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C. 32

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Kathy Gallagher, Employment & Human Services Director
Date:	November 7, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

SUPPORT position on H. Res. 443 - Recognizing the importance and effectiveness of trauma-informed care.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 11/07/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Susan Jeong, 925-608-4884
cc:	Lara DeLaney

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: November 7, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT a position of "Support" for House Resolution 443 (Rep. Mike Gallagher [R-WI-8]): recognizing the importance and effectiveness of trauma-informed care. The resolution encourages the use of trauma-informed care within the federal government and expresses support for the designation of National Trauma Awareness Month and National Trauma-Informed Awareness Day.

DIRECT staff to engage with Contra Costa County Congressional Representatives Mark DeSaulnier, Jerry McNerney, Eric Swalwell, and Mike Thompson to co-sponsor H. Res. 443.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impacts to the County General Fund.

BACKGROUND:

H. Res. 443, as introduced, Rep. Gallagher [R-WI-8].
This is a House Resolution resolving that the House of Representatives:
(1) recognizes the importance, effectiveness, and need for trauma-informed care among existing programs and agencies at the Federal level;
(2) encourages the use and practice of trauma-informed care within the Federal Government, its agencies, and the United States Congress; and
(3) supports the designation of “National Trauma Awareness Month” and the designation of a “National Trauma-Informed Awareness Day” during such month to highlight community resilience through trauma-informed change.

This federal resolution, is aligned with the State of California's 2014 Assembly Concurrent Resolution 155 (Bocanegra) "Relative to childhood brain development: Adverse experiences" and with County Legislative Platform statement 150: SUPPORT efforts that seek to address the impact of domestic violence and sexual assault and implement culturally relevant, trauma-informed responses, connect victims to services, and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault.

This request has been submitted by the Employment and Human Services Department since the Legislative Committee is not meeting until December and to allow staff sufficient time to engage our local congressional representatives. Supporting this is critical since every 10 minutes another child in Contra Costa County sees or hears domestic violence. The strong connection between childhood exposure to domestic violence and many of the costly societal issues that our community faces every day means we all must address this issue. Contra Costa County has a long standing commitment to addressing violence prevention and trauma with the founding of The Contra Costa Alliance to End Abuse (formerly Zero Tolerance) nearly 16 years ago, including its investment in Families Thrive which brings together organizations in the community to marshal resources and support partnerships to address the needs of children, youth and families impacted by domestic violence.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without a position on this house resolution, the County could not advocate on it.