DATE: January 23, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Philip Kader, Interim Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Retroactive Grant Application/Agreement with the State of California, Governor’s
Office of Emergency Services, for Probation Specialized Supervision
Program funds
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Interim Chief Probation Officer’s previous submittal of a grant
application in the amount of $133,333 to the State of California, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for continuation of Fresno County’s Probation Specialized Supervision Program;
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Grant Award Face Sheet and the Certification of Assurance of Compliance for the period of October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018 ($133,333);
3. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Subrecipient Grants Management Assessment form for the Probation Specialized Supervision Program; and
4. Adopt resolution authorizing the Chairman to submit the retroactive grant application and to execute any extensions or amendments thereof as required by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, subject to approval by County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Probation Department was initially awarded a competitive 3-year California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) grant to provide specialized supervision of high-risk domestic violence offenders and to provide support and assistance to their victims. Cal OES has now approved a fifth year of non-competitive funding for this grant. To meet filing deadlines for the fifth year of funding, the grant application was submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval. The application, when executed by Cal OES, will provide specialized supervision of high-risk domestic violence offenders and support and assistance to their victims through the Specialized Supervision Program. It should be noted that once the Grant Award Face Sheet is executed by the Chairman and Cal OES, the application documents become the final agreement between the County and Cal OES. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the grant application will be withdrawn. This will result in the elimination or reduction of specialized supervision of Domestic Violence offenders and enhanced assistance to their victims.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The Cal OES request for grant application was published on October 18, 2017 with a filing deadline of October 27, 2017. In order to meet the filing deadline, the application was previously submitted to Cal OES contingent upon your Board’s approval and is being brought to your Board at the first available Board date. Once the Grant Award Face Sheet is executed by the Chairman and Cal OES, the application documents become the final agreement between the County and Cal OES.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The grant is a total of $133,333 ($100,000 in grant funds and $33,333 in required 25% match). In addition to the mandated match, $86,336 in additional funding is required to provide the services included in the grant. The $119,669 that is not funded by the grant will be funded with Community Corrections Performance Incentive funds (Senate Bill 678). Appropriations and estimated revenues for this grant program have been included in the Probation Department’s Adopted FY 2017-18 Grants Budget Org 3432. Probation does not charge the grant for indirect costs.
DISCUSSION:
On September 23, 2013, Cal OES issued a competitive Request for Proposals to provide a three year Probation Specialized Supervision Program. Cal OES awarded a total of six grants, including one to Fresno County. On March 11, 2014, the Board approved the Cal OES Grant Award Agreement for the Probation Department to provide specialized supervision of high-risk domestic violence offenders and support and assistance to their victims. Cal OES has approved a fifth year of non-competitive funding, and the recommended actions provide for continuation of the grant program from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018. Authorization to submit the grant application is retroactive due to the application from Cal OES was not received until October 18, 2017 with a due date of October 27, 2017.
The awarded grant funds the Probation Specialized Supervision Program, which provides a Victim/Witness Advocate and a Deputy Probation Officer (DPO) to work with a caseload of high-risk violent offenders and their victims. It includes intensive supervision for high-risk offenders convicted of a violent crime related to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and/or stalking. Intensive supervision requires weekly contact with offenders, with at least 60% of the contacts being face-to-face. It also includes monthly contact with programs providing services to these offenders. Additionally, the DPO updates risk assessments every six months, checks police logs, conducts drug and alcohol testing, reviews court files and requests appropriate sanctions if the probationer commits a new abuse or violation, fails to participate in designated counseling and/or treatment programs, or commits a new criminal offense.
An experienced Victim/Witness Advocate engages victims of probationers as early as possible and minimizes further trauma to victims and families by providing victim protection and referrals to supportive services and counseling. The Advocate ensures that victims understand the terms of probation and works with the DPO in the program to make the victims’ safety concerns known. The Victim/Witness Advocate maintains records of all services provided to victims.
The third recommended action will authorize the Chairman to sign the Subrecipient Grants Management Assessment form as required by Cal OES. This form is related to the Probation Department’s experience in the management of grant awards in order for Cal OES to determine and provide an appropriate level of technical assistance, training, and grant oversight. As the Authorized Agent, the Chairman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors is required to sign this form.
The fourth recommended action will adopt a resolution authorizing the Chairman to execute any extensions or amendments to this grant as required by Cal OES.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 39 November 15, 2016
BAI # 46 October 13, 2015
BAI # 41 September 16, 2014
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Application / Agreement with Cal OES
On file with Clerk - Subrecipient Grants Management Assessment form
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck