DATE: February 20, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Retroactive Grant Application and Agreement with California Health and Human Services, Office of Youth and Community Restoration for Transition to Less Restrictive Programs
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively approve and authorize the Chief Probation Officer’s previous submittal of a Letter of Interest and grant application to the California Health and Human Services Agency, Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) for the Less Restrictive Programs Grant ($2,000,000);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a grant agreement with OYCR for the Less Restrictive Programs Grant (Grant Number 2023-349-OYCR) for the period of December 15, 2023 through December 31, 2025 ($2,000,000);
3. Adopt resolution authorizing the Chairman to execute the Grant Agreement, including any extensions or amendments, with OYCR for the period of December 15, 2023 through December 31, 2025, subject to approval as to legal form by County Counsel and as to accounting form by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, not to exceed $2,000,000; and
4. Adopt Budget Resolution Increasing FY 2023-24 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Probation Department’s Org 3432 in the amount of $2,000,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The OYCR Less Restrictive Programs (LRP) Grant funding allows for development and support of LRPs, pursuant to Welfare & Institutions Code section 875(f)(1). OYCR released the opportunity to submit a letter of interest for the LRP on June 1, 2023. To meet the grant application deadline, the Chief of Probation executed and the Department submitted the letter of interest (LOI) on August 15, 2023, contingent upon your Board’s approval. Approval of the third recommended action will authorize the Chairman to execute the grant agreement, including any extensions or amendments, as required by the OYCR. Once the grant agreement is executed by the Chairman and OYCR, it becomes the final agreement between the County and OYCR. Approval of the fourth item will increase FY 2023-24 appropriations and estimated revenues for the Probation Department’s Org 3432 in the amount of $2,000,000. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the grant agreement will be returned to OYCR. The loss of these grant funds will result in the County being responsible for developing and supporting youth transitioning to less restrictive programs, as required by Welfare & Institution Code section 875(f)(1), without additional financial assistance.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The grant application period opened on June 1, 2023, with an original deadline of July 31, 2023, and by request was extended to August 15, 2023. The Department submitted the LOI on August 15, 2023. The LOI was accepted as final by OYCR on December 4, 2023. The recommended application is retroactive due to the timelines established by the OYCR RFP and Award Process. This item is being brought before your Board on the first available date within agenda item processing deadlines.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost or match requirement associated with the recommended actions. The maximum compensation is $2,000,000 for the term of the recommended agreement. This grant will support the transition of 10 youth from the Secure Youth Treatment Facility (SYTF) at the Juvenile Justice Campus (JJC) to LRP settings and community living status for the period of December 15, 2023 through December 31, 2025. Approval of the fourth recommended action will provide increased appropriations and revenues in the Department’s Org 3432 FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget and will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
On May 14, 2021, Senate Bill 92 Juvenile Justice was signed into law, commencing July 1, 2021, allowing for the creation of SYTFs, which gave the courts the ability to commit youth to less restrictive programs to facilitate safe and successful reintegration of youth into the community (Welfare & Institutions Code section 875(F)(1)).
On June 1, 2023, OYCR published a notice of grant invitation, inviting county probation departments to submit a letter of interest, including a brief description of the services expected to be provided to achieve step down to Less Restrictive Program (LRP) transitions and services to be provided to support successful community living, for evaluation to receive grant funds. Awarded funds must be used to support partnerships with community-based service providers that will help individual youth in the transition through less restrictive programs and settings, and to directly help the youth meet their own needs after transition to home or community living, while still completing their commitment term. LRPs can be halfway houses, camps or ranches, or community residential or nonresidential programs including home-based or educational-based placements. Youth are placed in LRPs as part of their commitment time. If and when a vendor is identified to fulfill the services required by the grant, those agreements will be brought back before the Board as required.
On August 15, 2023, Probation submitted a letter of interest for proposal to the OYCR to receive LRP grant funds. Funding decisions were based upon review of the County’s LOI. On December 4, 2023, Probation was awarded $2,000,000 in LRP grant funding to provide for 10 youth to be supported in the goal of stepping down to a less restrictive environment, contingent upon your Board’s approval.
The State Contract Manual (SCM) June 2023 and General Terms and Conditions (GTC 04/2017), which are incorporated into the grant, require the County provide a resolution to authorize and approve execution of contracts and to indemnify the State for any claims or losses resulting to any contractor or other entity furnishing or supplying work services, material, or supplies in connection with the performance of the agreement, as well as any person, firm, or corporation who may be injured or damaged by the County in the performance of the recommended agreement. The Probation Department believes that the benefits of entering into the recommended grant agreement outweigh the potential risks of accepting these non-standard provisions.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Grant Agreement with OYCR
On file with Clerk - Resolution
On file with Clerk - Budget Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Fine Nai