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Adopt a resolution authorizing the Solano County Probation Department to participate in the Youth Reinvestment Grant Program funded through the State of California Recidivism Reduction Fund and Administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC); Authorize the Chief of Probation or his designee to execute Grant Agreement Number BSCC 592-19 with the BSCC for the program effective July 1, 2019 through February 28, 2023 in the amount of $300,000; and Approve an Appropriations Transfer Request (ATR) of $100,000 in unanticipated revenue from the BSCC (4/5 vote required)
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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 authorizing the Solano County Probation Department to participate in the Youth Reinvestment Grant Program funded through the State of California Recidivism Reduction Fund and Administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC)
2. Authorize the Chief of Probation or his designee to execute Grant Agreement Number BSCC 592-19 with the BSCC for the program, effective July 1, 2019 through February 28, 2023 in the amount of $300,000; and
3. Approve an Appropriations Transfer Request (ATR) of $100,000 in unanticipated revenue from the BSCC (4/5 vote required).
SUMMARY:
The Solano County Probation Department’s grant application was in response to BSCC’s Request for Proposal under the Youth Reinvestment Grant Program which was released on January 18, 2019. Funding for the YRG Program is provided under the 2018 State Budget Act (Senate Bill 840, Chapter 29, Statutes of 2018) and the related trailer bill (Assembly Bill 1812, Chapter 36, Statutes of 2018), which appropriated a total of $35,062,000 over the course of the grant term. The goal of the YRG Program is to divert low-level offenders from initial contact with the juvenile justice system by using approaches that are evidence-based, culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate.
Grant funds in the amount of $300,000 have been awarded to Solano County to identify and support underserved communities with high rates of juvenile arrests coupled with high rates of racial/ethnic disproportionality. Ninety (90) percent of the awarded funds will be passed through to community-based organizations (CBO) who must deliver services in underserved communities with high rates of juvenile arrests. Ten (10) percent of the total award will be passed through to the Lead Public Agency to coordinate with local law enforcement agencies, social services agencies, and non-governmental organizations to ensure successful implementation of the grant program. The funding period for the YRG Program will be July 1, 2019 through February 8, 2023.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The program requires a minimum 25% local match in-cash or in-kind services, or a combination of both. The required 25% match of grant funds is $77,400 over the next three years ($25,800 annually). The in-kind match will be met using the salaries and benefits of the Project Manager, which is budgeted in the Probation Department’s FY2019/20 Approved Budget. There is sufficient funding in the budget to absorb the cost, and there is no additional impact to the County General Fund for FY2019/20.
The remaining in-kind salary match of $25,800 annually for FY2020/21 and FY2021/22 will be included in the Probation Department’s Requested Budget.
DISCUSSION:
In 2017, the Solano County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC) supported an initiative to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system. This effort is being led by the Solano County Racial and Ethnic Disparities (R.E.D.) Steering Committee, which is an ad hoc committee established by the JJCC. The R.E.D. Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from Solano County Law and Justice Agencies, the Solano County Office of Education and community-based organizations, have partnered with the W. Haywood Burns Institute (BI) to identify whether, and to what extent, racial and ethnic disparities exist in Solano County’s juvenile justice system. Utilizing a data-driven process, the goal is to identify disparities, analyze and strategize, and pilot or adopt policy change that reduces disparate entry and deeper advancement of youth of color in the juvenile justice system. Toward that end, the R.E.D. Steering Committee recommended to the Board of Supervisors to approve an application to the BSCC for the Youth Reinvestment Funds Grant.
The YRG Program was established in the 2018 Budget Act (Senate Bill 840, Chapter 29, Statutes of 2018) and the related trailer bill (Assembly Bill 1812, Chapter 36, Statutes of 2018). The goal of the program is to divert low-level offenders from initial contact with the juvenile justice system by using approaches that are evidence-based, culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate. Grant funds will be used to target underserved communities with high rates of juvenile arrests coupled with high rates of racial/ethnic disproportionality.
The Solano County Probation Department will serve as the designated lead agency for the YRG Program. Funding received through the YRG Program will be used for the expansion and development of mentoring and diversion programs, specifically focused on limiting law enforcement involvement on traditional school sites that serve youth of color who would normally be cited or arrested for offenses committed on school grounds.
The Probation Department currently works with two CBO’s (W. Burns Haywood Institute and Alternative Restorative Communities) to enhance prevention and diversion efforts. This has included a restructuring of the booking criteria at the Juvenile Detention Facility, and the introduction of mentoring for youth exiting the Challenge Academy. The YRG Program provides an opportunity for the Department to expand diversion and mentoring services with a specific focus on youth at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system simply because of their ethnicity or socio-economic status, while providing support for schools and law enforcement. In addition, the YRG Program will allow the Department to continue to utilize the strength-based Youth Asset Development framework in all diversion, early intervention, and supervision programs for youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to approve the grant award and contract with the BSCC. This is not recommended as the YRG Program allows for the expansion of diversion and mentoring programs countywide which focus on youth of color and limiting law enforcement involvement on school sites.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION