To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): District Attorney
Staff Name and Phone Number: Carla Rodriguez, 565-2311; Shane Lewis 565-3150
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Extension of Grant-funded Time-Limited Position in the District Attorney’s Office
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a position Resolution extending the 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) time-limited Victim Witness Advocate II position through June 30, 2027 to support continuation of Family Justice Center (FJC) Navigator services.
end
Executive Summary:
The District Attorney is requesting to extend a time-limited position at the Family Justice Center through June 30, 2027. This position has been funded by a combination of Family Justice Center fund balance and a grant through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). The position is currently approved through December 31, 2026.
The Improving Criminal Justice Response Grant (ICJR) Program is a three-year program, with an approved no-cost extension until December 30, 2026. We have applied for multiple grants to fund the Victim Witness Advocate II - FJC Navigator position, including a competitive continuation of the Improving Criminal Justice Response Grant, as well as the Office for Victims of Crime - Services for Victims of Crime. Both of these grants are three-year programs that have not yet released award decisions. The extension is requested to provide for continuity of services while grant award decisions are pending. In the event this funding does not materialize, the Family Justice Center Foundation will provide funding for the remaining balance through June 30, 2027.
Discussion:
The Victim Witness II - Family Justice Center Navigator provides a role that is central to the delivery and coordination of legal services at the Family Justice Center Sonoma County (FJCSC). The Navigator serves as the single, trusted point of contact for victims navigating complex and often overwhelming systems. By functioning as the liaison between survivors and the Center’s multidisciplinary on- and off-site partners, the Navigator reduces system fragmentation, increases follow-through, and ensures survivors receive timely and trauma-informed support.
The position was added on December 5, 2023, and currently expires on December 31, 2026. Existing Improving Criminal Justice Response (ICJR) grant funds will provide funding for 0.5 FTE for the time-limited Victim Witness Advocate II through December 30, 2026, and the FJC Fund Balance will cover the remaining 0.5 FTE through December 31, 2026. If the ICJR or Office for Victims of Crime grants are not awarded to the FJC, the Family Justice Center Foundation will cover the remaining 1.0 FTE amount through June 30, 2027.
At this time, The District Attorney’s Office is requesting to extend the time-limited position through June 30, 2027, to ensure continuity for this critical program. If an additional grant award is received, it will be brought before the Board for permission to accept the award and extend the position for the full grant term through September 30, 2029.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
December 10, 2024: Board approved Resolution Number 24-0512 to add 0.5 FTE to an existing 0.5 FTE time-limited Victim Witness Advocate II to 1.0 FTE through December 31, 2026.
December 5, 2023: Board approved Resolution Number 23-0569 - Creation of 0.5 FTE Victim Witness Advocate II from October 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026 through the acceptance of the Office on Violence Against Women: Improving Criminal Justice Program grant award.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$169,982 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$169,982 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$45,123 |
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$84,737 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
$40,122 |
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$169,982 |
$0 |
$0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The District Attorney’s Office will utilize the Family Justice Center fund balance (Fund 11131, Department ID 18010600) to cover 0.5 FTE of the salary and benefits of the Victim Witness II and the OVW Improving Criminal Justice Response grant program will cover 0.5 FTE until December 30, 2026. In the event that the other grant funds are not awarded, the FJC Foundation Board will cover the 1.0 FTE salary and benefits of the Victim Witness II from January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2027. This proposed use of fund balance is permissible. If any of the applied grants are awarded, salary and benefit expenditures from January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2027 will be billed to the grant and the costs paid with FJC Foundation funds will be reimbursed.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Victim Witness Advocate II |
$6,976 - $8,480 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Due to the high demand of FJC Navigation services, staffed by the Victim Witness Advocate II, it is essential to maintain this position. We continue to seek out additional funding to extend this position on a more permanent basis.
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A