DATE: January 23, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Philip F. Kader, Interim Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Retroactive Grant Application/Agreement with the State of California, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, for Victim Witness Assistance Program funds to support the James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Interim Chief Probation Officer’s previous submittal of a grant application to the State of California, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for continuation of the Fresno County’s Crime Victim Assistance Center ($1,475,941);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Grant Award Face Sheet, which includes the Certification of Assurance of Compliance, for the period of October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018 ($1,475,941);
3. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute the Subrecipient Grants Management Assessment form for the Victim/Witness Assistance 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 these actions. To meet grant filling deadline, the grant application was submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval. The application will provide partial funding for the Fresno James Rowland Crime Assistance Center (CVAC), which the Probation Department has operated for crime victims and witnesses in Fresno County since 1980. It should be noted that once the Grant Award Face Sheet is executed by the Chairman and the State of California, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (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If the recommended actions are not approved, the grant application will be withdrawn.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 a significant reduction of services provided by the CVAC.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The Cal OES request for grant application was published on October 30, 2017 with a filing deadline of November 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, which will allow for the continued grant funding of the CVAC. The grant is a total of $1,475,941 ($1,418,226 in grant funds and $57,715 in required match). In addition to the mandated match, $110,450 in additional funding is required to provide the services included in the grant. The $168,165 that is not funded by the grant will be funded with an estimated $14,000 donation from the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla and $154,165 in Net County Cost. Appropriations and estimated revenues for this program are included in the FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget for Probation Grants Org 3432. Probation does not charge the grant for indirect costs.
DISCUSSION:
The Probation Department has operated the Crime Victim Assistance Center (CVAC) in Fresno County since 1980. Services include crisis intervention; emergency assistance; resources, referral and follow-up counseling; assistance with filing for victim compensation claims; orientation to the criminal justice system; and court assistance including preparation and support of victims, including writing victim impact statements for the Court. The proposed grant will fund a Probation Services Manager, two Senior Victim Witness Advocates, ten Victim Witness Advocates, one Program Technician, and one Office Assistant position. Authorization to submit the grant application is retroactive due to Cal OES publishing the request for application on October 30, 2017 with a due date of November 27, 2017.
The second recommended action will authorize the Chairman to execute the application/agreement by signing the Grant Award Face Sheet which certifies that the Chairman has the authority and approval to enter into the Cal OES grant award agreement; and that all funds received in accordance to the Cal OES agreement will be spent exclusively on the purposes specified. The Grant Award Face Sheet also states the County agrees to administer the project in accordance with the Grant Award, all applicable State and Federal laws, audit requirements, Federal program guidelines and Cal OES policy and program guidelines. The County further agrees that the allocation of funds to the County is contingent on the enactment of the State Budget.
The second recommended action also includes the Certification of Assurance of Compliance which, in addition to certifications listed in Administration Policy #47, certifies that County will: (1) comply with the Grant Recipient Handbook and the terms of the Grant Agreement, (2) ensure the project is in compliance with California Environmental Quality Act requirements, (3) provide necessary matching funds, (4) accept responsibility for liability arising out of performance of the grant award agreement, (5) agree that funds shall not be used to supplant expenditures controlled by the County’s Board of Supervisors, and (6) administer the grant in accordance with the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), the VOCA Guidelines, and the Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide.
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 submit the previously submitted grant application and to execute any extensions or amendment to this grant as required by Cal OES.
If grant funding for this program is discontinued, alternative funding will be identified or the related positions will be eliminated.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 62, June 20, 2017
BAI # 09, April 4, 2017
BAI # 47, August 9, 2016
BAI # 09, March 1, 2016
BAI # 52, September 22, 2015
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