DATE: April 4, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Amendment I to Agreement with Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc., for Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Victim Assistance
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Amendment I to Agreement A-14-214 with Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc., for domestic violence and human trafficking victim assistance services, effective upon execution through June 30, 2019 ($7,838,665).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department to continue to provide services to non-citizen victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes, in accordance with the State Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP). The proposed Amendment will allow for two additional one-year terms, will increase the maximum compensation by a total of $1,800,000, and will update the program budget to align with current TCVAP allocation. This Amendment is funded 100% by the TCVAP allocation, with no increase in Net County Cost.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Should your Board not approve the recommended action, services to non-citizen victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes would not be provided, and State allocated funds for this purpose would not be used.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The cost of the recommended Amendment will increase the maximum compensation to $7,838,665. Maximum compensation for the periods of July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 and July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 is $900,000 annually. Cost of the Amendment will be fully offset through the State General Fund allocation for TCVAP. Sufficient appropriations are included in the adopted FY 2016-17 budget for Organization 5610. Sufficient appropriations will be included in subsequent annual budgets.
DISCUSSION:
Human trafficking involves controlling a person with force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of sexual or labor exploitation. The Trafficking Victim Protection Act of 2000 federally criminalized human trafficking and provided two nonimmigrant visas to provide victims with safety and permanency while aiding law enforcement in prosecution of the victim’s perpetrators. In 2006, California enacted Senate Bill 1569 to further provide temporary and immediate access to social services for non-citizen victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes. An annual allocation of State funding through TCVAP allows the County to provide services to impacted victims.
As a result of a formal competitive bid process, an agreement with Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. was executed by your Board on April 22, 2014, for the provision of TCVAP services; the current agreement will expire June 30. 2017. Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. was the sole respondent to the 2014 Request for Proposal No. 952-5237. The recommended Amendment I seeks to increase the term of the agreement for two additional one year terms based on satisfactory performance. If the recommended action is approved, the Department intends to complete a new competitive bid process prior to agreement expiration June 30, 2019.
TCVAP program services include restraining order assistance, referrals for meeting basic needs, mental health and therapeutic services, and assistance with visa application process, specific to this population. Additional services involve targeted community outreach and dissemination of information of human trafficking, domestic violence and other serious crimes to increase understanding and to encourage victims to seek assistance.
In FY 2015-16, Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc., served 1,121 victims and their family members. Through January of FY 2016-17, 249 new cases have been opened and of those cases, 1,128 victims and their families have been assisted. They have maintained satisfactory service through the Agreement. It is anticipated that Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc., will continue to serve an average of 285 families annually during the recommended additional terms.
If approved, the recommended Amendment I will be effective upon execution. It will allow two additional one-year terms from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019 with the same terms and conditions unless either party provides written notice of non-renewal not later than sixty (60) days prior to the close of the current term. The recommended Amendment I also updates the program budget and scope of services to reflect a decrease in TCVAP funding allocation.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #49, April 22, 2014
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On File with Clerk - Amendment
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander