Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: John T. Keene, Chief Probation Officer
Subject: Agreements with Acknowledge Alliance, Fresh Lifelines for Youth, Inc., and StarVista through the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act to provide services to juvenile justice involved youth
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute agreements through the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) funding:
A) An agreement with Acknowledge Alliance to provide continuous critical interventions through on-site individual and group psychotherapy counselling and transition programs at San Mateo County Community and Court Schools and high schools in the Sequoia Union High School District for the term of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $151,230; and
B) An agreement with Fresh Lifelines for Youth, Inc. to provide continuous Law Program curriculum and 10-week individualized Leadership Programs for the term of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $115,661.37; and
C) An agreement with StarVista to provide a continuous holistic system of care to support at-risk youth with mental health and drug and alcohol dependence issues as well as Victim Impact Awareness educational services to adolescents for the term of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $568,753.
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BACKGROUND:
The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) was created in 2000 by the State to provide a stable funding source for local juvenile justice programs that have been proven effective in reducing crime among at-risk and juvenile justice-involved youth. The San Mateo County Probation Department has funded multiple services such as group and individual counselling, case management, mentoring, substance abuse treatment, leadership, and job readiness/placement programs through the JJCPA.
In 2016, under the guidance of the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC) the local oversight body for JJCPA, a five-year Local Action Plan (LAP) 2016-2020 was developed and replaced the LAP created in 2011. The LAP planning process includes key informant interviews, focus groups, and a survey completed by a plethora of community stakeholders to make sure to hear the voices from those who work directly with the youth in different capacities. The 2016-2020 LAP identified five (5) key areas of need for the youth and their families:
1. Behavioral Health
2. Impact of Poverty on Youth
3. Cultural Sensitivity
4. Family and Community Engagement
5. Additional Programs and Services, such as gang prevention, mentoring and re-entry
In fall 2019, the Probation Department began the planning process for the 2020-2025 LAP. Final implementation of the new LAP is set for July 1, 2020.
In January 2020, Probation completed a Request for Proposal process for Youth and Family Programs and selected Acknowledge Alliance, Fresh Lifelines for Youth, Inc. and StarVista to continue their services.
DISCUSSION:
Through this agreement, Acknowledge Alliance will continue to provide support to students transitioning from the Court and Community Schools back into their comprehensive high schools in both Sequoia Union High School District and San Mateo High School District through their collaborative counseling and transition program.
Since 1994, Acknowledge Alliance, formerly the Cleo Eulau Center, has provided services dedicated to promoting lifelong resilience in youth by helping build positive connections between teachers and students, and to open doors for learning and well-being. Acknowledge Alliance has over 23 years of partnership with the San Mateo County Office of Education and the Probation Department. They are the only local organization that works directly with educators to increase the social emotional learning competencies of youth, particularly those that are disenfranchised, involved in the juvenile justice system and/or who have been expelled from their local public schools.
Fresh Lifelines for Youth, Inc. will provide Law and Leadership programs through law courses that offer life skills education which focus on asset building and cognitive-behavioral change, followed by intensive case management services for personal transformation to support efforts targeted at decreasing recidivism behavior in youth offenders. This program shall be consistent with evidence-based practices by placing a high value on consultation, collaboration, and joining with youth, families, teachers, probation, and agency partners to identify, assess, and plan the appropriate level of intervention to develop assets in at-risk youth.
StarVista will provide a holistic system of care to support at-risk youth with mental health issues and the needed help to attain safety from trauma/substance abuse and stressors as well as Victim Impact Awareness services to adolescents. Additionally, StarVista will continue to provide the family-centered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) model to provide parents, caretakers and other family members with new skills to support pro-social behaviors and educate families on how to deal with particularly challenging adolescents. StarVista services will be provided at two (2) locations in the County: Redwood City and Daly City.
The Probation Department requests that the Chief Probation Officer or his/her designee be granted authorization to execute contract amendments that modify the County’s maximum fiscal obligation by no more than $25,000 (in aggregate) for each agreement, and/or modify the contract term and/or services so long as the modified term or services is/are within the current or revised fiscal provisions.
The term of these agreements is July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. The Agreements and Resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Probation Department has secured $151,230.00 for Acknowledge Alliance, $115,661.37 for Fresh Lifelines for Youth, Inc., and $568,753.00 for StarVista from the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) funding to support these Agreements for the term July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. The funds have been included in the FY 2020-21 Preliminary Recommended Budget and will be included in the FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23 Recommended Budgets. There is no Net County Cost.