To: The Board of Supervisors Sonoma County
Department or Agency Name(s): Probation Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Lisa Valente, (707) 565-6261
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Program Services for Youth Diversion with Case Management
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Seneca Family of Agencies for program services for the Youth Diversion with Case Management (YDCM) program not to exceed $1,000,000 from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022.
end
Executive Summary:
The Probation Department is requesting the Board approve a Professional Service Agreement with Seneca Family of Agencies (Seneca) for evidence-based youth diversion services, in the amount of $1,000,000 for three (3) years. Seneca will be the service provider and work with Resource Development Associates (RDA - the evaluation partner) on the implementation of the State of California Youth Reinvestment Grant program, administered by the Board of State Community Corrections (BSCC). In Sonoma County this grant project will be titled the “Youth Diversion with Case Management (YDCM) Program”, as described below.
Discussion:
In June 2019, the County was awarded a 44-month Youth Reinvestment Grant (YRG) by the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) to fund the implementation of a countywide juvenile diversion program, the Youth Diversion with Case Management (YDCM) program. The Board of Supervisors authorized the County Administrator to accept the grant on July 23, 2019, as well as approving a Resolution to adjust the Probation Department’s Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget to reflect the revenue and expenditures associated with the award. The award requires a local match commitment of $100,000 toward program evaluation services, to be delivered by Resource Development Associates, as approved by the Board on December 10, 2019.
Low Risk / High Needs Youth
The Sonoma County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council identified diversion services for youth at low risk to reoffend but who experience a high level of needs as a key priority. These low risk / high needs youth may sometimes be pushed into the justice system as a way to access services that may not be otherwise available. Research shows low risk youth are best served outside the juvenile justice system. The program eliminates this service gap and will use an assertive engagement approach to encourage participation.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
In Sonoma County, males and youth of color are disproportionately represented in the population of low risk youth referred to probation, mirroring national juvenile justice trends. The hope is that the YDCM program evaluation will help guide the department’s approach to address these racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system.
Description of Program Services for YDCM
Case Management Services: Seneca will deliver case management services utilizing the principles of the Wraparound model to diverted youth and their families referred by Probation during the contracted period.
Seneca will deliver individualized and adaptive case management services tailored to the unique needs of each youth and family. Case management services will be provided by all members of the treatment team and include coordination of services as well as linkage to community resources and providers that meet identified youth and family needs. Seneca’s case management services will target: associating with antisocial peers, at risk of gang involvement, issues with school or employment, family instability or dysfunctionality, substance abuse concerns, at risk of commercial sexual exploitation, mental health or trauma concerns, or other concerns or issues as they arise.
Seneca staff will assess all clients’ needs, strengths, risks, and protective factors in order to identity areas in need of intervention and linkage to outside support, as well as areas of strength to continue to emphasize and build upon. Seneca will leverage their existing relationships with schools throughout Sonoma County to provide services at school sites and connect youth and families with supportive school staff members.
Additionally, Seneca staff will utilize existing collaboration agreements with local Sonoma County providers to ensure efficient linkage to resources such as Alternative Family Services, Child Parent Institute, CSEC Advocate, Elizabeth Quiroz, Latino Service Providers, Mentor Me, Next Step Substance Abuse Outpatient Services, VOICES Youth Centers, and Santa Rosa City Violence Prevention.
Program Goals:
• Improve outcomes for participants and their families, including: increased natural supports, improved family functioning, improved school or employment outcomes, and increased access to quality mental health or substance abuse treatment;
• Reduce the overall number of youth in Sonoma County at low risk to reoffend for formal involvement in the juvenile justice system, with a focus on low-risk youth of color;
• Increase capacity in Sonoma County to address the needs of youth who have committed low-level crimes and are at risk to reoffend, but demonstrate a high level of social, behavioral, or mental health needs.
Target Population
Youth referred to the juvenile justice system with a citation or arrest who meet the following criteria:
• Youth identified as low risk to reoffend based on the Positive Achievement Change Tool (Pact) pre-screen;
• Youth who have one or more needs that can be addressed with case management services (high level of need):
o Associating with antisocial peers,
o At risk of gang involvement,
o Issues with school or employment,
o Family instability or dysfunctional,
o Substance abuse concerns,
o At risk of commercial sexual exploitation, and/or
o Mental health or trauma concerns.
• Youth is not disqualified from participation in the program for another reason (i.e. no open slot sin YDCM, youth better served by another diversion service, youth better served by formal court process, or family addressing needs privately and there is no need for additional services).
Beginning January 2020, YDCM will serve approximately 20 youth and their families annually with each case lasting 3-6 months. Youth will be referred to YDCM by Probation and will not be supervised by Probation during their participation in YDCM or have any formal court involvement.
Program services will be delivered exclusively by Seneca who was selected through an RFP process. The YDCM program evaluation contract preceded the YDCM services contract in order to develop the initial evaluation plan concurrently and assist with program development.
Seneca will collaborate with project partners and perform case management services recapped as:
Collaboration: Seneca will actively collaborate with Probation’s Planning, Implementation & Evaluation (PIE) team, the program evaluator, and any additional partners through each phase of development, implementation, and evaluation. Seneca understands that partnership and collaboration with all project partners is essential to meeting the needs of youth and families. Collaboration will include:
• The participation of Seneca staff in the collaborative development program development process before program services commence. During this time, Seneca will work with project partners to refine the program model and plan for data collection and evaluation activities.
• The participation of Seneca staff in regular meetings with Probation and other project partners as identified during the program development process to support data collection, quality assurance, and fidelity to program model.
• The utilization of Seneca’s system of tracking client and program data in accordance with state and federal confidentiality and privacy guidelines to partner with Sonoma County Probation and its evaluators in streamlining program implementation and evaluation and ensuring service provision is equitable.
Request for Proposals
The RFP described the YDCM program background, expected program services and desired goals/objectives/outcomes. Proposers were asked to clearly articulate their ability to:
o Collaborate with Project Partners, including
§ Program development activities
§ Regular meetings
o Perform Case Management Services, including
§ Outreach and Engagement
§ Initial Plan Development
§ Implementation
§ Transition
o Support Program Evaluation and Conduct Quality Assurance Activities
o Submit a budget with cost details
Proposals were submitted by six organizations which were rated by a committee of representatives from the City of Santa Rosa and the Probation Department. Clear criteria were used in rating/scoring proposals, including organizational information, qualifications and experience, program services and strategies, and cost of service.
The two highest scored proposals were from Seneca Family of Agencies and LifeWorks of Sonoma County. After these agencies were interviewed on October 22, 2019, Seneca was selected based on their:
• extensive depth and breadth working with youth at risk of offending and entering into the juvenile justice system
• previous experience in program development
• proven understanding of the Wraparound model and principles for providing services maintaining program fidelity
• ability to address issues of cultural competency and equity
Based on the above process, the Probation Department recommends awarding the youth diversion with case management services contract to Seneca Family of Agencies. The bid submitted by Seneca and resulting professional services agreement utilize Results-Based Accountability. This approach is evident in the Scope of Work and quality assurance expectations. The YDCM program is an Upstream Investment in the communities Probation serves.
Prior Board Actions:
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 fiscal year 19-20 budget, fund Youth Reinvestment Grant services.
December 10, 2019: Entered into an agreement with Resource Development Associates for program evaluation of the Youth Diversion with Case Management Program.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$166,667 |
$333,333 |
$333,333 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$166,667 |
$333,333 |
$333,333 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
166,667 |
333,333 |
333,333 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$166,667 |
$333,333 |
$333,333 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
YDCM Services
The County budgeted $1,000,000 for program services to be delivered by Consultant from January 2020 through December 2022. The Board of State and Community Corrections’ Youth Reinvestment Grant will fund $1,000,000 for YDCM services.
Year 1 (01/01/20-06/30/20) $166,667
Year 2 (07/01/20-06/30/21) $333,333
Year 3 (07/01/21-06/30/22) $333,333
Year 4 (07/01/22-12/31/22) $166,667
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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):
None.
Attachments:
1920 YDCM Services Seneca PSA, Exhibits A-F
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.