REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 6, 2024
FROM
JEANY ZEPEDA, Director, Children and Family Services
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with Court Appointed Special Advocate of San Bernardino County to Provide Court Appointed Child Advocacy Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 20-882 with Court Appointed Special Advocate of San Bernardino County for the provision of Court Appointed Child Advocacy services, updating standard contract language, increasing the amount by $315,000, from $1,260,000 to $1,575,000, and exercising the second option to extend the contract one year, for a total contract period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2025.
(Presenter: Jeany Zepeda, Director, 387-2792)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The total cost of Court Appointed Child Advocacy services will not exceed $1,575,000, or $315,000 per program year, and is funded by approximately 75% ($1,181,250) Wraparound Reinvestment Funds and approximately 25% ($393,750) Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children funds. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Wraparound Reinvestment 2023-24 budget and the Human Services Administration Claim 2023-24 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On July 1, 1998, California passed legislation establishing the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) grant and requiring the Judicial Council to adopt guidelines establishing CASA of California and its affiliates as the sole agency responsible for these services. CASA of California and affiliates are comprised of 45 CASA agencies located throughout 51 California counties. CASA of San Bernardino County is a non-profit organization and a member of CASA of California and the National CASA for Children. CASA of San Bernardino County’s mission is to improve the quality of life for foster youth and juvenile court dependents by providing stable and consistent advocacy and mentoring through trained community volunteers. Children and Family Services (CFS) and CASA of San Bernardino County have collaborated in advocating for the protection of San Bernardino County’s (County) dependent youth for more than 35 years.
The recommended amendment with CASA of San Bernardino County will exercise the final option to extend the contract for a one-year period, for a total contract period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2025, and increase the contract amount by $315,000, for a total contract value of $1,575,000. The contract amendment will also update standard contract language to include contractor requirements under Executive Order N-6-22 regarding Economic Sanctions against Russia and Russian entities and individuals and campaign contribution disclosures under Senate Bill 1439. This contract and amendment support CFS and CASA of San Bernardino County’s ability to locate, engage, and connect foster youth with immediate biological family, next of kin, and other adults who may serve as permanent lifelong connections. CFS anticipates the amendment will allow an additional 215 County youth to be served with the increased funds, at an average cost of $1,465 per youth.
On September 15, 2020 (Item No. 21), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 20-882 with CASA of San Bernardino County to provide Court Appointed Child Advocacy Services, in the amount of $945,000, for the contract period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2023.
On March 14, 2023 (Item No. 10), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 20-882 with CASA of San Bernardino County, increasing the total contract amount by $315,000, from $945,000 to $1,260,000, and extending the contract for one year, for a total contract period of October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2024.
CASA of San Bernardino County’s performance will continue to be monitored by reviews of monthly invoices and an annual site visit by County staff to review for compliance with the administrative, fiscal, and program terms and conditions of the contract.
PROCUREMENT
CASA of California and its affiliates, as required by the Judicial Council, are the sole agencies responsible for the delivery of these services.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on November 28, 2023; County Counsel (Kaleigh Ragon, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 8, 2024; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on January 17, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Director, 388-0332) on January 22, 2024.