COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Probation Department

DATE:

October 10, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 28, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

Not Required

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Loren Buddress, Chief Probation Officer

SUBJECT:

Agreement with San Mateo County Office of Education

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution

1) Waiving the request for proposal process requirement for the provision of counseling services and literacy and numeracy instruction and learning services for Court and Community Schools students

2) Authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an Agreement with the San Mateo County Office of Education to provide counseling services, and literacy and numeracy instruction and learning services for Court and Community Schools students for the term July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009, for a maximum obligation of $768,527.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All and provide Responsive, Effective, and Collaborative Government.

Goals: 6, 7, 8, and 22. State Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) funding is used to support seven delinquency prevention programs that involve collaborations with County agencies and community-based organizations. These programs maintain public safety, help at-risk youth to grow up in healthy and safe homes and neighborhoods, and involve effective collaborations and strategic approaches to public safety issues in the County.

This Agreement contributes to this commitment and these goals by providing counseling services and literacy and numeracy instruction for adolescent at-risk youth to meet educational standards and achieve a better quality of life.

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2006-07
Actual

FY 2007-08
Actual

FY 2008-09
Target

Average Literacy Grade Level Score

6.2

6.8

7.3

Average Numeracy Grade Level

5.9

6.3

6.7

Positive Attitude Toward Future Goals Score

52.7

54.2

56.0

BACKGROUND:

Since funds became available in 2000, the County’s Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, of which the Chief Probation Officer serves as Chair, has allocated State funding to address gaps in the County’s umbrella of services to at risk youth. Over the last seven years the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) has provided counseling, literacy and numeracy instruction services, and an instructional assistant to assist at risk youth. It is mandated in sections 48267 of the California Education Code and 889 of the Welfare and Institutions Code that the County Superintendent of Schools be charged with the responsibility for providing instruction to youth in custody. In 2006 the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council increased funding for the Literacy / Numeracy Program (LNP) in the amount of $100,000 to enable more at risk students to receive instruction. The FY 2007-08 Plan modification was adopted on August 14, 2007 (Resolution No. 068930).

DISCUSSION:

Although the current JJCPA allocation reflects the proposed 10% reduction per the Governor’s May Revise budget, services will continue at the prior year level due to an accumulation of rollover funding. Under this Agreement SMCOE will receive $230,389 for FY 06-07, $269,069 for FY 07-08 and $269,069 for FY 08-09. The increased funding in the latter two years reflects the addition of a third full-time instructor for the LNP. Annually a minimum of 146 youth are to be served by the counseling program, and 975 youth will be served by the LNP, county-wide. The LNP figure reflects an annual increase of approximately 300 youth since the JJCPA Coordinating Council increased funding for this program in FY 2006-07. Both programs have consistently met or exceeded their local JJCPA outcome measures reflected in the table above. Youth in counseling have improved their attitude toward future goals and have maintained an 87% school attendance rate. Additionally the literacy level of participants in the LNP has improved by one grade level for each six months of participation. This Agreement has been delayed due to the additional time that SMCOE needed to develop the plan to expand Literacy/Numeracy services, and due to the lack of administrative capacity to develop an increasing number of contracts in the Probation Department.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Agreement maximum is $768,527 for services provided over the three-year period. This amount is fully funded via Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds, as administered through the State Corrections Standards Authority, and there is no Net County Cost. Funding has been included in the FY 07-08 and FY 08-09 Adopted budgets.