Title
a. Approve and authorize the Chief Probation Officer to accept a donation of two new laptops from First 5 Monterey County for the Child Advocate Program (CAP) at no cost to the County; and
b. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to assign the equipment for use by the Child Advocate Program.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Chief Probation Officer to accept a donation of two new laptops from First 5 Monterey County for the Child Advocate Program (CAP) at no cost to the County; and
b. Authorize the Chief Probation Officer to assign the equipment for use by the Child Advocate Program.
SUMMARY:
First 5 Monterey County (First 5) intends to donate two new, identical ASUS laptops, valued at $1,046.24 each, to facilitate the activities of Probation’s Child Advocates providing support and services to families who have children ages 0-5 years and have been exposed to neglect or family violence. Probation is seeking Board approval to accept the donation in compliance to County rules concerning contributions over the $300 value threshold.
DISCUSSION:
For more than twelve years, First 5 Monterey County and Probation have maintained a long-standing collaboration to provide services to families with children who have experienced trauma and toxic stress. Probation is a partner in the Monterey County Screening Team for Assessment, Referral, and Treatment (MCSTART) Interagency Service Collaborative, a recipient of funding from First 5. This collaboration focuses on supporting the healthy development of children and families facing multiple vulnerabilities and risk factors by strengthening connections and improving quality of family life within a whole system of care and support.
The Child Advocate Program (CAP) provides services to children ages 0-5 years who were exposed to domestic violence, child abuse or toxic stress. The focus of the program is to ensure that children from violent or extremely chaotic home environments are developmentally and emotionally prepared to enter kindergarten.
The CAP Unit is staffed with one Deputy Probation Officer and two Child Advocates, which intensely monitor each family. The team provides ongoing home visitation to help insure a safe and stable environment, group parent education classes, crisis intervention, and offer referrals to community resources, parent education and counseling, based on the needs identified by the team. The CAP team provides case management to families for an average of 12 to 18 months and works with approximately 120 families per year.
First 5 is interested supplying the two Child Advocates with a laptop each to facilitate their activities in support of families in the Domestic Violence Unit caseload through a donation to the Probation Department. The two new ASUS laptops are valued at $1,046.24 each. Upon approval of this recommendation, Probation will assume maintenance, software purchases, and all other costs association with owning the laptops.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The board report has been reviewed by County Counsel as to legal form.
FINANCING:
No money is exchanged in this transaction between First 5 Monterey County and Probation. There is no additional cost to the County General Fund associated with this recommendation.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This recommendation supports key objectives of Infrastructure by providing staff with new equipment to increase operational efficiencies.
☐ Economic Development
☐ Administration
☐ Health & Human Services
☒ Infrastructure
☐ Public Safety
Prepared by: Marisa Fiori, Management Analyst III, ext. 1100
Approved by: Todd Keating, Chief Probation Officer, ext. 3913
Attachments:
Board Report