Agenda

Return

C. 61

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Date:	March 21, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract with Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance for Administration of Dept of Justice grant

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 03/21/2023

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
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

C. Youngblood (925) 608-4964

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: March 21, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract with Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance (DBA Family Justice Center) in an amount not to exceed $938,000 to administer the Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program (ICJR) awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women for the period March 22, 2023 through September 30, 2025.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This contract will be fully funded by Office on Violence Against Women Federal Grant funds (ICJR award # 15JOVW-22-GG-01810-ICJR).

BACKGROUND:

On April 12, 2022 (Board Order item C. 43) the Board of Supervisors authorized the the Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) to apply for and accept a continuation grant in the amount of $1,000,000 from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to implement the Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program. On September 23, 2022, Contra Costa County was awarded the DOJ Improving Criminal Justice Responses (ICJR) to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program award. ICJR is authorized by 34 U.S.C. §§ 10461-10465 and implemented through regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 90, Subpart D.

This contract is to administer the ICJR Program outlined in the grant proposal submitted by the Employment and Human Services Department through the Alliance to End Abuse and its partner organizations. This grant funding is designed to assist victims of violence with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives, while improving communities' capacity to hold offenders accountable for their crimes. The program fosters victim safety and offender accountability in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by encouraging state, local, and tribal governments and courts to work collaboratively with community partners to identify problems and share ideas that will result in effectively responding to these crimes.

An integral component of this program is the development, revitalization, or enhancement of a coordinated community response that brings together criminal justice agencies, victim services providers, and community-based organizations that respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Family Justice Center, in collaboration with its project partners, will use this award to continue improving the jurisdiction’s criminal justice system response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Specifically, the program will: 1) implement activities focused on victim safety and offender accountability; 2) participate in mandated OVW training and technical assistance; and 3) work toward sustainability of project activities.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The Employment and Human Services Department will be unable to administer this grant and thus programs designed to respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking will not be fully implemented in Contra Costa County.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

This contract supports two of the five of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes established in the Children’s Report Card: (4) "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing"; and (5) "Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families” by providing a safe environment where families affected by with interpersonal violence can receive appropriate support and follow-up services.