To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Human Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Angela Struckmann, 707-565-5800; Paul Dunaway, 707-565-5900
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Grant Funding from the State of California Department of Veterans Affairs
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Director of the Human Services Department to accept revenue and execute an agreement in the amount of $270,000 with the State of California, Department of Veterans Affairs, to provide behavioral health outreach and benefits counseling to vulnerable veterans and their dependents for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
end
Executive Summary:
The Human Services Department applied for the Behavioral Health Services Act grant funding through the State of California Department of Veterans Affairs, Mental Health Services Act, and was awarded $270,000. The funding period is from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, and will provide mental health outreach and benefits counseling to vulnerable veterans and their dependents, with an emphasis on those associated with the Santa Rosa Junior College.
Discussion:
The Human Services Department (HSD) applied for the Behavioral Health Services Act grant funding through the State of California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), Mental Health Services Act, and was awarded $270,000. The funding period is from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, and will provide mental health outreach and benefits counseling to vulnerable veterans and their dependents, with an emphasis on those associated with the Santa Rosa Junior College.
As the lead agency, the HSD Adult and Aging Services Division Veterans Services Office (VSO), will subcontract with the Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) to continue the SRJC Veterans Collaboration. The purpose of this program is to reduce the number of veterans experiencing mental health crises and to reduce or eliminate barriers caused by mental health issues for veterans within the community.
This project entails collaboration between several community providers including Legal Aid of Sonoma County, Nation’s Finest, SRJC, and the VSO. These providers will work together to provide wraparound services to veterans attending SRJC, as well as at-risk veterans living countywide. Through this effort, eligible veterans will have access to legal assistance, housing assistance, case management, mental health screening and counseling, transportation, and benefits screening and enrollment. Together, these coordinated services will continue to enhance the lives of veterans residing in Sonoma County and will reduce the number of veterans suffering from mental health issues who cannot or are reluctant to access care.
SRJC will spearhead this effort through a dedicated peer specialist who will coordinate all project activities across the various providers and will be located on SRJC’s main campus in Santa Rosa. The specialist will refer individual veterans to the appropriate providers, including services both on and off campus.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
June 13, 2022 - Authorized the HSD director to execute a grant agreement in the amount of $280,000 with the CalVet, Mental Health Services Act, and to execute an agreement with Santa Rosa Junior College to implement a collaborative program for wraparound services for veterans.
July 14, 2020 - Authorized the HSD director to execute a grant agreement in the amount of $283,280 with the CalVet, Mental Health Services Act, and to execute an agreement with Santa Rosa Junior College to implement a collaborative program for wraparound services for veterans.
June 11, 2019 - Authorized the HSD director to execute two separate grant agreements each in the amount of $49,000 with the CalVet for a period of July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. The agreements were for the Forgotten Warrior Project and for Sonoma County VSO Veteran Peer Specialist program.
July 12, 2016 - Approved a grant from the CalVet, Mental Health Services Act, for a period from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017.
September 22, 2015 - Authorized the HSD director to execute a grant agreement for $20,000 with the CalVet, for the period from October 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016.
October 7, 2014 - Approved the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 CalVet Standard Agreement in the amount of $25,000 for the Sonoma County VSO from November 1, 2014, through September 9, 2015.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$135,000 |
$135,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
$135,000 |
$135,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
$135,000 |
$135,000 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
|
$135,000 |
$135,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The new funding ($270,000) will begin on July 1, 2026. HSD is not requesting to add appropriations. The Fiscal Year 2026-27 revenue was included in HSD’s recommended budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - CalVet Agreement
Attachment 2 - Award Letter
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None