To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Inter-Departmental Memorandum of Understanding between the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services and the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office Regarding the Continued Operation of the Child Abuse Services Team in the Amount of $382,000 Per Fiscal Year
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Department of Health and Human Services Director and the Humboldt County District Attorney, or designees thereof, to execute, the attached inter-departmental memorandum of understanding regarding the continued operation of the Child Abuse Services Team in the amount of $382,000 per fiscal year; and
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services Director and the Humboldt County District Attorney, or designees thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached inter-departmental memorandum of understanding, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to provide the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit and the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office with one (1) fully executed, certified copy of the Board order related to this item.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ 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:
The Child Abuse Services Team (“CAST”) is a multi-disciplinary forensic interview team with specially trained individuals from law enforcement, Department of Health and Human Services - Child Welfare Services (“DHHS - Child Welfare Services”), Department of Health and Human Services - Behavioral Health, the District Attorney’s Office, the District Attorney’s Victim Witness Office, Humboldt Domestic Violence Services, North Coast Rape Crisis Team and Tribal Social Services agencies. CAST is a nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center through the National Children’s Alliance. The purpose of CAST is to conduct comprehensive interviews of children and cognitively delayed adults in a child friendly setting, to gather facts when there is suspicion of sexual or physical abuse in effort to minimize the number of interviews and reduce trauma for victims and their families. Law enforcement will request a CAST interview by a trained social worker from DHHS - Child Welfare Services when a child is suspected of being a victim of abuse. Prosecutors and investigators from the District Attorney’s Office watch the interview in real time with a law enforcement officer from the jurisdiction in which the alleged crime occurred.
CAST was formed in 1996. In 2010, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors (“Board”) approved an inter-departmental memorandum of understanding formalizing a cost-sharing process by which DHHS reimbursed the District Attorney’s Office for services provided to CAST. The previous inter-departmental memorandum of understanding has expired, while payment from DHHS to the District Attorney’s Office has continued.
The attached inter-departmental memorandum of understanding will allow DHHS to continue to reimburse the District Attorney’s Office for services provided CAST for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2029. It should be noted that the attached inter-departmental memorandum of understanding between DHHS and the District Attorney’s Office comes to Board after the start date thereof due to inadvertent delays that occurred during the contract development process.
Accordingly, DHHS recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the DHHS Director and the Humboldt County District Attorney, or designees thereof, to execute the attached inter-departmental memorandum of understanding regarding the continued operation of CAST. It is also recommended that the Board authorize the DHHS Director and the Humboldt County District Attorney, or designees thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached inter-departmental memorandum of understanding, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in continuation of services provided by CAST.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
1160508 Child Welfare Services; 507000 State Administrative funds; 507075 State Realignment; and 526000 Federal Administration funds
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1160-508) |
FY24-25 |
FY25-26 Projected* |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$382,000.00 |
$382,000.000 |
$382,000.00 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$382,000.00 |
$382,000.00 |
$382,000.00 |
|
Funding Sources (1160-508) |
FY24-25 |
FY25-26 Projected* |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
General Fund |
$45,840.00 |
$45,840.00 |
$45,840.00 |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$286,500.00 |
$286,500.00 |
$286,500.00 |
|
Fees/Other |
$49,660.00 |
$49,660.00 |
$49,660.00 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$382,000.00 |
$382,000.00 |
$382,000.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
The attached inter-departmental memorandum of understanding between DHHS and the District Attorney’s Office will be reported and claimed on the County Expense Claim submitted by DHHS - Child Welfare Services. The reported expenditures are reimbursed through local, state and federal revenues received by DHHS - Child Welfare Services. Expenditures related to the attached interdepartmental memorandum of understanding between DHHS and the District Attorney’s Office have been included in the approved fiscal year 2024-25 budget for budget unit 1160-508. Expenditures for future years will be included in the annual budget process.
STAFFING IMPACT:
The attached inter-departmental memorandum of understanding between DHHS and the District Attorney’s Offices allows for continuation of reimbursement for District Attorney Office staff who provide CAST services including a District Attorney Investigator and a Deputy District Attorney IV. Approval of the attached inter-departmental memorandum of understanding between DHHS and the District Attorney’s Office will not impact current staffing levels in terms of allocated positions.
It is anticipated due to ongoing attorney recruitment challenges and a reduction in available funding the additional attorney position within the CAST unit will be budgeted as an entry level position. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to pursue additional funding to ensure the CAST unit is properly staffed.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached inter-departmental memorandum of understanding between DHHS and the District Attorney’s Office regarding the continued operation of CAST. However, this alternative is not recommended, as the services provided by are critical for children who need to be interviewed regarding alleged abuse, and DHHS is able to claim for direct services.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Inter-Departmental Memorandum of Understanding between the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services and the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office Regarding the Continued Operation of the Child Abuse Services Team
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: September 21, 2010
File No.: 16-5002