To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): District Attorney
Staff Name and Phone Number: Renate Amantite 565-3150
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Professional Services Agreements for the District Attorney’s Family Justice Center and Victim Services Division Programs
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the District Attorney to execute the Professional Services Agreement with Verity to provide navigation, advocacy, and counseling services to victims of sexual assault for the grant term of October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2022 in the amount of $149,305.00. Grant funds will be used to retroactively pay for services provided from October 1, 2019. This agreement will be funded by United States Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses Grant Program and United States Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime’s Creating New Pathways of Hope and Healing for Polyvictims Program.
B) Authorize the District Attorney to execute the Professional Services Agreement with YWCA to provide case management, advocacy, and referral services to victims of domestic violence for the grant term of October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2022 in the amount of $187,224.00. Grant funds will be used to retroactively pay for services provided from October 1, 2019. This agreement will be funded by United States Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses Grant Program and United States Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime’s Creating New Pathways of Hope and Healing for Polyvictims Program.
C) Authorize the District Attorney to execute the Professional Services Agreement with Verity to provide outreach and referral services to unsheltered victims of sexual assault for the grant term of January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 in the amount of $50,000.00. This agreement will be funded by California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES).
D) Authorize the District Attorney execute the Professional Services Agreement with YWCA to provide outreach and referral services to unsheltered victims of domestic violence for the grant term of January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 in the amount of $50,000.00. This agreement will be funded by California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES).
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has approved the acceptance of three grants by the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office:
1) United States Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses Grant Program (Approval to accept grant funds and budget adjustments authorized by Board of Supervisors on October 22, 2019);
2) United States Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime’s Creating New Pathways of Hope and Healing for Polyvictims Program (Approval to accept grant funds and budget adjustments authorized by Board of Supervisors on October 22, 2019); and
3) California Office of Emergency Services’ Outreach and Services to Homeless Victims of Crime Grant (Approval to accept grant funds and budget adjustments authorized by Board of Supervisors on February 4, 2020).
Each of these grants rely upon partnerships with community-based organizations to achieve the goals set forth in the programs. Contracts with two of these organizations, Verity and YWCA of Sonoma County, exceed an aggregate $100,000 per year and require approval by the Board.
Discussion:
Managed by the District Attorney’s Office, the Family Justice Center is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary, co-located service center in Santa Rosa that provide services to victims of sexual assault/domestic violence, child/elder abuse, dating violence, and stalking in Sonoma County.
The Victim Services Division of the District Attorney’s Office provides crisis intervention; emergency assistance; referral assistance; orientation to the Criminal Justice System; court escort/court support; case status and case disposition information; and claims assistance to victims of crime in Sonoma County.
On October 22, 2019 the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved the acceptance of United States Department of Justice grants by the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office and the Family Justice Center:
1) Office of Violence Against Women’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses Grant Program for $750,000.00 over grant term October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2022; and
2) Office of Victims of Crime’s Creating New pathways of Hope and Healing for Polyvictims Program for $850,000.00 over grant term October 1, 2019 through September 20, 2022.
On February 4, 2020 the Board approved the acceptance of California Office of Emergency Services’ Outreach and Services to Homeless Victims of Crime Grant by the District Attorney Victim Services Division for $260,671.00 over grant term January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
Each of these grants rely upon partnerships with community-based organizations to achieve the goals set forth in the programs supported with the grant funds. Family Justice Center Sonoma County and the District Attorney’s Office contract with Verity and YWCA of Sonoma County for the successful execution of these grant programs.
Verity is a duly qualified sexual assault advocacy organization, experienced in case management, advocacy, and referral services for victims of sexual assault in addition to providing sexual assault trauma counseling. These contracts were sole-sourced as Verity is the only local provider of sexual assault and abuse services, including counseling for survivors, in Sonoma County.
Under the Office of Violence Against Women’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses Grant Program and the Office of Victims of Crime’s Creating New Pathways of Hope and Healing for Polyvictims Program, Verity will provide a full-time English/Spanish bilingual advocate specializing in providing services to victims of sexual assault. The advocate will work in support of the Family Justice Center of Sonoma County, and will work on-site at the Family Justice Center providing ongoing advocacy, navigation, and case management services to victims of sexual assault. The advocate will maintain an in-depth knowledge of the on-site services offered at the FJCSC and provide appropriate referrals to both on and off-site resources, including a program specifically tailored to Veterans, as well as to survivors of human trafficking, and will provide professional development trainings on assisting victims of sexual assault for all partnership staff and volunteers.
Verity will also provide a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (or licensed intern). The Therapist will receive client referrals from FJCSC Navigators and Advocates. Clients shall be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or elder abuse. Clients will receive up to 12 weeks of cognitive behavior therapy.
Under the California Office of Emergency Services’ Outreach and Services to Homeless Victims of Crime Grant, Verity will provide on full-time outreach worker who, in partnership with the Homeless Outreach Team, will provide direct outreach to unsheltered victims of crime focusing on those experiencing disabling mental and physical conditions. The Outreach Worker will assist homeless victims of crime with disabling conditions to obtain housing, health services, and social services; engage individuals in a vulnerability assessment, and link victims to ongoing comprehensive care as well as to prosecution, compensation, and restitution; provide emergency resources and services; identify and address factors that increase the likelihood that homeless individuals who have disabling conditions will become crime victims; foster coordination across the County to sustainably address multiple difficulties of homeless victims of crime with disabling conditions.
The YWCA of Sonoma County supports families affected by domestic violence by providing safe shelter, therapy, advocacy, and on-going support. These contracts were sole-sourced as YWCA of Sonoma County is the only domestic violence advocacy agency in Sonoma County.
Under the Office of Violence Against Women’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses Grant Program and the Office of Victims of Crime’s Creating New Pathways of Hope and Healing for Polyvictims Program, YWCA will coordinate and staff the FJCSC Navigator program with two full-time Family Justice Center Navigators who will work on-site at the FJCSC, providing advocacy, counseling, and ongoing case management services to victims of domestic violence, and will facilitate the development and implementation of client referral and tracking systems. The FJCSC Navigators will provide English-Spanish bilingual screenings, group case management, court accompaniment, and access to shelter and therapy for victims; facilitate or translate domestic violence educational support groups in Spanish to victims of domestic violence; work with FJCSC to offer training for interns and staff working directly with victims of domestic violence; and respond to hotline calls from Santa Rosa Police Department to accompany law enforcement on domestic violence calls and follow up with victims who demonstrate interest in YWCA and FJCSC services.
Under the California Office of Emergency Services’ Outreach and Services to Homeless Victims of Crime Grant, the YWCA will provide one full-time outreach worker who, in partnership with the Homeless Outreach Team, will provide direct outreach to unsheltered victims of crime, focusing on those experiencing disabling mental and physical conditions. The Outreach Worker will assist homeless victims of crime with disabling conditions to obtain housing, health services, and social services; engage individuals in a vulnerability assessment and link victims to ongoing, comprehensive care as well as to prosecution, compensation, and restitution; provide emergency resources and services; identify and address factors that increase the likelihood that homeless individuals who have disabling conditions will become crime victims; foster coordination across the County to sustainably address multiple difficulties of homeless victims of crime with disabling conditions.
These two agencies, in conjunction with other Family Justice Center partners, provide comprehensive services to victims of crime. For calendar year 2020, the aggregate of all Professional Services Agreements between the District Attorney’s Office and Verity amount to $151,363.02, and the aggregate agreements with YWCA total $195,847.31. As a result, these latest Agreements with both agencies require approval by the Board of Supervisors.
Prior Board Actions:
1) Office of Violence Against Women’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses Grant Program; and
2) Office of Victims of Crime’s Creating New pathways of Hope and Healing for Polyvictims Program.
October 22, 2019: Board approved acceptance of United States Department of Justice grants (grant term: October 2019 through September 2022) by the County of Sonoma, Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office and the Family Justice Center.
November 1, 2016: Board approved the acceptance of the 2016-19 Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Victim of Crime “A Pathway to Justice, Healing, and Hope: Addressing Polyvictimization in a Family Justice Center Setting Demonstration Initiative” and Office of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women “Improving Criminal Justice Responses Grant Program.”
3) California Office of Emergency Services’ Outreach and Services to Homeless Victims of Crime Grant.
February 4, 2020: Board approved the acceptance of California Office of Emergency Services’ Outreach and Services to Homeless Victims of Crime Grant (grant term: January 2020 through December 2020) by the District Attorney Victim Services Division.
January 8, 2019: Approved the increase of the Polyvictimization Coordinator from 0.50 FTE to 0.80 FTE.
October 23, 2018: Board approved the extension of the program through December 31, 2019.
November 1, 2016: The Board of Supervisors granted approval to accept the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for the Outreach and Services to Homeless Victims of Crime Grant Program (grant term: July 2016 through June 2018).
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
YWCA Sonoma County |
$71,526.00 |
$87,312.50 |
$62,689.25 |
|
Verity |
$62,721.75 |
$74,750.00 |
$49,822.75 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$134,247.75 |
$162,062.50 |
$112,512.00 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$134,247.75 |
$162,062.50 |
$112,512.00 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$134,247.75 |
$162,062.50 |
$112,512.00 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
While the total amount paid to YWCA and Verity under these two contracts does not exceed $100,000.00 in any one-year period, a previous contract for services also extends funding to both of these organizations. The aggregate of all contracts puts YWCA and Verity over the annual threshold of $100,000.00 for calendar year 2020, therefore requiring Board approval. For calendar year 2020, the Professional Services Agreements between the Family Justice Center/District Attorney’s Office and Verity amount to $151,381, and the agreements with YWCA Sonoma County amount to $195,847.31. All contract costs will be fully reimbursed by the grants, with no General Fund required. Budgetary expenditure appropriations were approved on October 22, 2019 when the Board authorized acceptance of the grant funds for both the Office of Violence Against Women’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses Grant Program for $750,000.00 over grant term October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2022 and the Office of Victims of Crime’s Creating New Pathways of Hope and Healing for Polyvictims Program for $850,000.00 over grant term October 1, 2019 through September 20, 2022.
Budgetary expenditure appropriations were approved on February 4, 2020 when the Board approved the acceptance of California Office of Emergency Services’ Outreach and Service to Homeless Victims of Crime Grant by the District Attorney Victim Services Division for $260,671.00 over grant term January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
No staffing impacts.
Attachments:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
YWCA Professional Services Agreement - OVC/OVW
YWCA Professional Services Agreement - CalOES Homeless
Verity Professional Services Agreement - OVC/OVW
Verity Professional Services Agreement - CalOES Homeless