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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Make findings that the provision of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) services provided by Subrecipient are in the public's best interest and that there are specialty skills, qualifications, and equipment not expressly identified in County classifications involved in the performance of the work in accordance with El Dorado County Ordinance Code, Chapter 3.13.030(B);
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Funding Out Agreement 8084 with CASA El Dorado for the provision of CASA services, in the amount of $161,022, with the required grant match of $40,256 to be met by CASA El Dorado, as the subrecipient of this grant through in-kind volunteer hours, for the retroactive term beginning January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, with the Agreement’s term matching HHSA’s awarded County Victim Services (XC) Program grant’s term; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or HHSA Chief Assistant Director, to execute further documents relating to this Funding Out Agreement, including amendments which do not increase the funding amount or term of the Agreement, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval.
FUNDING: 100% County Victim Services federal funds, administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), totaling $161,022. This funding includes a required match in the amount of $40,256, to be provided by CASA El Dorado through in-kind volunteer hours.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On October 17, 2023, the County Board of Supervisors (Board) delegated authority to the HHSA Director to apply for and accept the 2023/24 XC Program grant administered by Cal OES, in the amount of $161,022, for the term of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 (File ID: 23-1605). As stated in that Agenda item, the required grant match of $40,256 would be met by CASA El Dorado, as the subrecipient of this grant, through in-kind volunteer hours.
Since the inception of the XC Program in 2016, CASA El Dorado has received this subaward grant funding from HHSA Child Welfare Services to provide Court Appointed Special Advocates for victims of child abuse and neglect within the County. CASA El Dorado utilizes this grant funding to serve children/youth involved in the foster care system through the provision of a specially trained advocate to support these individuals throughout the duration of their open case in the child welfare system.
On October 30, 2023, HHSA submitted the 2023/24 XC grant application to Cal OES, outlining the County’s plan to subaward the grant in its entirety (if awarded) to CASA El Dorado. Subsequently, on January 8, 2024, HHSA received the Cal OES notification of the XC Program grant award, for the term of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.
As HHSA was notified of the Grant Agreement by Cal OES retroactively, although the Board had provided prior authorization to the HHSA Director to execute this Funding Out Agreement with CASA El Dorado, since that agenda item did not call out the retroactive start date of said agreement, HHSA is bringing this retroactive funding out agreement before the Board at the earliest opportunity available. HHSA is recommending the Board approve Funding Out Agreement 8084 with CASA El Dorado for the retroactive term beginning January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, to align these dates with the term and performance period of the County's awarded XC Program grant.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, HHSA would award this Funding Out Agreement to CASA El Dorado, with the start term as effective upon execution, but doing so would leave the already performed CASA El Dorado services unfunded from January 1, 2024, through the effective date of this Agreement. Further, if this recommendation is not approved, the County would not meet the Cal OES required performance starting period of the XC Program grant.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 12/19/17, 16-0232, HHSA, Cal OES Grant Extension and Amendment
2) 12/19/17, 16-0992, Amendment to HHSA Agmt with CASA El Dorado for Cal OES Grant Program
3) 10/08/19, 19-1439, HHSA Grant Application County Victim
4) 09/22/20, 20-1164, HHSA County Victim Services Grant Application
5) 08/24/21, 21-1185, 2021/22 County XC Program Grant Agreement
6) 09/13/22, 22-1478, HHSA County Victim Services Program Grant Application
7) 10/17/23, 23-1605, HHSA Victim Services Program Grant Application
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel, Human Resources, and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Since the inception of the XC Program in 2016, all required matching funds have been met by CASA El Dorado without failure. This model will be continued for the new grant cycle. However, should CASA El Dorado fail to report $40,256 in match as required in the resulting subaward Agreement, the County would be responsible for any unmet match, using County General Fund, consistent with the requirements of the Grant Program.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on one (1) original Agreement for Services 8084; and
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed Agreement to HHSA Contracts hhsa-contracts@edcgov.us.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency