TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Allison Haley - District Attorney
REPORT BY: David Hill - Staff Services Analyst
SUBJECT: Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 180348B with Aldea, Inc.
RECOMMENDATION
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District Attorney requests approval of and authorization for the Chair to sign Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 180348B with Aldea, Inc., to extend the term of the agreement through to March 31, 2023, to provide for the staffing and day-to-day operational needs of the Courage Center.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Aldea Children and Family Services, a not for profit 501(c)(3) corporation, has been providing space and partnering for many years with the District Attorney's Office and other local multidisciplinary team partners in the operation of the Courage Center, the County's nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center. Approval of the agreement will allow Aldea Children and Family Services to provide for the staffing and day-to-day operational needs of the Courage Center in meeting the needs of children and families served, and to maintain accreditation standards specified by the National Children's Alliance. The agreement is fully funded with Victims of Crime Act funds, with no impact to the County General Fund.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
District Attorney |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
This item is discretionary in that there is no mandate to enter into an agreement for operation of the Courage Center, an accredited local Child Advocacy Center that serves child abuse victims and their family members. However, the County received a grant subaward of federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds administered by the California Office of Emergency Services to provide enhanced victim services to child abuse victims through a fully staffed Child Advocacy Center model and Aldea Children and Family Services has the necessary expertise and capacity to successfully meet the goals and objectives of the program. This agreement will be fully funded with VOCA revenues, with no impact to the County General Fund. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Revenue and expenditure appropriations for future fiscal years will be budgeted accordingly. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If the requested action is not approved, Aldea will not be able to provide enhanced victim services to children and families in Napa county. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Healthy, Safe, and Welcoming Place to Live, Work, and Visit |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Courage Center was opened in November 2008 in a rented portion of Aldea Children and Family Services’ building on First Street in downtown Napa. It established a state-of-the-art, child-friendly forensic interview and medical examination center, through a partnership between multidisciplinary partners representing law enforcement, victim advocates, forensic interviewers, government and non-profit service providers, and the District Attorney. Napa Solano SANE / SART, the organization that conducts children’s forensic medical examinations, is the nonprofit 501(c)(3) umbrella organization for the Courage Center, in partnership with the District Attorney’s Office, who acts as the lead financial and administrative agency for the Center’s operations. The Courage Center has been an accredited Child Advocacy Center by the National Children’s Alliance since 2010.
The multidisciplinary team partners all provide the necessary staffing and resources to operate The Courage Center and conduct child forensic interviews and exams. The District Attorney’s Office has received $206,000 as a grant sub award administered by the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) of Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds. These funds allow the partnering agencies to provide a more comprehensive operating model that ensures accreditation standards are maintained and that the most vulnerable victims are receiving services based on current best practices. This grant budgeted $200,000 to be designated for a full-time dedicated director hired by Aldea Children and Family Services, to coordinate cases and oversee services provided through the Courage Center. Those served at the Courage Center has continued to grow, from 75 in 2018 to 144 children and families in 2020.
Today’s recommendation will allow the Chair to sign an amendment to the agreement that extends the term through to March 31, 2023.