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 amount of $20,160 included in District Attorney-Grants Org 2862 FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget. Additional funding will be included in future budget requests as part of the three-year funding cycle for the ESCARS grant.
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of ESCARS is to establish a database that allows for the sharing of electronic suspected child abuse reports between the DA, DSS, FSO, and local law enforcement. The Operational Agreement (OA) is a requirement of the grant, and will allow the Los Angeles County, Department of Children and Family Services (LA DCFS), to provide consulting and training for the development of the ESCARS database.
ESCARS was developed by LA DCFS and has been operational since January 2009. The OA will allow for the necessary communication required to develop and implement an ESCARS database in Fresno County. Additionally, the OA will allow LA DCFS to bill for up to 240 hours per grant cycle, and provide the spending authority for the DA to pay for the ESCARS consulting and training services with grant funds.
There are 15 law enforcement agencies in Fresno County with jurisdictions throughout the rural and metro areas of the County. FSO is the primary law enforcement agency for the purpose of this grant. The FSO, DA, and DSS currently maintain a collaborative relationship with regard to investigations and/or standard working processes. However, with regard to protocols, collaboration and/or attention to effective cross-reporting and oversight of suspected child abuse reports, substantial improvements are being developed as a result of this grant funding.
The OA contains non-standard insurance and indemnification provisions, but staff has determined that the benefits outweigh the risks associated with the OA, as a prudent business decision.
If grant funding for this program is discontinued, this OA will be terminated.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #21, November 6, 2018
BAI #5, February 20, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Operational Agreement with LA DCFS
CAO ANALYST:
Jeannie Z. Figueroa