COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

DATE:

March 8, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 19, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen Borland, Director, Human Services Agency

Mark Lane, Human Services Agency, Southern Regional Director

SUBJECT:

Presentation of Violence In Families Initiative Program (VIP)

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors support implementation of the Violence in Families Initiative Program in San Mateo County. The San Mateo County Violence in Families Initiative Program (VIP) is a collaboration of representatives from public and private agencies and organizations in San Mateo County who are planning to improve interagency coordination of services to families who are affected by child abuse and domestic violence. Representatives consist of, but are not limited to, the following entities: the Child Abuse Prevention Center, the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention, the San Mateo County Office of Education, the District Attorney of San Mateo County, the Family and Community Enrichment Services, Inc., the Family Service Agency of San Mateo County, the San Mateo County Health Services Agency, the San Mateo County Human Services Agency, the Interfaith Network, Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, Police Chiefs Association of San Mateo County, Probation Department of San Mateo County, Sor Juana Ines Services for Abused Women, and the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo.

Background

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges issued recommendations in 1998 for effective intervention in domestic violence and child maltreatment cases. In early 2001, a task force of representatives from public and private agencies located throughout San Mateo County met and agreed to develop a comprehensive and coordinated service response to families in the County affected by domestic violence and child maltreatment.

Discussion

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation has granted $254,955 to the Human Services Agency for the first year of the project.The funds are to plan and implement a collaborative, county-wide program that will result in interagency protocols, policies and procedures between the public and private agencies in San Mateo County that respond to families who are affected by Domestic Violence and Child Abuse. The Human Services Agency (HSA) is the lead agency and fiscal agent of the proposed program.

Vision Alignment

Implementation of the Violence in Families Initiative Program (VIP) keeps the commitment that Ensures basic health and safety for all, and goal number six (6) which stipulates that children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods. The contract contributes to this commitment and goal since the overall mission of VIP is to ensure that families affected by domestic violence and child abuse or neglect receive supportive, culturally sensitive services through a comprehensive and coordinated multidisciplinary service delivery strategy aimed at reducing family violence in San Mateo County.

Fiscal Impact

This is a grant-funded program and there is no Net County Cost.