DATE: August 9, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Mike Elliott, Interim Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Grant Application for the County Victim Services (XC) Program with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
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 (Cal OES) for the County Victim Services (XC) Program ($740,155); and
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Grant Award Face Sheet, which includes the Certification of Assurance of Compliance for the Agreement for the period of July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018 ($740,155).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. To meet the grant filing deadline, the grant application was submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval. The XC grant program will enhance services to victims in the rural areas of Fresno County, provide victims with immediate and extended housing, and provide victims accessible transportation throughout Fresno County. In addition, after hour call services will be available to work in conjunction with law enforcement and medical treatment facilities to ensure victims receive necessary services. The proposed grant also includes the addition of two Victim Witness Advocate positions to provide training, outreach, and case management services to ensure victims are linked with appropriate service agencies and their identified barriers are diminished.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the grant application will be withdrawn from consideration for funding, which will result in the enhanced victim services not being provided in Fresno County.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
Cal OES published the Request for Application for this grant on March 1, 2016 with a filing deadline of May 24, 2016. In order to meet the filing deadline, the application was previously submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval and is being brought to your Board at the earliest Board date based on the Agenda Item processing timeline. Once the Grant Award Sheet is executed by the Chairman and Cal OES, the application documents become the final Agreement between the County and Cal OES effective July 1, 2016.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The proposed grant application will provide a total of $740,155 to enhance victim services in Fresno County for the period July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018. The FY 2016-17 total budget for the XC Program is $925,194 and is funded with $740,155 Cal OES funds and a required County match of 20% ($185,039). The match of $185,039 will be met with $140,475 in Victim Witness Emergency funds and $44,564 of in-kind contributions from volunteers. Victim Witness Emergency funds are primarily received from unclaimed restitution as authorized per California Government Code Section 50050. If the grant is awarded, necessary budget and salary resolutions will be brought to your Board for approval. If grant funding for this program is discontinued, related positions will be eliminated.
DISCUSSION:
Cal OES announced the release of a one-time, two-year, federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to each of California’s 58 counties to help address gaps and needs of victim services. To meet the specific criteria for eligibility, each county had to implement a “Victim Services Steering Committee” (VSSC). The VSSC was tasked with identifying victim services gaps/needs within their jurisdiction. Each county VSSC had to include mandatory representation from the following agencies: Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Courts, District Attorney, Mental Health Department, Police Department, Probation, Sheriff, a Cal OES funded Victim/Witness Program Project, a CalOES funded Domestic Violence Assistance Program Project, and a Cal OES funded Rape Crisis Program Project.
After identifying gaps within Fresno County victim services, the VSSC prioritized three major gaps to expand victim services. Gap number one included the expansion of victim services to the rural areas of Fresno County. CVAC will partner with community agencies to provide crime victim services to sites in remote locations throughout the County through videoconferencing. This will allow victims in remote areas of the County to call the CVAC to set appointments, obtain assistance, videoconferencing and guidance in the completion of the State of California Victim Compensation Program (CalVCP) applications at a location more accessible to the victim. It is proposed to have remote locations in both East and West Fresno County. Videoconferencing will also be set up so victims can watch court proceedings from the CVAC rather than having to be in the courtroom. In addition, a contracted community based organization will provide non-business hour’s response to ensure the victim has access to emergency housing and transportation.
Gap number two addresses the need for immediate and extended housing. Many victims are impoverished, lose their homes, and often times their belongings following a crime. Currently, the requirement of immediate housing is unmet because most agencies do not have the resources to cover more than a one night stay in a motel, shelters have limited available bed-space, and some rural areas do not have motels or shelters. A housing voucher network throughout the County will be developed that allows for victims to be accommodated for up to 90 days, while permanent housing arrangements can be developed. The Probation Department will, through a collaborative effort with individual law enforcement agencies and service providers, determine which facilities offer the safety and security necessary to accommodate the needs of crime victims who are without shelter or in need of relocation.
Gap number three targets limitations on transportation for rural residents. This approach will allow for more coverage than currently available through traditional government means and would provide the assistance immediately and in the place of need. The Probation Department will work with the Purchasing Division of the Internal Service Department in order to obtain the services identified above.
The grant includes the addition of two Victim Witness Advocate positions to provide training, outreach, and case management services to victims. In addition, the grant provides for the upgrade of the Probation Department’s database so that the victims of crime information will be current and available for use. The database upgrades will allow for greater participation with community service providers, assist in data for grant applications, and provide up to date significant data to assist victims of crime with their multiple levels of service needs.
If Cal OES approves the County’s submitted grant application for the XC Program, Cal OES will send its proposed agreement, including the Grant Award Face Sheet, and Certificate of Assurance of Compliance, to the County for the Chairman’s execution and return to Cal OES.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Application / Agreement with Cal OES
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck