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Regular-Law & Justice Services # 41.
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| Board of Supervisors |
Probation |
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| Subject |
| Receive an overview of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) program that directs unaccompanied alien children requiring secure placement to the Yolo County Juvenile Detention Facility; accept ORR Notice of Award for related services provided from February 1, 2017 through January 31, 2018 with a not to exceed amount of $2,973,724; and provide related input and direction. (No general fund impact) (Cardall) |
| Recommended Action |
- Receive an overview of the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) program that directs unaccompanied alien children requiring secure placement to the Yolo County Juvenile Detention Facility;
- Accept Notice of Award for related services provided from February 1, 2017 through January 31, 2018 with a not to exceed the amount of $2,973,724, to be used according to this program's plan; and
- Provide related input and direction.
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| Strategic Plan Goal(s) |
Operational Excellence
Thriving Residents
Safe Communities |
| Reason for Recommended Action/Background |
Introduction to the ORR Yolo Secure Care Placement
In 2008, Yolo County entered into an agreement with the Office of Administration for Children & Families to provide secure care placement to meet the Country’s need for a physically secure facility and staff able to control violent behavior in the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR’s) placement continuum. Presently, Yolo County provides bed space for up to 24 youths who meet ORR secure placement criteria by posing a danger to self or others or having been charged with having committed a criminal offense. This grant was recently put out for bid again, and after participating in the application process, was awarded to Yolo County for one additional year, plus two one-year optional extension periods.
Unaccompanied Children (UC) are screened by ORR at intake to determine the appropriate placement with consideration to child welfare best practices, the needs of the individual youth, and public safety. ORR places UC in the least restrictive setting appropriate to meet the youth’s needs and may place a youth in a shelter facility, therapeutic foster care or group home, or a staff secure or secure care facility. A secure care provider is designed for youths who require very close supervision and may need the additional external controls and the physical structure of a secure facility. Less than two percent (2%) of all UC’s are placed in secure care, with the vast majority of youth being placed in a lower level of care. The secure care placement at the Yolo County Juvenile Detention Facility (YCJDF) is one (1) of only two (2) secure placements in the country.
In making determinations for secure placements, ORR considers if the unaccompanied child:
- Has committed, threatened to commit, or engaged in violent or malicious behavior that poses a danger to others
- Has committed, threatened to commit, or engaged in serious, self-harming behavior that poses a danger to self whereby it is determined the youth’s degree of violence may not be managed by a residential treatment program
- Has been adjudicated as a delinquent or convicted of a crime as an adult
- Was charged or is chargeable with a crime or delinquent offense
- Needs further assessment for self-disclosed violent criminal history
All youth in YCJDF custody receive the following services: a full educational program provided by the Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE) and access to literacy services through the Woodland Public Library; full-scope on-site medical, dental and mental health services; weekly therapeutic services with community-based organizations currently including CommuniCare, Phoenix House, and Victor Community Support Services; and, a robust offering of volunteer-run support programs. All detained youth participate in a behavioral support program designed to promote positive behavior and pro-social growth. In addition to the standard facility programming, youth in care through ORR are assigned an individual therapist and case manager, who meet with each youth regularly, while addressing issues related to family reunification, repatriation, and/or step-down placement, depending on the youth’s wishes and best interests.
Acceptance of this award would continue services under the current program structure allowing funding for twenty-four (24) beds to care for ORR youth. Twenty-four additional beds are also available to care for Yolo County youth and are funded with other, non-ORR sources. Furthermore, these funds allow Yolo County to be Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) compliant, due to using more stringent staffing standards of one staff for every eight (8) youth during the day, and sixteen (16) youth during the night. The following is the current staffing for both ORR and YCJDF operations:
| Budget Assumptions |
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| Bed Capacity |
48 (24 Yolo, 24 ORR) |
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| Funded Capacity |
44 Full/ 18 Extra Help (EH) |
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| Funded Staff |
1 Institutional Services Director
1 Assistant Superintendent
5 Supervising Detention Officers
4 Juvenile Service Aides (JSA) (+ 1 EH)
24 Detention Officers (DO) (+17 EH)
2 Administrative Assistants
1 Senior Detention Officer
2 Social Services Assistants
2 Clinicians
1 Social Worker
.5 Supervising Clinician
.5 PREA Coordinator
18 Extra Help (17 DO/ 1 JSA)
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Unfunded Position |
1 Detention Officer (currently vacant) |
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Budget Revenue for both ORR & YCJDF |
$6,325,389 |
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| Budget Costs for both ORR & YCJDF |
$6,325,389 |
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The recent case of an ORR youth placed at the Yolo County secure program, who received asylum while in secure placement, has sparked an increase in community and media interest about this program in recent weeks. Subsequent inquiries have presented a number of opportunities to provide detailed information and education about the ORR program operating at the YCJDF to government officials and community members. Yolo County provides a great service and benefit to the youth in the ORR program, and we are an example to the nation with our YCJDF program and volunteer services. The Chief Probation Officer was initially against recommending acceptance of this contract due to the delayed responses and conflicting guidance from Federal officials. However, after a thorough review of all aspects of this program, and partnering with the Federal officials on improving procedures for collaboration, the Chief recommends acceptance of this new agreement because they have taken responsibility for their actions in this process. Policies and procedures have been developed to ensure the correct handling of asylum cases in the future. |
| Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies) |
| Regular oversight of YCJDF operations and conditions is provided by several entities including: audits by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC); visits and tours by the Juvenile Court Judge; ORR monitoring and site visits; Department of Justice (DOJ) compliance monitoring for the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA); Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) support for the enhancement of services for justice-involved youths. Additional third-party advocates and visitors to the YCJDF over the past year include: the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Vera Institute of Justice’s Unaccompanied Children Program, General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), and the Mexican Consulate. |
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| Fiscal Impact |
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| Source of Funds for this Expenditure |
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Explanation (Expenditure and/or Revenue) |
| Further explanation as needed: |
| Grant funds are earned on a quarterly basis and are budgeted using the federal fiscal year. No additional County General Funds are required by this action. |
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