DATE: June 5, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Elizabeth Diaz, Public Defender
SUBJECT: Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. Award Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Award Letter/Agreement, dated March 29, 2018, with Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. for the Clean Slate Program ($22,000).
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. awarded this grant to the Public Defender to support outreach and communications for the Clean Slate Program, effective upon execution. The funds will be utilized in FY 2018-19 for extra-help attorney outreach hours and advertising of the Clean Slate Program’s free services available to the community. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the grant award will be withdrawn.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The grant award/agreement includes $22,000 for the Public Defender, which will be included in the Public Defender Org 2880 FY 2018-19 Requested Budget. There is no match requirement for receipt of the funds.
DISCUSSION:
Since 1972, Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. has helped thousands of Fresno County residents through life-changing programs that provide support, resources, outreach and education. This nonprofit organization assists families and individuals through targeted, culturally sensitive and bilingual programs that promote health and wellness, strengthen families, help victims of crime, and encourage civic engagement.
On November 14, 2017, your Board approved the receipt of grant funding from The California Endowment, which allowed the Department to initiate the Public Defender’s Clean Slate Program. The Clean Slate Program is a reentry program that assists indigent persons in obtaining post-conviction relief in addition to helping them connect to services that facilitate healthcare, employment and housing access.
On January 9, 2018, your Board approved a revenue agreement with the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board to expand the Clean Slate Program and fund services for an additional one day each week.
The Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. received the $22,000 in grant funds from The California Endowment, but the funds remained unspent, so Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. granted the funds to the Fresno County Public Defender to support the Clean Slate Program. Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. sent the attached award letter/agreement, which outlines acceptable uses for the funds, as well as prohibited uses of the funds.
The Public Defender’s Office received the funds on April 17, 2018 and upon your Board’s approval of the recommended award letter/agreement, the funds will be accepted for extra-help attorney outreach hours and advertising of the Clean Slate Program’s free services available to the community in FY 2018-19. There is no specified timeframe as to when funds need to be expended by, but the Public Defender must provide a report in one year from date of acceptance describing conclusions, progress, and/or status of objectives including how funds were expended to attain objectives.
The Department understands there is a County of Fresno employee serving on the Board of Directors of Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, Inc. and therefore believed to be interested directly or indirectly in the recommended agreement with the County; a violation of Fresno County Charter, Section 41. Violations of Fresno County Charter, Section 41 do not render the contract void but the contract is voidable at the option of your Board.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #44 November 14, 2017
BAI #31 January 9, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk -Agreement with Centro La Familia Services, Inc.
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck