Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: John T. Keene, Chief Probation Officer
Subject: Second Amendment to the agreement with Success Centers through the Youthful Offender Block Grant to continue to provide academic study hall, job readiness training, and a visual arts program.
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute a second amendment to the agreement with Success Centers through the Youthful Offender Block Grant (YOBG) to continue to provide their academic study hall, job readiness training, and a visual arts program to youth at the San Mateo County Probation Department’s Youth Services Center-Juvenile Hall (YSC-JH) by extending the term end date to June 30, 2023 and increasing the amount by $95,142.56 to an amount not to exceed $285,427.68.
body
BACKGROUND:
In 2007, in response to SB81 Juvenile Justice Realignment, the State allocated money to San Mateo County in the form of the YOBG funds. The purpose of YOBG is to enhance the capacity of local communities to implement an effective continuum of response to juvenile crime and delinquency. Allocations from YOBG funding must be used to enhance the capacity of county probation, mental health, drug and alcohol, and other county departments to provide appropriate rehabilitative and supervision services to youthful offenders subject to Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Sections 731.1, 733, 1766, and 1767.35. Counties, in expending the YOBG allocation, must provide all necessary services related to the custody and rehabilitation of the juvenile offenders.
In January 2020, the Probation Department completed a Request for Proposals process for Youth Activities and Mental Health Services and selected Success Centers to provide their services.
On July 10, 2020, the San Mateo County Probation Department and Success Centers entered into an agreement for the purpose of providing academic study hall, job readiness training, and visual arts programs to youth in detention at the YSC-JH for the term of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 in an amount not to exceed $95,142.56.
On June 16, 2021, the agreement was amended to extend the term by one year through June 30, 2022 and increase the total amount to $190,285.12.
DISCUSSION:
Success Centers is currently under contract with the Probation Department to provide their academic study hall program, job readiness training program, and visual arts program to youth at the YSC-JH. The academic study hall program is designed to provide academic counseling strategies that deepen understandings of college pathways. The job readiness training program prepares youth to be successful in their first jobs, focusing resume preparation, problem-solving, communication, and financial literacy skills. The visual arts program engages youth in fine arts as a vehicle to build life skills that reduce the risk of recidivism. Together, these programs empower marginalized community members through education, employment, and art, so they may develop a positive self-image and a sense of hope and purpose for their futures.
Through this amendment, YOBG funding would continue to fund these programs through FY 2022-23.
In FY 2020-21, Success Centers’ job readiness training program served 29 youths, 88% of whom self-reported enhanced job readiness and life skills as a result - exceeding the performance measure target of 80%. In addition, the job readiness training program was rated by youth as the YSC-JHs most “helpful” program in a January 2021 survey that asked youth about virtual services provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In FY 2021-22, Success Centers introduced its 12-week visual arts program to 11 youths at the facility, all of whom reported they learned a new skill and felt confident enough to use the skills they learned in real-life situations.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions prevented Success Centers from implementing its academic study hall program. However, the Probation Department and Success Centers will continue to evaluate the feasibility of implementing this program in-person in compliance with current health and safety requirements.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Annual Performance Measures |
Target FY 20-21 |
Target FY 21-22 |
Target FY 22-23 |
|
Participants will report better engagement with academics |
80% |
80% |
80% |
|
Participants will report enhanced knowledge about job readiness and life skills |
80% |
80% |
80% |
|
Participants will report enhance appreciation for the arts |
80% |
80% |
80% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Probation Department has secured funding from the Youthful Offender Block Grant to fund Success Centers for the term July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. The funds have been included in the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget and are included in the FY 2022-23 Recommended Budget. There is no net County cost.