Title
a. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey for continued participation of four County agencies in the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Treatment Court grant, in the amount of $600,000, retroactively for the period October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018; and
b. Authorize the Chair to sign Amendments to the MOU as required by the grant in case of extension.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey for continued participation of four County agencies in the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Treatment Court grant, in the amount of $600,000, retroactively for the period October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018; and
b. Authorize the Chair to sign Amendments to the MOU as required by the grant in case of extension.
SUMMARY:
The State’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has approved a continuation grant award in the amount of $600,000 for the period October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018 to sustain the existing evidence-based DUI Treatment Court.
The Superior Court of California, County of Monterey serves as the lead agency for the collaboration, which includes four county agencies: Probation, District Attorney, Public Defender and Health Department-Behavioral Health Bureau.
DISCUSSION:
The Superior Court of California, County of Monterey was initially awarded a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety in the amount of $350,000 for the period October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016 to initiate an evidence-based DUI Court program. The program received continuation funding in the amount of $449,000 for the period October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 to sustain and develop the existing program.
Funding in the amount of $600,000 for the period October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018 has been awarded again to continue the program and enhance it with the addition of a second Probation Officer.
The DUI Treatment Court program focuses on high-risk multiple DUI offenders, holding them accountable for their actions and instituting a protocol to facilitate lasting behavioral changes, which include regular testing for substance use, participation in self-help meetings or court-approved treatment programs, and close supervision by Probation and Behavioral Health staff and other service providers.
The DUI Treatment Court program addresses the challenge of repeat-offense drunk drivers through a program based on the Drug Court model. The target population has been identified as clients convicted of two or more DUIs who have a chemical addiction, but are not charged as felons. The Court’s first priority is to provide chemically addicted offenders with treatment and supervision.
The grant funds the salary and benefits for two (2) 1.00 FTE Probation Officer II positions in Probation to provide supervision and monitoring, as well as testing supplies, and 1.00 FTE Case Manager and 0.75 FTE Psychiatric Social Worker, as well as supplies at the Health Department-Behavioral Health Bureau for assessments, referrals and case management.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Court’s application for the OTS Grant was developed in consultation with the involved County agencies. The District Attorney, Public Defender, the Health Director and the Chief Probation Officer have all reviewed the MOU and recommend its approval. County Counsel has approved the MOU as for legal form.
FINANCING:
Probation and Health have been allocated a total of $587,887 from the $600,000 one-year grant funding, and specifically: $348,991 to Probation and $238,896 to Health-Behavioral Health Bureau.
Continuation funding for the first Deputy Probation Officer is already contained in the Probation Department Approved Budget for FY 17-18. The Department is utilizing an existing position that recently lost grant funding for the second officer added during this DUI grant funding cycle, and does not anticipate increasing revenues and appropriations at this time.
Continuation funding for the two Behavioral Health positions is already contained in the Health Department Approved Budget for FY 17-18.
The services of the Public Defender and Deputy District Attorneys are not reimbursable under the OTS Grant. There is no additional County General Fund Contribution (GFC) associated with the current recommended action.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This recommendation to provide services to veteran offenders supports key objectives of: 1) Health and Human Services by providing access to County and community-based services that offer treatment and support service, and 2) Public Safety by encouraging self-sustainability, a stable environment, and successful reintegration into the community.
__Economic Development
__Administration
_X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
_X Public Safety
Prepared by: Wendi Reed, Management Analyst II, ext. 3985
Approved by: Marcia Parsons, Chief Probation Officer, ext. 3913
Approved by: Dean Flippo, District Attorney, ext. 5470
Approved by: Susan Chapman, Public Defender, ext. 5806
Approved by: Elsa Jimenez, Health Director, ext. 4526
Attachments:
DUI Grant MOU 10/01/17 to 09/30/18