REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 26, 2021
FROM
JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application for the 2021-22 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 in the amount of $228,334 for the San Bernardino County Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program for the period of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022.
2. Adopt Resolution, as required by California Office of Emergency Services, 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, Chief 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 and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The grant funding request of $228,334 for the San Bernardino County Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program (UV Program) requires a local cash match of $36,876. 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 $265,210, will be used to fund the UV Program’s staffing costs (one Victim Advocate I and two Victim Advocate IIs). Appropriation and revenue for this grant were included in the Department’s 2021-22 budget and will be included in the 2022-23 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 California Office of Emergency Services (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 September 17, 2021, 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 2021 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 (Kathrine Hardy, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 29, 2021; Finance (Carl Lofton, Finance Analyst, 387-5404) on October 1, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on October 1, 2021.