DATE: October 17, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Philip F. Kader, Interim Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Retroactive Grant Application for Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and
Intervention Grant Program Funds
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Chief Probation Officer’s previous submittal of a grant application to State of California’s Board of State and Community Corrections for Title II Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Intervention Grant Program funds ($300,000); and
2. Adopt resolution authorizing the Chairman to sign the grant application and to execute retroactive grant award agreement with the Board of State and Community Corrections for the period October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018, subject to approval by County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. A non-competitive Federal funding opportunity was offered by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) on August 2, 2017 for the renewal (third year) of the Probation Department’s existing Planned Re-Entry Program (PREP) grant. To meet the filing deadline of August 31, 2017, the grant application was submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval. The PREP provides re-entry services to youth committed to and released from the Juvenile Justice Campus (JJC).
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the submitted grant application will be withdrawn from consideration for funding. This will result in the loss of needed re-entry services to youth committed to the JJC.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
Probation received the request for applications from the State of California’s BSCC on August 2, 2017 and was not able to meet the County’s processing deadline for placement on a Board date prior to October 1, 2017; the start of the third year grant cycle.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. This grant will provide $300,000 to continue to fund the PREP from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. The grant application includes funding totaling three percent of the grant program for costs associated with administering the grant. Although no match is required, in addition to the grant funds of $300,000 provided by BSCC, Probation included a Deputy Probation Officer (DPO) to supervise participants in this re-entry program that will be funded with Realignment Revenue. Appropriations and estimated revenue have been included in the Adopted FY 2017-18 Probation Org 3432 Budget.
DISCUSSION:
With the approval of the recommended actions, the PREP grant will be funded for the third year. The PREP provides re-entry services to youth while in-custody and upon release from the JJC through a contract with Focus Forward, which was approved by your Board on May 10, 2016. Services include social work and family support components and begin during the last sixty days of the youth’s commitment and continuing for at least sixty days post-release, with extended services to their families. Individualized case plans are created for each youth referred to the PREP. Focus Forward has created development and family workshops with an emphasis in four core services: 1) academics: school related and post-secondary educational goals and services; 2) workforce: certifications, job training, employment opportunities; 3) behavioral and mental health, related to clinical diagnoses or illnesses, including but not limited to chemical dependency with substance abuse; 4) life skills: including social skills such as anger management or coping skills, budgeting, nutrition, transportation and housing assistance.
The Probation Department was awarded grant funding for the Planned Re-Entry Program (PREP) in September 2015 and became operational July 2016. During the second operational period, the Probation Department and Focus Forward provided services to 85 youth participants, of which three were re-admitted youth; PREP participants have maintained a lower recidivism rate than the campus average of 33%. The PREP team has assisted participants and their families to find long-term success by addressing many reoccurring obstacles including homelessness and food insecurity. Additionally, participants have been exposed to opportunities for career development such as college tours, special guest speakers, and skilled workshops, as well as other self-care coping techniques, like gardening. Further, many participants have achieved milestones including high school diplomas and/or college experience through Fresno City College - Online. This has resulted in numerous participants successfully completing the Program and acquiring career-oriented employment following their release from custody.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 38, November 15, 2016
BAI # 49, May 10, 2016
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Application/Agreement with BSCC
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck