The Local Innovation Subaccount is a public safety fund mandated by the State as part of the Public Safety Realignment of 2011. This Subaccount is unique in that its expenditure is at the sole discretion of the Board of Supervisors and not required to adhere to the standard Community Corrections Partnership funding processes. Ten percent of the annual allocation of the following four local growth accounts created in the 2011 package create the Subaccount:
- Trial Court Security Growth Special Account
- Juvenile Justice Growth Special Account
- District Attorney and Public Defender Growth Special Account
- Community Corrections Growth Special Account
In May 2016, the Board approved a policy that established a process for allocation of the Local Innovation Subaccount funds through the creation of a “Safe Communities Program Innovation Grant” (see Attachment A). Through this grant, County staff and community-based organizations that provide services to justice-involved populations have the opportunity to innovate with the use of these funds. A Local Innovation Subaccount Ad Hoc Subcommittee comprised of Supervisors Rexroad and Provenza was created to assist with oversight.
Under this policy a priority focus theme is to be established for each application cycle and all grant funding requests must meet a permissible use related to one of the four local growth accounts (which are detailed in Attachment A). Additionally, the County Administrator’s Office (CAO) is to announce the application period for the grant to community-based organizations and County staff. Once received, the applications are reviewed by an interdisciplinary scoring panel and their recommendation is presented to the Local Innovation Subaccount Ad Hoc Subcommittee before presentation to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Safe Communities Program Grant FY 2017-18
Fiscal Year 2017-18 was the second year for the Safe Communities Program Innovation Grant and $122,055 is currently available from the Local Innovation Subaccount to distribute. The CAO's office sent out notification to county staff and community-based organizations in April. The grant application period ran from April 25 to May 21, 2018. The priority focus theme chosen for this year was services connection, which can include, but was not limited to, housing, mental health treatment, work training, educational programs, and substance abuse treatment. Ultimately, the application from the Probation Department was the only proposal received. Therefore, rather than a scoring panel, the application was reviewed by CAO staff to ensure it met the requirements and then approved by the Local Innovation Subaccount Ad Hoc Subcommittee (See Attachment B for the Application).
The Yolo County Probation Department, in conjunction with the Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE), proposes utilizing the grant to assist incarcerated youth transition from custody to the community with a one-on-one mentor, through a contract with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC). The ARC is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to reduce incarceration, improve the outcomes of formerly incarcerated individuals, and build healthier communities. ARC mentors help shift the mindset of incarcerated youth to support better decision-making by helping youth build positive relationships with encouraging role models. Through these relationships, youth are connected to services for reentry in the community, educational attainment, and employment in the workforce.
This proposal would serve Yolo County's most justice-involved, high risk youth, as identified for services by Probation, with input from the Yolo County Office of Education. The Probation Department would provide leadership and management of the proposed services, however the implementation of the project would be done primarily by the ARC. The services would be provided at various locations throughout Yolo County, including Juvenile Hall and YCOE school sites. ARC offers wraparound supportive services, including case management, trauma counseling, and mentorship opportunities, to guide members through the reentry process and support them in leading healthy, successful lives.
The proposal meets the services connection annual priority focus theme, and furthers multiple priority focus areas of the Yolo County 2016-19 Strategic Plan, including expanding best practices in programs benefiting children (Thriving Residents goal) and developing a coordinated continuum of care (Safe Communities goal). Additionally, the project's purpose, to provide a continuum of mentoring and connection to services for high risk juveniles from custody to the community, meets the permissible use "juvenile justice" under Yolo County's Safe Communities Program Innovation Grant policy.
Below is the project budget as outlined in the submitted grant proposal:
Project Budget |
Expense |
Cost |
Personnel |
Mentor Stipends |
$6,000 |
Sacramento Director |
$15,000 |
Yolo County Life |
$45,000 |
Benefits |
$16,500 |
Total Personnel |
$82,500 |
Program Costs |
Travel/Mileage |
$5,000 |
Supplies/Ancillary |
$7,500 |
Job Readiness |
$8,500 |
Training |
$1,650 |
Total Program Costs |
$22,650 |
Indirect Costs |
$9,850 |
Total Cost |
$115,000 |
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