To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Human Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Donna Broadbent 565-4343; Regina de Melo 565-4346
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Victims of Crime Act, Child Advocacy Center Program Grant Funding
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of the Human Services Department to accept Victims of Crime Act grant funding from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, in the amount of $200,000 for Subaward # KC22 01 0490 for the grant period of April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024; and to execute the Grant Subaward on behalf of the County of Sonoma, including any extensions or amendments.
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Executive Summary:
The purpose of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Child Advocacy Center Program (KC) grant is to fund affiliate, developing, and accredited Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) in California to provide services to child abuse victims, with a goal of reducing trauma to children and their families by using a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach. The non-competitive VOCA KC grant will fund ongoing therapeutic services for child victims of abuse and their families at the Redwood Children’s Center (RCC), operated by the Human Services Department’s (HSD) Family, Youth & Children’s Division (FY&C). The funding will provide continuing professional development for the MDT, as well as provide advocacy, supportive and resource services for child victims of sexual assault.
Discussion:
Sonoma County serves approximately 450 foster youth each year and FY&C, in conjunction with community partners, provides many supportive services for those children and families. The RCC, located at the Family Justice Center, works closely with partner agencies to support children victims of abuse and their families, and is the only accredited CAC in Sonoma County. RCC serves as the coordination hub for investigation and intervention services for child victims of sexual and physical abuse. RCC coordinates services including MDT meetings and case management for children who are victims of sexual exploitation by providing forensic interviews, supportive services, therapy referrals, medical exams, victim advocacy, and case management for those children and families.
Since its inception in 1994, RCC has worked alongside law enforcement, the Department of Health Services, and child welfare social workers, providing over 7,612 forensic investigative interviews and over 1,476 forensic sexual assault medical exams to children in our community. On average, per year, RCC staff conduct 275 forensic interviews in a safe, child-focused environment in which a child tells their story once to a trained forensic interviewer who knows how to ask questions in a way that does not re-traumatize the child.
RCC also leads the County’s Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) program, created through Senate Bill 855. The CSEC program uses an interagency and MDT approach to provide collaborative prevention, intervention activities and services for youth who are at risk or are victims of CSEC activities. Youth involved with RCC are screened and assessed for CSEC activity and support is coordinated as part of the MDT response within the Family Justice Center.
After the RCC interview, the MDT develops a plan about how to best support the child and family. The MDT includes medical professionals, law enforcement, mental health practitioners, the District Attorney’s office, social workers, victim advocates, and other professionals. As the coordination hub for investigation and intervention services for child victims, RCC has utilized Cal OES funding since 2018 to improve and increase services for victims in a child-focused and trauma-informed setting. These services include mental health treatment, victim support and advocacy, and a multidisciplinary response. RCC provides children with therapy referrals for treatment in trauma-informed and evidence-based modalities, medical exams, victim advocacy, and case management for child victims of abuse. Therapy partners include Verity, LifeWorks of Sonoma County, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), and other therapists working in the community. Verity provides victim advocacy to children interviewed by RCC as well as trauma resources. RCC also supports children and families through coordination with the Family Justice Center which houses legal aid, victim’s witness services, immigration services, and access to safe houses.
While these ongoing services support victims, the needs of victims have progressively become more complex, requiring increased coordination of services and an expansion of mental health services. The VOCA KC grant will fill this gap by supporting training in evidence-informed modalities for RCC staff.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
July 12, 2022: Adopted a resolution authorizing 2023 Cal OES Child Advocacy Center Program Grant Funding
June 8, 2021: Adopted a resolution authorizing 2022 Cal OES Child Advocacy Center Program Grant Funding
July 14, 2020: Adopted a resolution authorizing 2021 Cal OES Child Advocacy Center Program Grant Funding
July 10, 2018: Approved new positions and funding from Cal OES for training and enhancements at RCC.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 23-24 Adopted |
FY 24-25 Projected |
FY 25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$150,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$150,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$150,000 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$150,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Human Services received a $200,000 grant from Cal OES to administer the VOCA KC grant. Funding of $50,000 was included with the Human Services FY22/23 budget and $150,000 is included in HSD’s FY23/24 adopted budget. No county general fund local match is needed for this grant.
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Staffing Impacts: N/A |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1) Resolution
2) Notification of Sub Award
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None