Title
a. Authorize the County Purchasing Agent or designee to sign a two-year grant funded Agreement in the award amount of $56,038 with First 5 Monterey County to support the Probation Department’s Child Advocate Program for a term retroactive to July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028; and
b. Authorize the County Purchasing Agent or designee to sign up to three (3) future amendments to this Agreement where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work and do not exceed an aggregate award amount of $200,000 per fiscal year and fall within the signing authority of the County Purchasing Agent or designee subject to County Counsel review.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the County Purchasing Agent or designee to sign a two-year grant funded Agreement in the award amount of $56,038 with First 5 Monterey County to support the Probation Department’s Child Advocate Program for a term retroactive to July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028; and
b. Authorize the County Purchasing Agent or designee to sign up to three (3) future amendments to this Agreement where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work and do not exceed an aggregate award amount of $200,000 per fiscal year and fall within the signing authority of the County Purchasing Agent or designee subject to County Counsel review.
SUMMARY:
The Probation Department recommends approval of the Agreement with First 5 Monterey County to provide reimbursement in the amount of $56,038 in grant funding, for a term retroactive to July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. This funding will support the Child Advocate Program and ensure the continued delivery of vital services to children exposed to domestic violence at an early age.
DISCUSSION:
Probation has been a recipient of First 5 Monterey County grant funding since 2003, providing valuable services to children aged zero to five who have been exposed to domestic violence.
As a partner of the Door to Hope Integrated Service Collaborative, Probation has been allocated grant funding to support the Child Advocate Program (CAP) for the two-year period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. The proposed Agreement outlines the roles, responsibilities, and level of services to be provided during the grant term.
Door to Hope, serving as the lead agency for the collaborative, maintains strong partnerships with local agencies and organizations dedicated to supporting children from prenatal through age five. The collaboration focuses on promoting healthy child and family development for those facing multiple vulnerabilities and risk factors, by strengthening connections and improving quality of life through a coordinated system of care.
Probation’s CAP Unit provides services to children ages zero to five who have been exposed to domestic violence, child abuse, or other forms of harmful stress. Its primary goal is to ensure that children from violent or unstable home environments are developmentally and emotionally ready to enter kindergarten. The CAP Unit works intensively with each family by providing ongoing home visits to help ensure safe and stable living conditions, facilitates group parent education classes, and offers referrals to community resources, counseling, and additional support services based on identified needs. The Unit serves approximately 120 families each year.
First 5 funds help cover the cost of a bilingual counselor for the Child Advocate Program, supporting the services provided to children and families participating in CAP.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT/COMMITTEE ACTIONS:
The Agreement for First 5 funding has been approved by County Counsel as to legal form and by the Auditor-Controller as to fiscal terms.
FINANCING:
Funding in the amount of $28,019 to support the program is included in Probation’s Adopted Budget for FY 26-27, Fund 1001, Department 255004. Funding for $28,019 will also be allocated to Probation for FY 27-28, for a total of $56,038 for the duration of the two-year grant. There will be no impact on General Fund Contributions associated with this recommendation.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
This recommendation supports the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan Goals of Well-Being and Quality of Life by enhancing the quality of life and promoting a healthy environment for children, and Safe and Resilient Communities by fostering a safe family environment through crisis intervention, family stabilization, service referrals, and ongoing monitoring and supervision.
_X__ Well-Being and Quality of Life
___ Sustainable Infrastructure for the Present and Future
_X__ Safe and Resilient Communities
____ Diverse and Thriving Economy
____ Dynamic Organization and Employer of Choice
Prepared by: Marcela Barbosa, Management Analyst II, Ext. 1100
Approved by: Jose Ramirez, Chief Probation Officer, Ext. 3913
Attachment: Agreement with First 5 Monterey County