.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On March 24, 2015, the Board received a presentation by the Honorable Suzanne N. Kingsbury, Presiding Judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court, and the Honorable Christine Williams, Chief Judge of the Shingle Springs Tribal Court, about the creation of a joint collaborative court called The Family Wellness Court. The Family Wellness Court is the first of its kind in California and the first joint jurisdiction court in the nation to target Native youth. The Family Wellness Court is the result of a multidisciplinary collaboration where tribal, county, community and education partners came together to develop and implement a new court model to address the needs of Native youth and their families. The new Court will target Native youth and transitional youth up to the age of 24 who are either currently engaged in local, state, or tribal court proceedings or who are at risk of becoming engaged with the local, state, or tribal court. The stated mission of the Court is to empower youth and families to create positive changes. The Court will accomplish this mission by engaging Native youth and their families in prevention services, as well as intervention, through a family focused program guided by the Medicine Wheel teachings and the Ten Wraparound Principles of the National Wraparound Initiative. The Court's inaugural session occurred on April 8, 2015 with successful participation by local education partners. The Family Wellness Court holds hearings twice monthly.
ALTERNATIVES
There is no existing alternative to The Family Wellness Court, which is the first of its kind in California and the first joint jurisdiction court in the nation to target Native youth. This Court is a pilot project for the creation of similar courts in other jurisdictions throughout the State and Nation.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
The County's participation in the Family Wellness Court will come through representatives from Probation and Health and Human Services who will assist in identifying youth and families for referral to the Court and who will make recommendations to the new Court. Depending on the nature of the case, the Public Defender, District Attorney, and Sheriff may also play a role as members of the team that will advise the court.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
The Chief Administrative Office recognizes the potential benefits of this collaboration within current budgetary constraints, and recommends the Chair sign the Memorandum of Understanding.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding for County staff providing support under this MOU has been included in the FY 2015-16 Recommended Budget. Effective prevention and successful intervention may reduce expenses associated with the recidivism of delinquent youth and the trend to become adult offenders. Effective prevention and intervention may also deter the new entry of families into the juvenile dependency system, and help prevent the re-entry of the families into the system by securing the success of those exiting the system. Less impact on the juvenile system translates into long term savings for the multidisciplinary programs delivering services to juveniles and their families.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
The Clerk of the Board shall transmit three (3) fully executed originals of the Memorandum of Understanding to County Counsel upon execution by the Chair of the Board of Supervisors.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Effective Services and Public Safety
CONTACT
Lesley B. Gomes, Deputy County Counsel