DATE: April 9, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Lisa A. Smittcamp, District Attorney
Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
Delfino Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Electronic Suspected Child Abuse Report System Grant Operational Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Operational Agreement with the County of Los Angeles, Department of Children and Family Services, for the Electronic Suspected Child Abuse Report System Consulting and Training Services, effective April 9, 2019 through April 8, 2020, with the ability to extend for two additional one-year periods ($68,520).
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The purpose of the Electronic Suspected Child Abuse Report System (ESCARS) is to establish a database that allows for the sharing of electronic suspected child abuse reports between the District Attorney's Office (DA), Department of Social Services (DSS), Sheriff's Office (FSO), and local law enforcement. The recommended action will allow DSS staff to develop the ESCARS database with the assistance of Los Angeles County, Department of Children and Family Services, as required by and funded with ESCARS grant funds. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the County of Fresno will be out of compliance with the terms of the ESCARS grant agreement, which requires awarded counties to execute an Operational Agreement with Los Angeles County for technical support. Additionally, without technical support from Los Angeles County, the process for handling Suspected Child Abuse Reports will continue to be manual, and improvements to the cross-reporting process will be limited.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The Operational Agreement is required by the ESCARS grant, with appropriations in the amo...
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