Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Authorize the submission of a grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the County Victim Services Program for Fiscal Years 2019-20 and 2020-2021, for an estimated grant amount of $162,079;
2) Approve and authorize the Director of Health and Human Services Agency and the Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance, pertaining to the Request for Application, as required by the grant;
3) Delegate authority to the Director of Health and Human Services Agency to accept funding and execute the grant agreement, if awarded, with all match being met by the subcontractor, including any extension(s) or amendment(s) thereto, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval; and
4) Authorize the Director of Health and Human Services Agency, or the Chief Fiscal Officer, to execute and administer any agreement or subsequent administrative documents relating to said award, including required fiscal and programmatic reports as well as a subaward agreement with CASA El Dorado.
FUNDING: $162,079 in 2018 Victims of Crime Act funding, requiring a match of $40,520, 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 the Health and Human Services Agency (Director) to submit a grant application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for the County Victim Services Program; the application resulted in funding in the amount of $272,638 over twenty-four (24) months, which the County sub-awarded to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) El Dorado (via Item # 16-0992 on October 11, 2016) for the recruitment and training of additional CASA advocates. The purpose of this subaward was to fill an identified gap in services for a population served by the Child Welfare Services (CWS) program, specifically youth who are victims of abuse and neglect. As the recipient of the subaward CASA El Dorado provided an in-kind match in the form of volunteer hours to support the project, satisfying the requirements of the grant program.
Under the authority delegated by the Board, the Director executed an extension to the grant award and subsequent subaward agreement, increasing the grant amount from $272,638 to $470,678, with a term extending an additional eighteen (18) months, ending December 31, 2019. Following this extension, CASA El Dorado continued to provide required match proportionate with the increase and extension of the funding in support of this program.
On September 4, 2019, Cal OES released a Request for Applications for a new County Victim Services Grant for a one-year term from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, with a total award amount of $162,079 and a required match of $40,520. At present, HHSA plans to once again subaward the grant to CASA El Dorado for the purposes of continuing the work CASA began as a result of this program in 2016. CASA El Dorado will again be required to support the program through in-kind volunteer match.
As a requirement of submission, Cal OES requires a signature on the grant application, identifying the Director as being dually authorized to apply for and accept funding. The grant application requirements also specify Certifications of Assurance of Compliance must be signed by both the Board Chair as well as the Director.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, the County would be ineligible to participate in the County Victim Services Program funded through Cal OES, and as a result, not be awarded funding through this opportunity.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
1) May 17, 2016. Item Number 16-0232. “05/17/16 HHSA Cal OES Grant Application”
2) October 11, 2016. Item Number 16-0992. “10/11/16 HHSA Agreement with CASA El Dorado for Cal OES Grant Program”
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
In the previous grant, all required matching funds have been met by CASA El Dorado without failure. This model will be replicated for the new grant. However, should CASA El Dorado fail to report match as required in the resulting 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 $40,520 in General Fund, and sufficient appropriations have been included in the fiscal year 2019-20 budget to cover this match.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on the required certification; and return said certification to HHSA at 3057 Briw Rd promptly to submit to Cal OES by October 16, 2019.
2) Clerk of the Board to provide a Certified Minute Order to HHSA upon approval of the Minutes by the Board.
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