DATE: August 6, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Probation Cal OES Grant Applications/Agreements
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Adopt Resolution designating the Chief Probation Officer, or his designee, as the Official Designee, authorized to execute all Probation documents for current (2023-2024) California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) grants, including the application, agreement, required Authorization for the Grant Subaward Certification of Assurance of Compliance, the Federal Fund Grant Subaward Assurance, and all other required assurances and certifications;
2. Approve and authorize the Chief Probation Officer, or his designee, to execute a Grant Application/Agreement with Cal OES for the Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach (UV) Program, including any amendments and extensions and the required Authorization for the Grant Subaward Certification of Assurance of Compliance, the Federal Fund Grant Subaward Assurance, and all other required assurances and certifications for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025;
3. Approve and authorize the Chief Probation Officer, or his designee, to execute a Grant Application/Agreement with Cal OES for the Probation Specialized Units (PU) Program, including any amendments and extensions, and the required Authorization for the Grant Subaward Certification of Assurance of Compliance, the Federal Fund Grant Subaward Assurance, and all other required assurances and certifications for the period of October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025; and
4. Approve and authorize the Chief Probation Officer, or his designee, to execute a Grant Application/Agreement with Cal OES for the Victim Witness Assistance (VW) Program, including any amendments and extensions, and the required Authorization for the Grant Subaward Certification of Assurance of Compliance, the Federal Fund Grant Subaward Assurance, and all other required assurances and certifications for the period of October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The Probation Department is requesting your Board to authorize the Chief Probation Officer or his designee as the designated official to execute these grant agreements and assurances, including any amendments and extensions. These grant applications provide funding for the Fresno County James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center (CVAC), which the Department has operated for crime victims and witnesses in Fresno County since 1975. Should the grants be awarded, once the grant agreement is executed by the Chief Probation Officer and Cal OES, the application documents become the final agreement between the County and Cal OES. The amount of funding for each of the grants is not yet known. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the Probation Department would not be able to submit grant applications for the 2024-25 Cal OES VW and PU grants and the 2025 UV grant. The Chairman would be required to create an account, provide access to Probation employees, and submit the grant applications through the new Grants Central System (GCS) utilized by Cal OES. Lack of access to the GCS could result in an inability to submit the grant applications timely. This would result in the elimination or reduction of: services provided by the James Roland Crime Victim Assistance Center (CVAC) for crime victims and witnesses and intense monitoring of offenders and providing referrals; support services and counseling to the victims through the Violent Offender Intensive Supervision Endeavor (VOISE) program; and deletion of funded positions unless an alternative funding source is identified.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Should the 2024-25 grants be awarded, sufficient appropriations and revenues are included in Probation’s Org 3432 FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget for these programs, based on anticipated award.
DISCUSSION:
On August 8, 2023, your Board approved the PU grant application/agreement for the term of October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. This grant funds one full-time Victim-Witness Advocate (VWA) and partially funds one full-time Deputy Probation Officer (DPO). The DPO position provides intense supervision for high-risk offenders who are on probation for domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and/or stalking. The VWA position collaborates with the DPO to meet the needs and concerns of victims of offenders enrolled in the VOISE program.
On August 22, 2023, your Board approved the VW grant application/agreement for the term of October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. This grant funds one Assistant Deputy Chief Probation Officer, three Senior Victim-Witness Advocates (Sr. VWAs), ten VWAs, one Program Technician, one Office Assistant, and two Student Worker positions, on a full-time basis, at Probation’s CVAC in three different locations. They provide support and assistance to victims of crime, such as crisis intervention and counseling, emergency assistance and referrals, orientation to the criminal justice system, court and parole hearing support, assistance writing victim impact statements for the Court, criminal case status and disposition, employer and creditor intervention, assistance filing for financial help from the California Victim Compensation Program, and provide information and referrals regarding protective and restraining orders.
On November 28, 2023, your Board approved the UV grant application/agreement for the term of January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. This grant funds two full-time VWAs. These positions reach elderly and dependent adult victims of crime and assist them in coping with the impacts of the criminal acts perpetrated against them, improve identification of elderly and dependent adult victims, increase community awareness of victims’ right and available services, and establish connections between the CVAC and Fresno County’s rural communities and cultural groups.
On April 9, 2024, your Board approved and authorized the Chairman to execute the updated Federal Fund Grant Subaward Assurances for the 2023-24 VW Program, the Probation 2023-24 PU Program, and the 2024 UV Program.
On July 15, 2024, the new Cal OES GCS became open and available to grant applicants. Cal OES advised the Department that paper grant applications will no longer be accepted for any Cal OES grant opportunities. Cal OES also advised that the Official Designee, as identified in the current agreements for the Probation Cal OES grant programs, would have to register in GCS, provide system access to Probation staff, and submit the grant applications/agreements for the upcoming 2024-25 Cal OES grant opportunities. The Chairman is the Official Designee currently listed on all Probation Cal OES grant agreements. Cal OES advised the Department that the governing board could alternatively authorize another individual as the designated official. Once such authorization is received by Cal OES, the newly designated official would then be able to register in GCS, provide staff with access, and submit grant applications/agreements. Cal OES requires the County to obtain written authorization from its governing board, i.e., the Board of Supervisors, that the official executing the agreement and related documents is authorized to do so. The amount of funding for each of the grants is not yet known. If the anticipated funding for the 2024-25 grant cycles is awarded, Probation would use its allocation to continue to fund these nineteen positions.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 49, April 9, 2024
BAI # 62, November 28, 2023
BAI # 38, August 22, 2023
BAI # 37, August 8, 2023
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Fine Nai