To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): District Attorney
Staff Name and Phone Number: Shane Lewis, 565-3150
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
District Attorney Family Justice Center Program CalOES Grant Award
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution authorizing the District Attorney or their designee to execute a contract with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to accept $300,000 in grant funding for the Family Justice Center Program for the period April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2026.
B) Adopt a Resolution amending the Department Allocation List for the District Attorney’s Office to add a 1.0 FTE time-limited Victim Witness Advocate II, through May 31, 2026, effective July 23, 2024.
C) Adopt a Resolution to make budget adjustments necessary to appropriate grant funding for FY 2024-25 of $13,309 (4/5th Vote Required).
end
Executive Summary:
On April 15, 2024, the District Attorney’s Office was notified its project was selected to receive funding for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Family Justice Center Program. Board approval and authorization is requested to allow the District Attorney to accept the grant award of $300,000 for FY2023-24, FY2024-25, and FY2025-26.
The CalOES Family Justice Center Program provides much needed funding to continue to provide services to victims of sexual assault/domestic violence, child/elder abuse, dating violence, and stalking in Sonoma County.
Discussion:
The purpose of the State Family Justice Center Program is to support full operational multiagency, multidisciplinary Family Justice Centers with funding through 2023-2024 State General Funds.
The Family Justice Center Sonoma County (FJCSC) was developed by a broad coalition of community members, victim advocates, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors to respond to the serious incidences of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, dating violence, and stalking in Sonoma County, collectively referred to as family and community violence.
Managed by the District Attorney’s Office, the FJCSC is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary, co-located service center in Santa Rosa. In partnership with the founding agencies, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, Council on Aging, Legal Aid, Verity, and the YWCA of Sonoma County, the FJCSC opened in 2011. The FJCSC is built on a foundation of partnerships and collaborations to provide trauma-informed and victim-centered services and support to FJCSC clients.
The funds will provide salary and benefits for a 1.0 FTE time-limited Victim Witness Advocate II (Navigator) for 21 months and will fund an extra-help Victim Witness Navigator for the last three months (April, May, June) of 2023-24. Annual salary and benefits for this position is estimated at $153,309 based on budget projections. Total cost for the 1.0 FTE extra-help Victim Witness Advocate is estimated at $21,707 for the first quarter of the grant. Grant funds will cover the entire estimated salary and benefits costs for the term of the grant of $290,000. Extending the position beyond the grant term will allow for continuity in the program in the event that grant renewal notification is delayed as it has been in the past. In the event the grant is not renewed, costs for the position will be paid with salary savings or with FJC Foundation funds.
Additionally, grant funds will provide $10,000 for a California Family Justice Center Network (CFJN) membership, a statewide network that works to support the provisions and intent of California Penal Code section 13750 which defines Family Justice Centers. The CFJN provides statewide coordination of victim services and training, promotes best practices, and assists with research and outcome evaluations.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
April 19, 2022: Board approved the acceptance of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ Family Justice Center Program for the grant term April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2024.
March 19, 2019: Board approved the acceptance of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ Family Justice Center Program for the grant term January 2019 through December 2020.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY 25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$21,707 |
$150,000 |
$114,984 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
$13,309 |
$0 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$21,707 |
$163,309 |
$114,984 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$21,707 |
$163,309 |
$114,984 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$21,707 |
$163,309 |
$114,984 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The Program is two years from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026. The funding is split between FY 2023-24 (Q4), FY 2024-25, and FY 2025-26 (Q1, Q2, and Q3). No local match is required. Expenditures during Q4 of FY 2023-24 will be for the Extra Help Victim Witness Advocate (Navigator). Remaining funds will be expended during the following two fiscal years for the California Family Justice Center Network membership and the full-time time-limited Victim Witness Advocate (Navigator). $150,000 of FJ grant funds were included in the FY 2024-25 adopted budget and a budget resolution is attached to allocate the remainder of grant funds to be expended in FY2024-25.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Victim Witness Advocate II - Time-Limited |
$6512.81 - $7915.40 |
1.0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
The addition of the 1.0 FTE time-limited Victim Witness Advocate II (Navigator) is central to the delivery of all services at the Family Justice Center and serves the vital purpose of being the single point of contact between the victim and many off-site partners working with the client. The Navigator works with each individual or family to complete a comprehensive needs and risk assessment while creating safety plans and providing warm hand-offs to FJCSC partners. The District Attorney’s Office will work with Human Resources to conduct a recruitment to fill the position.
Attachments:
Resolution A - Grant Acceptance
Resolution B - Position Allocation
Resolution C - Budget Adjustment
Grant Award Document
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A