Title
District Attorney recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Approve and authorize the acceptance of a grant award in the amount of $272,667 from the California's Governor's Office of Emergency Services for the Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program for the period of October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors Formula Grant Program as authorized by the Violence Against Women Act;
3) Authorize the District Attorney to execute the Grant Award Agreement and required documents, including any extensions or amendments thereof which would not increase net county cost; and
4) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute Amendment I to Agreement 4458 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships in the not to exceed amount of $114,982 extending the service period covering October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021, to provide one full-time Sexual Assault Counselor to the grant program.
FUNDING: California Governor's Office of Emergency Services: Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) Formula Grant Program as authorized by the Violence Against Women Act.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On August 13, 2020, the District Attorney's Office submitted a response to a request for application to continue into the third year of a grant opportunity for the Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units (ST) Program, administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). The purpose of the Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program is to support and enhance specialized units to provide a coordinated response to adolescent (age 11 and older) and adult victims of sexual assault, through compassionate investigative interviewing, immediate victim advocacy, training for patrol officers/first responders, and the development/updating of effective protocols and practices. On August 26, 2020, the District Attorney's Office received notification via letter of intent indicating we had been selected for continued funding.
The plan for the ST Program is to continue funding 1.0 FTE District Attorney Investigator, 0.10 FTE Program Coordinator and 1.0 FTE Sexual Assault Counselor (SAC) through a participating staff contract with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships. A portion of the District Attorney Investigator and Program Coordinator’s salary/benefits, program vehicle maintenance costs, dedicated Investigator phone line, and a facility lease amount assigned to the project will be used to meet the 25% cash match requirement.
The contract amendment with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships extends the term and service period for the SAC, and increases the total not to exceed amount of the contract to $114,982. The amendment will allow the dedicated Sexual Assault Counselor to continue to work specifically with the ST Investigator through the term of the current grant award period, October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021.
The objective of this project is to dedicate personnel to enhance our ability to effectively provide services to adolescent and adult sexual assault victims and to thoroughly investigate the sexual assault crimes against them. Having a dedicated project team allows the District Attorney's Office to expeditiously conclude cases, reducing victim trauma.
Grant funding gives an organization the funds to develop or enhance a new or existing program for the betterment of the community. These funds are not intended to be permanent and when the funding ends, the expectation is to continue to operate the program within the organization’s budget. Cal OES grant funding typically runs on a three-year grant cycle. The FY 2020-21 grant is anticipated to be the final funding year within the three-year cycle.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to accept the funding, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar 19-1454, October 15, 2019 - Board accepted Federal FY 2019-20 Cal OES Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program (ST) in the amount of $272,667 for the period of October 1, 2019 - September 30, 2020.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost. Funding is included in the FY 2020-21 Budget. The total project award of $272,667 carries with it a match burden of $68,167. The grant proposal submitted identified using a portion of the Program Coordinator and the District Attorney Investigator's salary and benefits, program vehicle maintenance costs, dedicated Investigator phone line, and a facility lease to fulfill the match requirement. In the event the combination of these services is not sufficient to fulfill the match requirement, the County would be responsible for the difference.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to:
1) Obtain the Board Chair's signature on two copies of the Certification of Assurance of Compliance Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) Formula Grant Program forms and return one certified copy to the Chief Administrative Office, Central Fiscal Unit, Attention: Justene Cline; and
2) Obtain the Board Chair’s signature on two copies of Amendment I to Agreement 4458 with The Center for Violence-Free Relationships and return one certified copy to the Chief Administrative Office, Central Fiscal Unit, Attention: Justene Cline.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney