COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

San Mateo County Probation Department

DATE:

November 26, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 9, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Loren Buddress, Chief Probation Officer

SUBJECT:

Application for Short-term Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) Funding to Reduce Gang Involvement

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution:

1) Authorizing the Probation Department to apply for, receive and administer a minimum of $200,000 of one-time Federal funds recently made available through the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program overseen by the State of California Corrections Standards Authority.

2) Authorizing the Chief Probation Officer or his Designee to submit the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program application and sign the Grant Agreement with the Corrections Standards Authority, including any amendments, on behalf of the County of San Mateo.

3) Authorizing a Request for Proposal waiver as specified in Administrative Memorandum B-1.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal(s): 7, 8. Goal 7. Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors. Goal 8. Help vulnerable people — the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others — achieve a better quality of life.

Securing this grant contributes to this commitment by enabling Probation to provide additional resources to address youth gang involvement and for removing the physical attributes of gang affiliation.

BACKGROUND:

The Federal Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program (JABG) provides funds to units of local government to enhance their efforts to combat serious and violent juvenile crime. In connection with an unanticipated surplus of JABG funds, California Corrections Standards Authority (CSA) released applications on November 17, 2008 for one-time, short term grants to specifically address gang issues. Grant requests must be at least $200,000 and services funded must be completed by June 30, 2009. The application for this grant is due to CSA by December 3, 2008. CSA will accept signed resolutions until December 10, 2008, when they begin reviewing applications.

DISCUSSION:

Gang involvement and its impact have increased in San Mateo County in the last few years. The three programs discussed below would be expanded to comprehensively address gang involvement. Given the very quick turnaround for returning the application back to the CSA, and for setting up agreements with providers, we are requesting that the RFP process be waived and that you approve starting contract negotiations with the first two providers listed below as soon as we receive a favorable response regarding our application:

1. Youth and Family Enrichment Services (YFES) has served girls in our G.I.R.L.S. Program since its inception and provides individual, group and family counseling. YFES addresses gang involvement and how affiliation is related life issues. Grant funding for this program will be eliminated effective February 28, 2009. Utilizing $105,733 of these JABG funds allows Probation to extend this program through June 30, 2009.

2. Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) provides services targeted at gang-involved and/or impacted probation youth. Attorneys and law students volunteer to educate youth about the life changing results of engaging in illegal behavior and help build critical life skills. Through intensive case management youth set and attain goals in regards to school, work, and gangs. This program could be expanded throughout San Mateo County as well as to youth in custody in our juvenile hall for $120,000 in JABG funds.

3. The Probation Department sponsors a gang tattoo removal program, which currently lacks funding for a trained laser technician to perform these services. The salary for a laser technician for six months and some supplies would amount to approximately $4,000 of JABG funds.

All of these programs are built on evidence based practices. The grant proposal was submitted to and approved by the Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition advisory board, per grant requirement.

The contractors have assured compliance with the County's Contractor Employee Jury Service Ordinance, as well as all other contract provisions that are required by County ordinance and administrative memoranda, including but not limited to insurance, hold harmless, non-discrimination and equal benefits.

FISCAL IMPACT:

To secure the Federal funding the County is required to provide 10% in matching funds. Contractors will be required to provide the matching funds for their own programs. Therefore, there is no Net County Cost impact on the County General Fund.