DATE: January 29, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Retroactive Victim/Witness Assistance Program Grant Application/Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the 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 Victim/Witness Assistance Program ($1,627,287);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Grant Application/Agreement for the Victim/Witness Assistance Program with Cal OES for the period of October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019;
3. Adopt resolution authorizing the Chairman to sign the retroactive grant application and to execute retroactive Grant Award Agreement and any extensions or amendments thereto with Cal OES for the period of October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019, subject to approval by County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector;
4. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2018-19 appropriations and estimated revenue in Probation - Grants Org 3432 in the amount of $151,346 (4/5 vote); and
5. Approve Amendment to the Salary Resolution adding one Victim Witness Advocate position to the Probation Org 3432, effective February 11, 2019 as reflected in Appendix “C”.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. To meet the grant filling deadline, the Grant Application was submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval. The Application provides funding for the Fresno County James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center (CVAC), which the Probation Department has operated for crime victims and witnesses in Fresno County since 1975. The recommended actions will authorize the previous submittal of the grant application and the execution of the Grant Agreement, and add one victim witness advocate position. It should be noted, once the Grant Agreement is executed by the Chairman and Cal OES, the application documents become the final agreement between the County and Cal OES. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the Grant Application will be withdrawn, which will result in a significant reduction of services provided by the CVAC.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The Probation Department submitted the grant application to Cal OES on October 12, 2018 and was notified on November 16, 2018 that no additional information was needed and the application was complete. The Department is bringing this to your Board on the first available Board date within the agenda item processing deadlines. Once the Grant Agreement is executed by the Chairman and Cal OES, it becomes the final agreement between the County and Cal OES.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions, which will allow for the continued grant funding of the CVAC. The grant is a total of $1,627,287 ($1,569,572 in grant funds and $57,715 in required match). Probation does not charge the grant for indirect costs. The FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget for Probation Grants Org 3432 allocates $1,475,941 to fund the program including the required match of $57,715, which is Net County Cost. The Recommended Budget Resolution will provide $151,346 in additional appropriations and estimated revenues required for the program.
DISCUSSION:
The Probation Department has operated the CVAC in Fresno County since 1975. In 2017, the CVAC provided services to 7,680 new victims of crime. Services include crisis intervention and counseling, emergency assistance and referrals, orientation to the criminal justice system, court and parole hearing support, assistance for writing victim impact statements for the Court, criminal case status and disposition, employer and creditor intervention, assistance with filing for financial help with the California Victim compensation Program, as well as information and referrals regarding protective and restraining orders. Service locations over the years have been expanded form a single office to three separate locations. The additional locations have improved access and efficient service to victims of crime in Fresno County. Funding through Cal OES continues to make these services possible.
The Cal OES request for grant applications was published on September 11, 2018 with a filing deadline of October 12, 2018. In order to meet the filing deadline, the application was previously submitted to Cal OES contingent upon your Board’s approval and is being brought to your Board with the associated agreement on the first available Board date.
The grant funds the following positions: one Probation Services Manager, three Senior Victim Witness Advocates, nine Victim Witness Advocates, one Program Technician, one Office Assistant, and Extra Help Victim Witness Advocates and Student Workers. The fifth recommended action will add to the salary resolution the position of a Victim Witness Advocate with the Probation Department Org 3432. The requested position will be dedicated to the objectives of supporting response readiness in the event of mass victimization/terrorism incidents. Beginning with FY 2018-19, additional monies are allocated by Cal OES to fund a Victim Witness based Mass Victimization Advocate (MVA) position. These funds are made available in order to prepare Victim Witness centers to participate in a coordinated community response to mass victimization/terrorism incidents. As required by the grant, CVAC will be tasked to develop a victim assistance plan to support and enhance immediate response and recovery efforts due to mass victimization/terrorism incidents. The MVA will enroll in Crisis Response training, and will focus on mass crisis incidents due to a criminal event.
The third recommended action will adopt a resolution retroactively authorizing the Chairman to submit the previously submitted grant application, and to execute any extensions or amendments to this grant as required by Cal OES, subject to review and approval by County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, not to exceed the total of $1,627,287.
If the grant funding is eliminated, the positions funded with the grant funds will be deleted unless an alternative funding source is identified.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 45, January 23, 2018
BAI # 62, June 20, 2017
BAI # 09, April 4, 2017
BAI # 47, August 9, 2016
BAI # 09, March 1, 2016
BAI # 52, September 22, 2015
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Application/Agreement with Cal OES
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 3432)
On file with Clerk - Resolution
Salary Resolution Amendment (Appendix “C”)
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck