To: Board of Supervisors
From: Probation
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Resolution Requesting for Authority to Apply for the Probation Specialized Units (PU) Program Grant in the Amount of $100,000 and Accept Grant Funds
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Chief Probation Officer to sign the application to California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Victim Services Division, for the for the Probation Specialized Units (PU) Program Grant for Fiscal Year 2026-27; and
2. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to act as Authorized Agent and sign any subsequent grant documents relating to the Probation Specialized Units (PU) Program grant for the 2026-27 fiscal year, with the prior approval of Risk Management, County Counsel and the County Administrative Office.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 1001 -Support and sustain partnerships between public safety and partner agencies to enhance public safety in our communities
DISCUSSION:
On Oct. 22, 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved the Probation Department’s request to apply for the federal VAWA S*T*O*P Grant. In California, the grant is administrated by Cal OES, Victim Services Division. The Probation Department would like to continue its work with the grant.
The Probation Department is submitting the 13th such application to Cal OES to continue its work supervising domestic violence offenders on formal probation. The Probation Department is seeking approval from your Board to submit grant paperwork to Cal OES for the continuance of the Probation Specialized Units (PU) Program.
The extension of the grant will allow the Probation Department to continue to provide intensive supervision to domestic violence offenders. With this program, Probation hired a Senior Probation Officer to supervise these offenders. This program also supports offender participation in court-ordered Batterer’s Intervention Programs (BIP) where previously delays in service left offenders untreated for months. Assistance provided through the grant addresses this service gap.
The first request for application (RFA) for this grant was competitive. Upon the initial approval, the Probation Department had the option of applying for two additional annual grant periods on a noncompetitive basis, as the grant program was a 3-year funded program. The Probation Department successfully applied for, and was awarded, grant funding in both competitive and non-competitive grant years for the past 12 years.
The Humboldt County Probation Department once again requested authorization to apply for the 12th year of this grant funding. This grant period runs from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027. Therefore, the Probation Department requests that your Board authorize the Chief Probation Officer, Coral Sanders, to sign and submit the Cal OES Probation Specialized Units (PU) Program FY 2026-27 application and any subsequent grant documents required.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
The federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Services*Training*Officers*Prosecution (S*T*O*P) Formula Grant supports the Probation Specialized Supervision Program that is administered in California by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), Victim Services Division
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1100-235001) |
FY26-27 Projected* |
FY27-28 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$177,475 |
$186,633 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$177,745 |
$186,633 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1100-235001) |
FY26-27 Projected* |
FY27-28 Projected* |
|
General Fund |
$77,745 |
$86,633 |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$177,745 |
$186,633 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
In preparing the Probation Specialized Supervision Program FY 2026-27 application, the Probation Department will be requested funding from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Victim Services Division for $100,000. The grant includes a required 25% county match, which amounts to $25,000. Therefore, the Probation Department would be required to provide funding in the amount of $25,000 as a match for the grant award.
The entire program cost is estimated to be $177,745 in Fiscal Year 2026-27, and the Probation Department will utilize General Fund allocations for budget unit 235 to subsidize the difference between the award and the remaining cost of the program. Since the grant period runs from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027, the impact to the department’s budget is demonstrated in Humboldt County Probation’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026- 27 within the existing budget of 1100-235001-526541, with 100% of the total $125,000 being represented. The FY 2027-28 estimate assumes Probation will secure this grant again next year, and costs grow by 5%.
Per Board procedure, the County Administrative Office has reviewed and approved a pre-grant questionnaire for this grant. While the grant does not cover the full cost of the program, it has been utilized for the past 12 years and Probation has modified its services to ensure no additional General Fund is needed to carry out ongoing services.
STAFFING IMPACT:
|
Position Title |
Position Control Number |
Monthly Salary Range (1A-E Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Senior Probation Officer |
2350469-07 |
E |
0 |
0 |
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
The Probation Specialized Units Program grant funds one Senior Probation Officer who manages the caseload associated with this program. There are no anticipated staff additions or deletions in Fiscal Year 2026-27.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Victim Services
Community Based Organizations (Batterer Intervention Programs)
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may elect not to approve this request however it is not recommended. Without funding from this grant, the Probation Department would be unable to continue its Specialized Units (PU) Program for domestic violence offenders, which would result in the loss of treatment services to address this specific, identified need.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors authorizing the application for and acceptance of Probation Specialized Units (PU) Grant Funds
2. 2026-2027 Application for the Probation Specialized Units (PU) Program Grant
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 10/22/13; 1/17/14; 9/23/14; 9/15/15; 10/4/16; 10/17/17; 9/4/18; 9/17/19; 7/20/20; 7/28/21; 5/23/23; 9/10/24; 8/26/25
File No.: 18-1135, 19-1318, 20-901, 21-962, 22-564; 23-711; 24-1263; 25-978