REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 6, 2020
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application for the 2020-2021 Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve submission of a grant application to the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES) in the amount of $228,052 for the San Bernardino County Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program for the period of January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
2. Adopt Resolution, as required by Cal OES, authorizing the District Attorney, on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, to sign and submit the grant application, including the Certificate of Assurance of Compliance, and any non-substantive amendments, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the District Attorney to transmit all grant application documents and amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Michael Fermin, Assistant District Attorney, 382-3662)
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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The grant funding request of $228,052 for the San Bernardino County Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program (UV Program) requires a local cash match of $57,013. This match will be funded from the District Attorney’s (Department) existing budget without the need for additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Grant and local match amount, which total $285,065, will be used to fund the UV Program’s staffing costs (one Victim Advocate I and two Victim Advocate II’s). Appropriation and revenue for this grant were included in the Department’s 2020-21 budget and will be included in the 2021-22 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department provides services to victims of violent crime within the County’s underserved population due to race, socio-economic status, disability, or sexual orientation. Target populations for these victim services include urban, high crime communities; communities of immigrants with limited English proficiency; American Indians; persons with disabilities and/or deaf or hard-of-hearing; and/or members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender populations. Grant funds received from Cal-OES have assisted the Department in providing services that immediately respond to the victim’s emotional and physical needs (excluding medical care) such as accompaniment to medical examinations, hotline counseling, emergency food, clothing, transportation, shelter, and other emergency services that are intended to restore the victim’s sense of dignity and self-esteem.
On August 20, 2020, Cal-OES announced its intention to release grant funds for the UV Program. The competitive application process is open to all qualifying agencies. If this application is successful, the Department will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for acceptance of the grant award in accordance with County policy. The Department has been receiving grant funds from Cal-OES annually for this program since 2010.
The Cal-OES Recipient Handbook, Section 1350, requires all grant recipients to obtain written authorization, in the form of a resolution or letter from the Board, that the official executing the agreement is, in fact, authorized to execute the document. Recipients must maintain this written authorization on file and make it available upon demand during audits. Historically, Cal-OES has requested that each county’s District Attorney be the authorized official to execute the grant documents.
PROCUREMENT
The 2020 Subrecipient Handbook Section 3000 provides direction for contracts and procurement bids. The Department will follow the Subrecipient Handbook and County Policy 11-04 for any contracts or procurements for services or supplies paid with grant funds.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Katherine Hardy, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5437) on September 14, 2020; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst II, 387-5404) on September 22, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Kelly Welty, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on September 22, 2020.