Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: John T. Keene, Chief Probation Officer
Subject: Agreement with the Success Centers through Juvenile Probation Camp Funding to provide services to at-risk youth
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an agreement through the Juvenile Probation Camp Funding (JPCF) with the Success Centers to provide case management, job readiness training and job placement services for the term of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023, in an amount not to exceed $300,000.
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BACKGROUND:
The Juvenile Probation and Camp Funding (JPCF) was developed in 2005 to provide a stable funding source for services and programs targeting at-risk youth and their families. Services funded through JPCF include a complementary set of interventions along a continuum from prevention and early intervention, to more intensive intervention within the community.
The San Mateo County Probation Department has funded multiple services such as academic support, school safety advocates, group and individual counselling, case management, substance abuse prevention/treatment, leadership mentors, and job readiness/placement programs through the JPCF.
In 2016, under the guidance of the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC), the local oversight body for JPCF, a five-year Local Action Plan (LAP) 2016-2020 was developed and replaced the previous 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 and 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 Success Centers, as a new provider under a contract to provide their services.
DISCUSSION:
Through this agreement, the Success Centers will provide case management, job readiness training and job placement services.
Job readiness training (JRT) is designed to engage at-risk youth to become better at resume writing, interview skills and how to search for the right Job using today's technology. Topics covered include: self-awareness, career exploration, Interview skills, and resume writing with sub-sections that dive deeper into each topic on career planning, barriers to employment, researching the job, interview questions, resume critique and a student evaluation.
After the completion of the JRT, job placement services will guide at-risk youth to identify job leads and staff will generate referrals to potential employers to schedule job interviews. Success Centers links youth to local job fairs and works with potential employers to visit and conduct employer spotlights to interview potential candidates onsite. Once a participant is hired, Success Centers staff maintain contact with the participant for a 3 to12-month period during which youth are given continuous coaching and mentoring, depending on the need.
The Probation Department requests that the Chief Probation Officer or his designee be granted authorization to execute contract amendments that modify the County’s maximum fiscal obligation by no more than $25,000.00 (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 this agreement is July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023. The Agreement and Resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Probation Department has secured $300,000.00 for Success Centers from the Juvenile Probation and Camp Funding (JPCF) to support this Agreement for the term July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. The funds have been included in the FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget and will be included in the FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23 Recommended Budgets. There is no Net County Cost.