Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: John T. Keene, Chief Probation Officer
Subject: Agreement with Applied Survey Research to Provide Research and Evaluation Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an agreement with Applied Survey Research to provide research and evaluation services for the San Mateo County Probation Department, for the term of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2030, in an amount not to exceed $909,414.
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BACKGROUND:
The San Mateo County Probation Department receives State juvenile justice funding from four primary programs:
• Youthful Offender Block Grant (YOBG)
• Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA)
• Juvenile Probation Activities Funding (JPFA)
• Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant (JJRBG)
These funds provide critical resources for prevention, intervention, supervision, and reentry programs that serve justice-involved and at-risk youth.
To maintain eligibility for these funds, the County is required to submit regular reports to the State and the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council. Independent evaluation and monitoring of funded programs help ensure accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement of services for youth and families.
DISCUSSION:
In July 2025, the Probation Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP No. 2025-RFP-00559) for research and evaluation services. Applied Survey Research (ASR), a nonprofit organization with extensive experience in criminal justice and youth program evaluation, was selected through this competitive process.
Under this agreement, ASR will:
• Prepare annual Juvenile Services evaluation reports;
• Present findings to the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council and community-based organizations;
• Provide data analysis to inform program and policy decisions; and
• Develop the 2030-2035 Local Action Plan, outlining countywide strategies for addressing juvenile crime.
The agreement will be funded through a combination of YOBG, JJCPA, JPAF, and JJRBG funding. No Net County Cost is associated with this item.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Performance Measures |
Calendar Year Target |
|
Deliverables completed on time |
100% |
|
Responses to inquiries within 8 business hours |
100% |
|
Partner satisfaction |
100% |
|
User-friendly and actionable reports |
100% |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The Probation Department serves youth and families who are disproportionately impacted by the juvenile justice system, including youth of color, low-income families, and those with histories of trauma. Independent evaluation is a critical tool to ensure that programs and services are equitably accessible, culturally responsive, and effective.
Through this agreement, Applied Survey Research will collect and analyze data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, and other relevant demographics to identify disparities in service delivery and outcomes. The findings will inform policy and practice changes, improve accountability, and support the development of the 2030-2035 Local Action Plan with an equity lens.
By embedding equity considerations into evaluation, the County will be better positioned to address systemic barriers and ensure that justice-involved youth and their families have fair and meaningful opportunities for success.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of this agreement is January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030, for an amount not to exceed $909,414. The Agreement will be fully funded by state resources.