Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Christina Corpus, Sheriff
Subject: Domestic Violence Co-Response Pilot Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing and directing the County Executive or their designee to design and implement a Domestic Violence Co-Response Pilot Program for a term of two years for a total amount not to exceed $1,000,000.
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BACKGROUND:
Domestic violence is a public health and safety issue that impacts over 10,000 people in San Mateo County annually. In 2022, the County received 1,786 domestic violence-related calls for service (CA DOJ). In 2023 alone, five women in the County were killed in domestic violence incidents. To better address domestic violence in San Mateo County, the Domestic Violence Council has convened a Task Force that seeks to identify opportunities for programmatic improvement, one opportunity identified was the creation of a domestic violence Co-Response Pilot Program.
Law enforcement officers have traditionally responded to domestic violence calls alone. The proposed pilot program enhances law enforcement response by supplementing it with an embedded survivor advocate assigned to each partner law enforcement agency. Each survivor advocate in partnership with law enforcement responders will assist in the first response by providing early and specialized engagement, intervention, guidance, and connection to support services for those involved. The proposed Co-Response Model recognizes the importance of ongoing support for victims beyond the initial response, a capacity that survivor advocates can uniquely provide, complementing law enforcement's efforts.
The County and three partner cities are currently utilizing with success the Co-Responder model for response to community members experiencing mental health crisis (CWCRT). The domestic violence co-responder pilot looks to replicat...
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