To: Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County
Department or Agency Name(s): Probation Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Vanessa Fuchs, 707-565-2732
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Secure Youth Treatment Facility Less Restrictive Program
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to execute a grant agreement with the California Health and Human Services Agency, Office of Youth and Community Restoration for the term of January 15, 2024, to January 31, 2026, and a maximum amount of $1,400,000.
B) Adopt a Budget Resolution adjusting the fiscal year 23-24 adopted budget, increasing revenue appropriations by $1,400,000 and expenditure appropriations by $700,000. (4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
In September 2023, the California Health and Human Services Agency, Office of Youth and Community Restoration opened a competitive grant opportunity for county probation departments and community partners to demonstrate innovative approaches to assist incarcerated youth transition quickly to less restrictive programs. The Sonoma County Probation Department applied for and won a $1.4 million grant. This Board item requests approval to A) execute a grant agreement with the Office of Youth and Community Restoration, and B) adjust FY 23-24 budgeted revenue and expenditure appropriations accordingly.
Discussion:
Senate Bill 823 (Division of Juvenile Justice Realignment) was signed into law in 2020. This law directed the phased closure of state run youth detention facilities, with a commitment of annual funding to counties to serve impacted youth who would have historically been committed to state facilities for serious or violent felonies.
Subsequent to SB 823, SB 92 was signed into law in 2021, which designated Secure Youth Treatment Facilities (SYTF) as a new, local dispositional option for youth who are adjudicated for offenses that would have resulted in a commitment to state facilities. The SYTF in Sonoma County is operated within the County’s existing Juvenile Hall.
SB 823 also established the Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) within the California Health and Human Services Agency. The role of OYCR is to guide the transition from state-run youth incarceration to county care by identifying and sharing best practices to inform rehabilitative youth support and offering technical assistance to advise on improving outcomes for youth in the justice system.
Senate Bill 92 also gave courts the ability to commit youth to less restrictive programs (LRPs) to facilitate safe and successful reintegration of youth into the community. LRPs can be transitional houses, camps or ranches, or community residential or nonresidential programs, including home-based or educational-based placements. Youth are placed in LRPs as part of their confinement time. OYCR recommends that because of the negative consequences of long-term incarceration, youth should be transitioned as swiftly as consistent with public safety to non-carceral settings that include employment, behavioral health, and culturally relevant services.
To this end, OYCR is providing two-year grants to county probation departments to demonstrate new LRP approaches. Under the program, Probation departments recommend youth for the program, which the courts may approve or deny.
OYCR funds must be used to support partnerships with community-based service providers that will help incarcerated youth transition to less restrictive settings. Funds may also be used for community-based housing placement and case management, community-based career development and education supports, accessing community education resources, income supports to the youth living in community and at home, linkage with workforce development partnerships in the community, and an external evaluator to assess program results. No grant funds will be used for department personnel. The department will use or expand existing contracts with current service providers and open requests for proposals for any new providers. The department will submit any contract expansions or newly selected providers for Board approval under a separate item.
In November 2023, the Sonoma County Probation Department (Probation) applied for grant funding. Under the proposal, Probation will build individualized yet structured institutional rehabilitative plans, providing youth clear benchmarks to qualify for release to an LRP. The program will focus on preparing youth to live independently and pro-socially in the community by providing services that progressively transition them toward that goal. To this end, a team of juvenile hall staff will regularly review progress with participating youth. Probation will also provide participants opportunities to accept responsibility for their criminal behavior, typically through restorative practices. Following completion of all requirements and court approval, youth will then transition to a less restrictive program. Upon successful completion, they will then transition to community supervision.
In December 2023, OYCR informed Probation that it intended to award the department $1.4 million to operate the proposed program. Approval of this Board item will allow Probation to enter into an agreement with OYCR, adjust FY 23-24 revenues and expenditures accordingly, and begin enrolling youth in this innovative program.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
July 20, 2021: The Board approved Probation’s SB 823 SYTF Grant.
May 5, 2021: The Board approved the Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant Annual Plan.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
0 |
$500,000 |
$200,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$700,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$700,000 |
$500,000 |
$200,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$1,400,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$1,400,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
State grant funds will cover all program costs; there is no general fund impact and no local match is required. Per the agreement, OYCR will send $700,000 to Probation in January 2024 for the Year 1 advanced payment and another $700,000 in June 2024 for the Year 2 advanced payment. The Year 2 advanced payment received in Year 1 will accrue to fund balance in the Probation’s Special Revenue Fund 27017400. Needed fiscal appropriations will be included in the FY 24-25 recommended budget.
Probation expects to expend funds throughout the grant period, which ends on January 31, 2026.
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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:
LRP Agreement Sonoma (2023-352-OYCR)
Budget Resolution for Secure Youth Treatment Facility Less Restrictive Program
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
NA