DATE: June 18, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Agreement with North Star Family Center
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with North Star Family Center for evidence-based case management services for individuals participating in the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Accountability Grant (JAG) Adult Re-Entry Planning Program (ARPP), effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026, not to exceed two consecutive years, total not to exceed $586,450.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) awarded the competitive JAG to develop the ARPP and facilitate successful re-entry into the community for the targeted population. Approval of the recommended agreement will provide evidence-based case management services to the target population of incarcerated participants, who are between ages 18-30 years old with prior or current gang affiliation at medium to high risk to re-offend. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the services provided in the recommended agreement will not be provided by North Star Family Center. The Department would need to rescind the tentative award and provide your Board alternatives to deliver these services that are required by the awarded grant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Funding for the recommended agreement is fully offset with JAG revenue. The maximum annual compensation for this agreement in year one is $287,114, in year two is $299,336; with a maximum compensation for the two-year term of the recommended agreement totaling $586,450. There are adequate appropriations and estimated revenues included in Probation’s Recommended Budget for FY 2024-25 Grant Org 3432, which will be presented to your Board in September 2024. Funding for subsequent years of the recommended agreement will be included in the Department’s future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
On July 18, 2023, your Board approved and authorized the execution of the retroactive Grant Application/Agreement with the Board of State and Community Corrections for JAG for the period of June 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026 in the amount of $2,837,831. The ARPP Program will provide re-entry case management and supportive pre- and post- release services to individuals who are 18-30 years of age, committed to the Fresno County Jail for a minimum of sixty days and/or on current supervision, affiliated or previously affiliated with a gang, at medium or high risk to re-offend. The goal of the ARPP is to facilitate successful re-entry into the community, reduce gang activity after release from custody, and increase public safety.
On November 14, 2023, the County issued Request for Proposal (RFP) Number 24-023 and an Addendum Number One on December 5, 2023. The RFP solicited proposals from qualified vendors to provide evidence-based case management and support services for 120 participants. Responses to the RFP were required to describe an implementation plan and provide a line-item budget for three years. The RFP closed on December 20, 2023; two organizations responded to the RFP. A three-member review committee met to review and rank each proposal. The committee consisted of members from the Probation Department, the committee recommended awarding these services to North Star Family Center. The committee members concluded North Star’s proposal was the most comprehensive of the two proposals received. North Star Family Center demonstrated experience with the target population, and experience with evidence-based practices with a focus on recidivism.
In accordance with the recommended agreement, North Star Family Center will provide evidence-based case management services to participants pre- and post- release from incarceration. Case managers will conduct assessments to identify participants criminogenic and stabilization needs. Based on the results of the assessments, case managers and participants will collaborate to develop a case plan with strategies to meet those needs. A multi-disciplinary team that includes the case manager, participant, Deputy Probation Officer, family members, and a mentor will meet every two weeks prior to release to review the transition plan and make any changes. Case managers will continue to work with the participants to address their needs after they are released from jail. Case managers will be trained in Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) evidence-based practices provided by the Probation Department. EPICS is a training and coaching model to teach individuals how to translate principles of effective intervention into practice and adhere to the risk, needs, and responsivity principles. MI is a collaborative and goal-oriented style of communication designed to strengthen personal motivation and commitment to change by facilitating the process of change while encouraging autonomy.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 52, July 18, 2023
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with North Star Family Center
CAO ANALYST:
Fine Nai