Title
District Attorney's Office recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Authorize the District Attorney to accept a grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for the Child Abuse Treatment (AT) Program with a total project cost of $321,875 for the period of January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024, based on the received Letter of Intent;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification of Assurance of Compliance;
3) Authorize the District Attorney to execute the Grant Award Agreement required documents, including any extensions of amendments thereof which would not increase net county cost, contingent upon review and approval by County Counsel; and
4) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 153-2023, extending the expiration date of 1.0 FTE Victim/Witness Program Specialist I/II - Limited Term position one year, through December 31, 2024.
FUNDING: CalOES Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds and General Fund for the match portion.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On May 22, 2023, the District Attorney's Office received notification from CalOES that they intend to fund the department for participation in the AT Program in the VOCA federal amount of $257,500 for the period of January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024. This will be the District Attorney’s fourth consecutive award under this grant program. The purpose of the AT Program is to continue providing comprehensive psychotherapy services to children victimized by abuse and/or neglect.
As part of the Request for Application (RFA) process, CalOES requests the signed Grant Subaward Face Sheet and Certification of Assurance of Compliance be included with the submitted application.
The primary focus of this program is to fund a Psychotherapy Clinician through a service contract with Wendy Barillas at HOPE Counseling and 1.0 FTE Victim Witness Program Specialist using the grant award. Additionally, the program will fund a District Attorney Investigator, an Assistant District Attorney, and a Program Manager on a part-time basis to meet the cash match requirement. The match requirement is $64,375. The objective of this project is to enhance existing services for child victims of crime, child abuse, and/or neglect. Psychotherapy services will be provided by qualified clinician(s) who have adequate education and experience working with this population. Furthermore, the program will keep family therapy available for family members of abused/neglected children as part of the child’s treatment. To aid with these services, the Program Specialist will provide specialized direct advocacy services to victims of crime, including case management, criminal justice support, assistance with crime compensation benefits, counseling coordination, and referrals.
A subsequent board item will be brought forward at a later date for the execution of the Psychotherapy Service agreement.
Due to the continuation of this grant program, the associated Limited-Term Victim/Witness Program Specialist position will be extended in correlation with the grant cycle, covering the period of January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024. 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 position.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board opt not to approve the District Attorney to accept the grant award, the County would be ineligible to participate in the program.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
09/27/2022 Legistar Item 22-1643 - The Board approved and authorized the Chair to execute Agreement 5316 Amendment III with HOPE Counseling and accepted the CalOES AT Program in the project award amount of $321,876 for the period of January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023.
12/14/2021 Legistar Item 21-1689 - The Board approved and authorized the Chair to execute Agreement 5316 Amendment II with HOPE Counseling.
06/29/2021 Legistar Item 21-0972 - The Board accepted Federal FY 2021-22 CalOES AT Program in the amount of $321,875 for the period of January 1, 2022- December 31, 2022.
06/22/2021 Legistar Item 21-0945 - The Board approved and authorized the Chair to execute Agreement 5316 Amendment II with HOPE Counseling.
12/15/2020 Legistar Item 20-1523 - The Board approved and authorized the Chair to execute agreement 5316 with HOPE.
11/10/2020 Legistar Item 20-1402 - Board accepted Cal OES AT Program in the amount of $321,875 for the period of January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021.
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. Funding is included in the FY 2023-24 budget. The total project award of $257,500 carries with it a match burden of $64,375. The grant application submitted identified using a portion of facility rental costs, the Assistant District Attorney’s salary/benefit costs, and a portion of the District Attorney Investigator and Program Manager’s salary/benefit costs, using General Fund, to fulfill the match requirement. In the event the combination of these expenses is not sufficient to fulfill the match requirement, the County would be responsible for the difference.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Upon approval, Clerk of the Board to:
1) Obtain the Board Chair's signature on two copies of the Certification of Assurance of Compliance forms and return one certified copy to the Chief Administrative Office, Central Fiscal Unit, Attention: Justene Cline; and
2) Return one certified copy of the personnel resolution to Human Resources.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney