DATE: November 24, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: County Victim Services (XC) 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 County Victim Services (XC) Program ($456,000);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Grant Application/Agreement for the County Victim Services (XC) Program with Cal OES for the period of January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. To meet the grant filling deadline, the Probation Department submitted the grant application, contingent upon your Board’s approval. The grant provides funding for the Fresno County James Rowland Crime Assistance Center (CVAC), which the Probation Department has operated for crime victims and witnesses in Fresno County since 1975. It should be noted, once the grant agreement is executed by the Chairman and the State of California, Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (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If the recommended actions are not approved, the Grant Application will be withdrawn, which will result in a significant reduction of services provided by the CVAC, and the positions funded with this grant will be deleted, unless an alternative funding source is identified.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The grant will provide a total of $456,000 for the program. Due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, a waiver request for the required match was submitted to and is expected to be accepted by Cal OES; therefore, the mandated match of $114,000 is not included in the grant application. The grant does not pay for any indirect costs. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the FY 2020-21 Adopted Probation Grants Org 3432 Budget.
DISCUSSION:
On August 9, 2016, the Board approved the original grant application for the period of July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2018. During the application review, Cal OES waived the mandated match and increased the award amount. The agreement was approved by the Board on April 4, 2017. The Board approved to accept additional funding on October 17, 2017, and extend the term of the agreement through December 31, 2019. On March 24, 2020, the Board approved the agreement for the term of January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
To meet Cal OES eligibility criteria, and to determine how this funding opportunity can continue to best serve our community, Probation reconvened the Victim Services Steering Committee (VSCC) which last met in 2016. VSCC was tasked with identifying the County’s victim services gaps/needs. As required, VSCC reconvened prior to submission of the application, on September 10, 2020, and included representation from: Adult Protective Services, Child Protective Services, District Attorney, Behavioral Health, local Police Departments, Probation, Sheriff, Cal OES-funded Victim Witness Assistance Program, Cal OES-funded Domestic Violence Assistance Program, and Cal OES-funded Rape Crisis Program. Sherriff’s representative was unable to attend due to being urgently called to assist with the Creek Fire disaster. As a result of the meeting, VSCC determined the victim services gaps/needs affecting Fresno County remain the same as originally identified by VSCC in 2016. VSCC prioritized for funding three gaps. Gap number one is the continued need to extend services to crime victims in the rural areas of Fresno County. Gap number two is the continued need for immediate and extended or emergency housing for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Gap number three is the continued need for accessible transportation for the safety and security of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
The most recent Cal OES request for grant applications was published on July 1, 2020, with a filing deadline of October 1, 2020. In order to meet the filing deadline, the application was previously submitted to Cal OES, contingent upon the Board’s approval, and is being brought to the Board with the associated agreement on the first available Board date.
The recommended grant funds three Victim Witness Advocate (VW) positions, and one Deputy Probation Officer for CVAC. Services provided by the VW include advising victims of available services, referring to professional care providers, explaining the criminal justice system process, accompanying victims, family members, and witnesses to court and related hearings, and assisting victims with claim applications. The funded Deputy Probation Officer reviews the orders of the court and the offender’s case file, serves as a liaison with other County offices, and guides the victim through the court process regarding matters of restitution.
California Environmental Quality Act
The grant requires subrecipients to certify their project is in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Local government agencies certify that they have adopted or certified the completion of an environmental impact report that complies with the requirements of CEQA or they have filed a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk.
The proposed grant application/agreement is exempt under Section 15061, subdivision (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. Assuming your Board’s approval of the recommended actions, Staff will prepare to post a Notice of Exemption.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 39, March 24, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Application/Agreement with Cal OES
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck