To: Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County
Department or Agency Name(s): Probation
Staff Name and Phone Number: Vanessa Fuchs, (707) 565-6258
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Program Services for Youth Diversion with Case Management
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to execute an amendment extending the term of a professional services agreement with the Seneca Family of Agencies for operating the “Youth Diversion with Case Management” program by one year from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2023, with no change to the not-to-exceed amount of $1,000,000.
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Executive Summary:
The Probation Department requests Board approval to extend the term of a professional services agreement with the Seneca Family of Agencies for evidence-based youth diversion services by one year to December 31, 2023. An existing grant award from the Board of State and Community Corrections will continue funding services through February 2023, with Juvenile Probation Fund Realignment funding services thereafter through June 30, 2023. This request will not change the contract’s original not-to-exceed amount of $1,000,000.
Discussion:
Program History and Recent Developments
In June 2019, Sonoma County was awarded a 44-month Youth Reinvestment Grant by the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) to fund the implementation of a countywide juvenile diversion program known as the “Youth Diversion with Case Management” program. The Board of Supervisors authorized grant acceptance on July 23, 2019. The grant also funds an external evaluator that is studying the program and will produce a final evaluation report in 2023.
In August 2019, Probation issued a request for proposals. Six organizations submitted proposals, and the evaluation panel chose the Seneca Family of Agencies (Seneca) to provide services.
Shortly thereafter, as services were to begin, the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, which caused a dramatic decrease in arrests and citations of Sonoma County youth. As a result, service levels and grant expenditures have underperformed expectations. Recently, however, the need for diversion services has increased, and the program is now operating at full capacity of approximately 20 youth per year, with each youth in the program for three to six months.
In addition to serving a full caseload of youth, the additional time requested will allow our external evaluator to produce a final evaluation report, which may inform the necessity of continuing these program services. The evaluation will coincide with the development of the FY 2023-24 budget development process. This program will be prioritized within the Department’s funding capacity. Ongoing services will be procured through a Request for Proposals (RFP) in early 2023.
Total projected contract costs for Seneca through the extended term to December 31, 2023, are $1,000,000. This extended term will enable the Department to avoid any service interruption as the plan to sustain, or wind down services is being developed in early 2023.
Description of Program Services
Seneca delivers wraparound case management services to Probation-referred youth who have been diverted from the criminal justice system and their families. Services especially target risks related to unhealthy peer associations, gang involvement, issues with school or employment, family instability or dysfunctionality, sexual exploitation, and substance abuse and mental health concerns. The program aims to improve family functioning, improve school and employment success, and reduce youth involvement in the juvenile justice system. Services are intended for youth referred to the juvenile justice system with a citation or arrest and whose needs can be addressed with case management services.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
December 17, 2019: Authorized an agreement with Seneca Family of Agencies the Youth Diversion with Case Management program.
December 10, 2019: Entered into an agreement with Resource Development Associates for program evaluation of the Youth Diversion with Case Management program.
July 23, 2019: Authorized the County Administrator to sign a grant agreement with the Board of State and Community Corrections, and adopted a resolution adjusting the FY 19-20 budget for Youth Reinvestment Grant services.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$333,333 |
$166,667 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$333,333 |
$166,667 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$333,333 |
$166,667 |
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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 |
$333,333 |
$166,667 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The full-year costs of $333,333 are included in the adopted budget, with the BSCC grant funding services through February 28, 2023, and Juvenile Probation Fund Realignment funding services thereafter through June 30, 2023. An extension will not increase anticipated costs. Estimated FY 23-24 costs above are representative of the full contract capacity and are not necessarily indicative of future budget commitments by the Department. This program will be prioritized along with other juvenile services in the budget development process and potentially included as part of the FY 23-24 Recommended Budget for review and adoption by the Board.
The Youth Reinvestment Grant will reimburse an estimated $700,000 in program costs for the grant period up to its termination date of February 23, 2023, underutilizing the allowable $1,000,000 originally budgeted for this program. Due to a late program start and the COVID-19 pandemic, not all grant funds will be utilized. However, the services are a priority need and the contract not to exceed value is $1,000,000. The balance of program costs for the extended period from March 2023 through December 2023 are outside the grant termination date but within the contract not to exceed value, and are projected to be no more than $300,000 reimbursed by Probation’s Juvenile Probation Fund Realignment allocation.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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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):
NA
Attachments:
Seneca Youth Diversion with Case Management Amendment
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Seneca Family of Agencies Professional Services Agreement for YDCM
Youth Reinvestment Grant Agreement