TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Allison Haley - District Attorney
REPORT BY: Sophie Johnson - Staff Services Manager
SUBJECT: Application and Acceptance of Funding for Child Advocacy Center Program
RECOMMENDATION
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District Attorney requests approval of and authorization for the Chair to sign a Certification of Assurance of Compliance document that authorizes the District Attorney to apply for and sign grant subawards with the California Office of Emergency Services for a maximum of $206,000 for the term April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023 for the Child Advocacy Center Program.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of the recommended action will allow the District Attorney to apply for and sign grant subaward documents, including amendments, extensions, and modifications, thereof, for the Child Advocacy Center Program in Napa County, called The Courage Center. The subaward program is administered by the California Office of Emergency Services to provide Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding for Child Advocacy Centers who work with child abuse victims to reduce trauma to children and their families using a multidisciplinary team approach.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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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 for the District Attorney's Office to provide a Child Advocacy Center. However, the county has been operating The Courage Center, a Child Advocacy Center, together with its multijurisdictional team partners to reduce the trauma to victims of child abuse and their families. The grant program provides funding for the County's multidisciplinary team partners to operate the Child Advocacy Center during the grant term, with no net increase in County General Funds. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Appropriations for the current grant are included in the District Attorney's adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and appropriations for the following fiscal year will be budgeted accordingly. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If this item is not approved, the District Attorney will not be able to obtain funding from the State of California for provision of services to victims of child abuse. Additionally, the County would need to identify another department or non-profit to act as the lead agency for these funds being made available to operate The Courage Center. |
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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 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds will allow the partnering agencies to provide a more comprehensive operating model that will ensure accreditation standards are maintained and that the most vulnerable victims are receiving services based on current best practices. Prior to receipt of the grant subaward, the Courage Center served about 50 children and families annually and operated as an on-demand service model. Subsequent to receiving the grant, a full-time dedicated director hired by Aldea Children and Family Services, coordinates cases and oversees services provided through the Courage Center. The growth of those served at the Courage Center has continued to grow, from 75 in 2018, to 144 children and families in 2020.
Today's recommended action will authorize the Chair to sign the Certificate of Assurance of Compliance (COAOC) documents, which authorizes the District Attorney to apply and sign for the grant subaward, including extension, modifications or amendments thereof. The Child Advocacy Center Program provides $206,000 of VOCA funds for the annual operation of the Courage Center, with no net increase to the County General fund.