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Adopt a resolution approving participation in the Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction Grant Program; Approve an agreement with the Board of State and Community Corrections to receive $761,322 under the Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction Grant Program for the period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018; Authorize the County Administrator to execute the agreement; Approve an Appropriations Transfer Request of $359,796 to recognize unanticipated grant revenue and related appropriations for the first year to support prevention, intervention, supervision and incarceration-based services and strategies to reduce recidivism and to improve outcomes for mentally ill juvenile and adult offenders in California (4/5 vote required); and Authorize the Chief of Probation and his designees to administer the grant to include signing all modifications, amendments and reimbursement forms which remain within budgeted appropriations
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __X___
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X___
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Chief of Probation recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt a resolution approving participation in the Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction Grant Program;
2. Approve an agreement with the Board of State and Community Corrections to receive $761,322 under the Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction Grant Program for the period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018;
3. Authorize the County Administrator to execute the agreement;
4. Approve an Appropriations Transfer Request of $359,796 to recognize unanticipated grant revenue and related appropriations for the first year to support prevention, intervention, supervision and incarceration-based services and strategies to reduce recidivism and to improve outcomes for mentally ill juvenile and adult offenders in California (4/5 vote required); and
5. Authorize the Chief of Probation and his designees to administer the grant to include signing all modifications, amendments and reimbursement forms which remain within budgeted appropriations.
SUMMARY:
In February 2015, the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) released the Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction (MIOCR) Grant solicitation package. The Probation Department submitted the grant application by the April deadline, targeting juvenile mentally ill offenders. The MIOCR Grant was solicited as a competitive grant. In June, 2015 the Probation Department received notice from the BSCC that Solano County Probation had been awarded $761,322 in grant funds for the three year period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018. The Sheriff’s Office also submitted a grant application for a proposal targeting adult mentally ill offenders and was successful in receiving a separate award. BSCC recently completed the grant agreement and is now requesting Solano County sign the agreement and return to BSCC for processing. Additionally the BSCC is requiring a resolution approving participation in the grant program by the grantee agency’s Board of Supervisors.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The program requires a minimum 25% local match in cash or in-kind services, or a combination of both; however, due to the competitive solicitation, Solano County’s application reflected a 96% match. The match of grant funds totaled $729,988 over the next three years ($243,329 annually). The in-kind match will be met using existing salaries and benefits expenditures budgeted in the FY2015/16 Approved Budget. The FY2015/16 Final Budget does not include sufficient appropriation for the MIOCR program; therefore Probation is requesting approval of an Appropriations Transfer Request to recognize the unanticipated grant revenue and related appropriations to deliver services and meet grant requirements.
The remaining in-kind match of $243,329 annually for FY2016/17 and FY2017/18 shall be included in the respective fiscal years’ Requested Budget. Board action will not impact the County General Fund during the grant period; yet funded projects are required to be sustained by the grantee agency for one year beyond the three year grant term. The estimated cost for the fourth year is $253,774. The Probation Department will commit resources for FY2018/19 to ensure sustainability. The Department anticipates using available increased funding from Proposition 172 Sales Tax Revenue, Public Safety Realignment Revenue, or new funding to replace grant funds used for services provided under the grant.
DISCUSSION:
The 2014-15 State Budget Act appropriated Recidivism Reduction Funds through Assembly Bill (AB) 1468, California Penal Code Sections 6045 - 6045.9 for the establishment of MIOCR grants. The purpose of the funding is to support prevention, intervention, supervision and services through promising and evidence-based strategies to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for mentally ill offenders. The grant funds will be awarded to implement locally-developed, collaborative and multidisciplinary projects that provide a cost-effective continuum of responses to reduce jail overcrowding, reduce crime and criminal justice costs and maximize resources for prevention, intervention, detention and aftercare services.
The grant’s Request for Proposals were released by the BSCC on February 13, 2015 and the grant proposals were due to the BSCC no later than April 3, 2015. Counties could apply for an adult mentally ill offender grant, a juvenile mentally ill offender grant, or both. Statewide, a total of $17,100,000 in MIOCR grant is available for a 3-year grant cycle. Of which, $8,550,000 is available for projects serving adult offenders and $8,550,000 for projects serving juvenile offenders with mental illness. The “targeted cap” of funding from each county is $950,000 per 3-year project application. A minimum of a 25% local match of either cash or in-kind services for the MIOCR grant funds is mandatory. The grant funding is to be used to supplement, rather than supplant, funding for existing programs/projects. If awarded, the first year of the three year grant cycle will commence July 1, 2015 and end on June 30, 2016. A non-competitive reapplication process for continued funding will be issued for the second year (July 1, 2016- June 30, 2017) and third year (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018). Continued funding for the second and third year is contingent on the availability of state funding and compliance with all MIOCR grant requirements. Applicants submitting their proposals must include a 4-year strategic plan to be considered for funding.
The State MIOCR juvenile grant proposal allows Solano County to provide early intervention and diversion from juvenile court intervention for mentally ill youth in Fairfield. The Fairfield Police Department (and City of Fairfield), Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD), and the Solano County Probation Department (SCPD) will work collaboratively to reduce youth crime in Fairfield, California by providing collaborative, evidence-based diversion services that divert youth from suspension, expulsion, the juvenile justice system and sustain them in the community. Police are often the first point of contact for entry into the juvenile justice system and represent the largest avenue for detention and court involvement. As such, this point of contact provides an excellent opportunity for early intervention and diversion from juvenile court intervention for mentally ill youth.
Currently, the Fairfield Police Department’s Juvenile Diversion Program lacks the staffing and expertise to adequately assess the mental health needs of youth entering the program, and there is a need for coordination of services between the police, schools, and the probation department. Additionally, there is a need for expanded counseling programs in Solano County for issues such as anger management, substance abuse, and mental health challenges. These identified needs can be fulfilled with MIOCR grant funds, by: (1) relocating the SCPD Juvenile Probation Supervision Unit to the Sullivan Center to reduce exposure to negative influences when the youth report to their Probation Officer; (2) funding 1.0 FTE existing Group Counselor to provide coordination of care and case management; (3) training the SCPD staff in the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) to screen for any possible mental health issues; (4) contracting a Licensed Clinician to be embedded within the Sullivan Center to triage, conduct clinical evaluations and therapeutic interventions, and provide referrals to appropriate counseling or other services; and (5) providing training to probation, police, educators, community providers, and parents on child and teen brain development, the impacts of trauma on youth behavior. The training would also include strategies on how law enforcement can partner with health experts and other youth-serving partners to improve youth health and safety, promote alternatives to arrest and detention, and improve police-youth-family relationships and community trust. Satisfying these underfunded needs will greatly enhance the collaborative efforts needed to keep mentally ill youth in school and out of the juvenile justice system; two efforts that will ultimately enhance young lives and reduce crime in our community.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to approve the grant agreement and resolution. This is not recommended as this MIOCR grant program will allow the opportunity to provide early intervention and diversion from formal judicial processing for mentally ill youth in Fairfield and shall better serve mentally ill youth. It is anticipated that this enhanced program will be cost effective for the County as it will save money related to juvenile arrests, bookings at the Juvenile Detention Facility and subsequent criminal filings.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrator’s Office has reviewed this report and concurs with Department’s recommendation. County Counsel has reviewed and approved the grant agreement as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION