Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Agency Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Agreement with Rape Trauma Services for CSEC Support Services
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Rape Trauma Services (RTS) to provide support, advocacy and accompaniment services to youth who are victims or at risk of sexual exploitation and their families, for the term of February 1, 2020 through January 31, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $345,000.
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BACKGROUND:
The commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of children is one of the fastest growing epidemics in the country. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, a federal law passed in 2000, states that any child under the age of 18 years old that is used for the purpose of exploitation through sexual servitude (prostitution), regardless of the absence of economic leverage, manipulation, fraud, coercion, threats, force and violence is considered a commercially sexually exploited child (CSEC).
According to the California Child Welfare Council CSEC Workgroup, the children who fall prey to exploiters frequently have prior involvement with the child welfare system, and between 70-90% of exploited children have experienced child sexual abuse prior to exploitation. Sex traffickers and exploiters are known to target foster youth because of their unique vulnerabilities and accessibility.
CSEC present with a unique set of challenges which require an individualized and comprehensive treatment approach that must be flexible and able to adapt with the needs of the youth. Barriers include a lack of resource families who are willing to care for youth with commercial sexual exploitation history, and who have the necessary tools, knowledge and experience to work with this highly traumatized population. Further, CSEC often have complex trauma which manifests itself in various behaviors and can present with other challenges such as substance abuse, physical health complications, juvenile justice and/or gang involvement. Therefore, we need to ensure that we are properly assessing, appropriately intervening, and adequately tracking this unique population of dependents who present with complex forms of trauma.
San Mateo County has established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the CSEC Action Team of the California State Welfare Council. The MOU requires a multi-agency approach to address service delivery for youth who are identified as at-risk for or victims of CSE. San Mateo County Children & Family Services (CFS) is the lead agency in the response to CSEC for San Mateo County which includes facilitating the County's CSEC collaboration and acting as the CSEC liaison to the State. RTS has been identified as a sole source vendor that provides crisis counseling support to survivors of sexual assault and has developed services in collaboration with the CSEC Action Team to support CSE youth.
DISCUSSION:
This three-year agreement with RTS will provide trauma-informed crisis line support, crisis intervention, counseling, accompaniment and advocacy services to youth who are identified as at-risk for or victims of sexual exploitation. RTS will also collaborate with CFS and service providers to identify and provide comprehensive, coordinated care services to youth and families; co-facilitate CSEC-specific training with CFS staff for both CFS staff and other community partners to provide psychoeducation on how best to support youth and their families; and participate in the CSEC Steering Committee meetings to assist in developing best practices and procedures when working with this population.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing amendment of the County’s fiscal obligation by a maximum of $25,000 in the aggregate.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2020-21 Projected |
FY 2021-22 Projected |
|
Contractor will respond within 30 minutes to support and accompany survivors through initial crisis response process |
90% |
90% |
|
Participants will report improved family functioning and child well-being and safety through pre- and post- surveys administered by the Contractor |
70% |
70% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is February 1, 2020 through January 31, 2023. The total obligation is $345,000 and is funded through the State funded Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children allocation. Funds for these services are included in the FY19-20 Adopted Budget. Similar arrangements will be made for future budget years. There is no Net County Cost.