DATE: January 12, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Elizabeth Diaz, Public Defender
SUBJECT: Agreement with Cal State University San Marcos for Clinical and Field Experience for Students
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Cal State University San Marcos, for clinical and field experience for its students, effective upon execution, not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions ($0).
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended action will allow speech-language pathology students enrolled at Cal State University San Marcos (CSUSM) to participate in clinical and field training experience with the Public Defender’s Office, with no Net County Cost. Participation will be completed without monetary compensation. The recommended agreement is mutually beneficial, as CSUSM’s students will obtain valuable training experience, and the County will benefit from the speech-language pathology services provided by the students; additionally, some of the trained students may return to the County later as employees. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the County will not benefit from the opportunity of engaging with, training, and obtaining evaluation assistance regarding cognitive-communication disorders from potential future speech-language pathology professionals.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no monetary compensation under the recommended agreement, and there is no associated increase in Net County Cost.
DISCUSSION:
The County has agreements with a variety of higher education schools to provide field experience for student interns in the Public Defender’s Office.
The recommended agreement will utilize students of CSUSM, which is a regionally accredited university. In order to fulfill CSUSM’s curriculum requirements, students are required to complete field placement obligations. The recommended agreement provides an opportunity for clinical speech-language pathology students to complete this requirement within the Public Defender’s Office, evaluating clients for cognitive-communication disorders. Supervision will be provided jointly by CSUSM and the Department, and training will be provided by CSUSM. Student clinical and field experience enhances services for County clients, and strengthens recruitment efforts for positions that are traditionally difficult to fill.
There is no cost associated with the recommended action. Upon approval by your Board, the recommended agreement will be effective upon execution through January 11, 2024, and may be extended for two additional 12-month periods, upon the written approval of both parties, no later than 30 days prior to the first day of the next 12-month extension period. Either party may terminate the recommended agreement without cause by giving a 30-day advanced written notice of an intention to terminate. The recommended agreement contains a mutual indemnification clause, which is common in agreements with other public entities. Additionally, changes to the addresses to which notices are to be sent may be made with written approval of the Department’s Director, or designee, and CSUSM.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Cal State University San Marcos
CAO ANALYST:
Yussel Zalapa