REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 8, 2025
FROM
GEORGINA YOSHIOKA, Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Contracts for Education Services to Victims of Sexual Assault
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve the following contracts for the provision of education services to victims of sexual assault, in the total aggregate amount not to exceed $261,470, for the contract period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030:
1. Partners Against Violence, Inc., in the amount of $146,395
2. Project Sister Family Services, in the amount of $115,075
(Presenter: Georgina Yoshioka, Director, 252-5142)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not require additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The recommended total amount of $261,470 for education services to victims of sexual assault will be funded by previously allocated Net County Cost. Adequate appropriation and revenue will be included in the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) 2025-26 budget and future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DBH is responsible for providing mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services to county residents experiencing severe mental illness and/or SUD. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), under the Victims Services Grant Program, designates specific rape crisis counseling providers, by geographical region, to ensure a single point of contact for law enforcement and area hospitals. Both providers, Partners Against Violence, Inc. and Project Sister Family Services were identified by CalOES as sexual assault education providers for San Bernardino County (County). Sexual assault services have been provided to county residents since 1979.
Partners Against Violence, Inc. and Project Sister Family Services have provided services to the County since 2008. Both agencies provide rape counseling and education services to victims of rape, incest, and sexual abuse. Education services to victims of sexual assault aims to decrease the impact of sexual assault crimes by providing essential support and resources. CalOES ensures that victims of sexual assault and rape, along with their families, partners, and friends have access to a full range of high-quality comprehensive services. Services include crisis intervention, support groups, advocacy, accompaniment, community outreach, education, and short and long-term counseling.
DBH anticipates that Partners Against Violence, Inc. and Project Sister Family Services will provide education services to approximately 11,365 victims of sexual assault over the term of the contract (2,273 per year), at an estimated cost of $23 per client.
The contract amounts for each agency are determined by the estimated population in their service areas, ensuring ongoing community education efforts across the County and connecting sexual assault victims with the appropriate resources. Approval of this item will enable the County to deliver essential, mandated services to victims of sexual assault.
DBH will also implement mechanisms to regularly review: 1) client service data and progress, conduct site visits and annual monitoring to ensure performance and compliance standards of the contract(s) are met; and 2) provider invoices administratively and programmatically to ensure client and/or bed counts are accurate prior to payment processing.
PROCUREMENT
Purchasing Department supports the non-competitive procurement of education services to victims of sexual assault, based on specialized credentials and the designation from CalOES, for Partners Against Violence, Inc. and Project Sister Family Services to provide services to the County.
Both organizations are committed to providing professional and survivor-centered care by offering confidential, specialized counseling for individuals and groups, including survivor-led peer-based counseling; a 24-hour sexual assault crisis hotline; crisis intervention; prevention education; community outreach; and support groups for survivors and families. These services are all designed to empower survivors and protect vulnerable individuals.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health Contracts (Lisa Rivas-Ordaz, Contracts Supervisor, 383-3940) on February 12, 2025; County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 10, 2025; Purchasing (Jessica Barajas, Supervising Buyer, 387-2065) on March 10, 2025; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on March 24, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on March 25, 2025.