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Receive a presentation providing an update on recent activities and accomplishments at the Family Justice Center - Solano
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Receive a presentation providing an update on recent activities and accomplishments at the Family Justice Center - Solano.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance (CCFJA) has been the lead agency for the Family Justice Center - Solano since January 1, 2023. The CCFJA will present an update of recent activities and accomplishments at the Family Justice Center - Solano.
In 2024, the Family Justice Center - Solano had over 775 new Navigation Clients, over 1,250 visitors to the Center, took more than 1,050 Advice calls, and had more than 1,500 Long-term Safety Program participants. The Family Justice Center - Solano participated in more than 50 outreach events with over 4,500 attendees and hosted partner meetings and safety trainings which included over 300 attendees.
In the two years since the Family Justice Center - Solano contracted with the Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance, there has been substantial increases in the number of Solano residents accessing resources through the Center. In 2022, the Family Justice Center reported 812 individuals served. In 2023, the Center served 1,245 clients with 900 children, a 53.3% increase over 2022. Between January 1 and November 15, 2024, the Center served 1,653 clients with 1,553 children.
HISTORY AND PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
On December 14, 2021 the Board of Supervisors received a Solano Family Justice Center Snapshot Report with recommendations by the Family Justice Center Alliance (FJCA) team. The Board concurred with the conclusions and recommendations in the FJCA Alliance team report and directed the County Administrator’s Office to proceed with next steps with work focused on a transition plan, the development of an oversight committee structure; and a strategic planning process and to return to the Board with follow-up and recommendations. On March 1, 2022 the Board approved a proposed transition plan to include the development of an oversight committee and to begin the meet and confer process for transfer of the Office of Family Violence Prevention from the District Attorney’s Office to the County Administrator’s Office. On March 22, 2022 the Board adopted a resolution establishing the Solano Family Justice Center Advisory Committee and appointed retired Judge Robert Fracchia Committee Chair.
The Solano Family Justice Center Advisory Committee met regularly beginning April 2022 to address Solano County Family Justice Center operations and issues during the period of transition to include programmatic reviews of the Family Justice Center and assist with the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process for a new lead agency.
Utilizing the Request for Qualifications (RFQ 952-0815-23) procurement process in August 2022, Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance (CCFJA) was selected through this process as the top ranked bidder to administer and lead the Solano Family Justice Center (SFJC), meeting the criteria defined in California Penal Code §13750-13751.
At the October 17, 2022 Committee meeting, the Solano Family Justice Center Advisory Committee reviewed the scoring of the RFQ and recommended that staff begin working with CCFJA to develop a contract for the lead agency role of the SFJC. At the November 21, 2022 Committee meeting, the SFJC Advisory Committee reviewed the progress of the contract negotiations and provided feedback to staff. Staff incorporated that feedback into the contract with CCFJA.
At the December 13, 2022 Board of Supervisors meeting, your Board approved the contract with CCFJA for a not to exceed amount of $1,031,200 for a period of January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. At the June 25, 2024 Board of Supervisors meeting a contract amendment was approved for $615,000 for a total contract amount of $1,646,168 and extended the term through June 30, 2025. Through this agreement, CCFJA, an experienced family justice center non-profit organization providing comprehensive services and programs to support healing for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking for more than 10 years, has been providing the much-needed services and leadership to the Family Justice Center - Solano.
In March 2023, the Alliance for HOPE International (Alliance), in coordination with the County and CCFJA hosted a two-day strategic planning process which produced a framework for the future of the Family Justice Center - Solano and for the leadership of CCFJA and Solano County. This process produced a Strategic Planning Report (Attachment A), the Board approved this report in August 2023 and this report has been used as a guide moving forward. Additionally, as recommended by the Strategic Planning Report the Solano Family Justice Center Advisory Committee was dissolved.
The CAO’s Office has committed to continuing to ensure that Solano County has a multi-disciplinary service center that meets the complexity of needs for adult and child victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking. As part of this commitment, and at the recommendation of the Strategic Planning Report, the CAO’s Office, in coordination with CCFJA, established a Family Justice Center Steering Committee to provide ongoing guidance and act as an accountability partner for the lead agency, CCFJA. This Steering Committee promotes the coordination between the CCFJA Board of Directors and Solano County. A Steering Committee of this nature is considered best practice within Family Justice Centers across the country.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact to receiving this presentation.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could not receive this presentation; however, it has been requested in the past that Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance give an update on the Family Justice Center - Solano.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrator’s Office works with the Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION