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Approve a first amendment to the agreement with Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. for $250,000 for a total contract amount of $562,937 to lead the design and planning process to establish a Prevention and Intervention Resource Center to support youth and their families who are at risk of involvement with the juvenile justice system for the current period through July 31, 2026; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an annual aggregate of $74,999; and Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to execute any amendments which are technical or administrative in nature
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _ X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Probation Department recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve a first amendment to the agreement with Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. for $250,000 for a total contract amount of $562,937 to lead the design and planning process to establish a Prevention and Intervention Resource Center to support youth and their families who are at risk of involvement with the juvenile justice system for the current period through July 31, 2026;
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the amendment and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an annual aggregate of $74,999; and
3. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to execute any amendments which are technical or administrative in nature.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In an effort to expand outreach and services to youth and minimize the number of youth entering the juvenile justice system, the Probation Department developed a prevention and early intervention initiative. The goal is to provide services that address the identified needs of youth at risk before formal system intervention. Currently, Solano County lacks a collaborative and coordinated approach to identifying needs and deploying resources to support youth before formal system involvement. The absence of collaborative and coordinated services limits community awareness of available services, hampers positive youth development, and prevents effective information sharing among youth-serving county departments. This gap is further exacerbated by geographic barriers and disproportionate access to services for those most in need.
To gain insight into existing prevention and early intervention centers, staff from the Solano County Probation Department, Health and Social Services, Child Welfare Services, County Administrator’s Office, and Solano County Office of Education visited the Harbor Center in Nevada and reviewed other promising programs nationwide. The Probation Department was awarded a Juvenile Assistance Grant (JAG) in August 2023 to provide funding support for the overall long-term planning and development of a prevention and early intervention program that will be housed at the 2220 Boynton space (adjacent to the Youth Services Center).
In October 2024, the Department was further awarded the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success grant. This Federal grant offered through the Department of Justice (DOJ) supports efforts to gain community stakeholder engagement, identify prevention and early intervention services that will benefit youth in need, outline further gaps and community needs, and then provide the JAG planning committee with recommendations on service needs identified through community and stakeholder engagement. With the support of the OJJDP funding, the Probation Department received the assistance of Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. (Third Sector). Third Sector has previous experience under the OJJDP grant with facilitator and stakeholder engagement efforts in Ohio. Given their unique expertise, in 2025, Probation contracted with Third Sector in order to facilitate effective and efficient stakeholder engagement.
Third Sector conducted a landscape analysis to assess system need and gap areas, which have informed in the design and planning process to establish the Center. This process integrated community expertise and insights with the county's policy, program, and funding resources. Third Sector has worked closely with the County leadership and staff, community-based organizations (CBOs), to convene, plan, and deliver an action plan for incorporation into the larger planning initiative of the Justice Assistance Grant to achieve goals outlined in both the OJJDP and JAG grant submissions.
The Probation Department, in collaboration with the Solano County Office of Education (SCOE), and Solano County Health and Social Services, continues to work with Third Sector to lead the design and planning process to establish a prevention and intervention resource center. Third Sector continues to offer technical assistance and strategic planning services to establish a prevention and intervention resource center serving Solano County (County) families. Now designated as the Center for Transforming Hope Into Resilience, Inspiration, Vision and Empowerment (THRIVE Center), slated to launch in 2026, THRIVE will be a welcoming place where families can address multiple needs in one visit. By co-locating academic enrichment, behavioral health services, basic needs assistance, and peer to peer connection under one roof, THRIVE strives to support families in referrals for services and connection to supportive resources. THRIVE will act as the connection between schools, county departments, and community nonprofits, aligning their efforts around a shared mission. In practical terms, this means a student or parent can walk into the THRIVE Center and receive help with tutoring, counseling, or public benefits enrollment through a coordinated intake - “one connection opens the door to many resources.” The Probation Department aims to continue partnering with Third Sector this year to support the opening of the THRIVE Center.
Third Sector will provide ongoing technical assistance to the Department and its partners to launch THRIVE with a targeted date of June 2026, using the implementation plan in the THRIVE Community Action Playbook, which Third Sector delivered in 2025. Third Sector will provide 8 months of implementation and support from January 2026 to August 2026, with January serving as a continuity month for drafting communications materials, and February to June as the implementation period. July and August will be dedicated to monitoring and continuing technical assistance. Third Sector’s support will assist the Probation Department in successfully developing the tools and processes to launch THRIVE.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for this amendment is provided through the 2023 Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). This grant supports a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime in the following program areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education; 4) drug treatment and enforcement programs, and 5) mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs.
The THRIVE Center is currently in its grant-funded planning phase, with operational activities scheduled to follow once planning is complete. The planning work is supported through dedicated grant resources, while future operations will be funded by the Family First Prevention Services Act and the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act. This phased approach allows the County to design a strong service model before launch, positioning the THRIVE Center to expand supportive services and strengthen diversion pathways that are proven to reduce deeper system involvement, improve outcomes for youth and families, and lower long-term public costs.
Budget appropriations to fund the contract are included in the Probation Department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board can choose not to approve this amendment. However, this is not recommended as the proposed Center will provide critical services to improve the lives of at-risk youth and their families living in Solano County. Additionally, the Department will be unable to use funding already allocated to it.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed the First Amendment for the Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc. contract and approved it as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION