To: Board of Supervisors
From: Probation
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
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Award Recommendation for the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act Grant
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Accept the recommendation of the Merit Review Committee to award funds for the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act Grant.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) Allocation, Probation 1100-202
DISCUSSION:
The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) was created by the Crime Prevention Act of 2000 (Chapter 353) to provide a stable funding source for juvenile justice programs aimed at curbing crime and delinquency among at-risk youth and juvenile offenders. JJCPA funds are available to address a continuum of responses including prevention, intervention, supervision, and incarceration. State law requires that JJCPA-funded programs be modeled on strategies that have demonstrated effectiveness in curbing delinquency. Beyond that, counties have broad discretion in how they use JJCPA Funds to support and enhance their juvenile justice systems.
To encourage coordination and collaboration among the various local agencies serving at-risk youth and young offenders, JJCPA requires a county’s Multi-Agency Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (MAJJCC) to develop and modify the county’s juvenile justice plan. The MAJJCC is chaired by the county’s Chief Probation Officer and its members include representatives of law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, the Board of Supervisors, social services, education, mental health, and community-based organizations (CBOs). The MAJJCC is required to meet at least annually to review and update the county Juvenile Justice Plan. JJCPA relies on partnership between the state, local agencies, and stakeholders. Local officials and stakeholders determine where to direct resources through and interagency planning process. The State Controller’s Office distributes the appropriated JJCPA funds to counties based on population. Local agencies and community-based organizations deliver programs and services. This partnership acknowledges the value the state places on local discretion and multi-agency collaboration in addressing the problem of juvenile crime in California’s communities. Humboldt County’s MAJJCC has determined that a program which increases prosocial activities for youth would support diversionary services and would be an ideal use of the funds.
On Sept. 15, 2021, the Humboldt County Probation Department (HCPD) released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a CBO to provide services for local youth to prevent delinquent behavior and support prosocial activities. This funding comes from JJCPA and is guided by the MAJJCC. The proposals focused on factors of resiliency known to encourage improved outcomes for youth including but not limited to targeting school attendance and academic performance, structured recreational activities, positive prosocial activities, mentorship or positive adult non-family relationships, cultural connections, development of coping skills, and employment or employment readiness.
The HCPD received two eligible applications that were evaluated by the Merit Review Committee. The Merit Review Committee included Chief Probation Officer, Shaun Brenneman; Principal of Court and Community Schools, Felicia Doherty; and Deputy Director for Department of Health & Human Services Children’s Behavioral Health Division, Jeremy Nilsen. The Merit Review Committee reviewed the applications independently and then reviewed their scoring of the applications as the group.
The Merit Review Committee selected the application by Boys and Girls Club of the Redwoods for Friendship, Future, Fun Program. The goal of the program is to offer healthy and fun experiences that will redirect youth and prevent juvenile delinquency and prepare them for their futures. This program offers recreation and educational opportunities that cultivate healthy peer and mentor relationships. The Friendship Lounge will be designed to be a safe private space that youth can come get support from, and bond with, their peers. Youth will also be provided a Futures Counselor to lead the future component that will focus on employment and readiness training, school attendance and academic performance and mentorship. The Fun component will focus on structured recreational actives and positive prosocial activities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This agenda item would award a 3-year grant with a total amount of $450,000, or $150,000 per year. The funding for this grant comes for the Humboldt County JJCPA allocation for fiscal year 2021-22. Funding for this grant was included in HCPD’s 2021-22 budget in budget unit 1100-202, therefore there is no supplemental budget required at this time. This grant will have no impact on the General Fund. The funds will pass through the Humboldt County Probation 1100-202 budget unit to the grant recipient.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing community-appropriate levels of service .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Boys and Girls Club of the Redwoods
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may elect not to award these funds, however that is not recommended. This is an opportunity to support youth with no cost to the general fund. This will encourage positive prosocial activities and prevent juvenile delinquency in Humboldt County.
ATTACHMENTS:
Boys and Girls Club of the Redwoods Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Programming Proposal
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A