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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12042001 - C.161 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: VAL ALEXEEFF, DIRECTOR POLICY AND INNOVATION INSTITUTE DATE: DECEMBER 4, 2001 SUBJECT: COUNTY HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IN RESPONSE TO 9/11 SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: 1. APPROVE the joint program proposed by Mental Health and Probation for use of funds appropriated by the State of California under SB 551 in response to 9/11 terrorist attack. 2. DIRECT staff to post information on the County's website regarding charities receiving funds on behalf of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. FISCAL IMPACT: All costs to County are reimbursable by the State. BACKGROUND: On October 23, 2001, the Board of Supervisors directed the County Administrator to investigate permissible charitable organizations to which the County could contribute on behalf of uniformed service members killed or injured as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attack. As part of this investigation, staff found that numerous initiatives have been taken on behalf of the victims, but local governments in California are precluded from donating to charities. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: jiK-1 W-4—" 9-- 2ECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE (iAPPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOAR N APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED -9-TI ER- VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT f ]1� ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED q. at�� CONTACT:VAL ALEXEEFF(925)335-1060 JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOAR15 OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR c: COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CLERK OF THE BOARD BY DEPUTY (E:\WPdocs\terrorist bo.doc) BOARD ORDER RE: 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACK PAGE 2 Emergency Legislation Passed by State The State of California was also faced with seeking a way to help 9/11 victims and developed a strategy through its Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board, composed of the Director of State General Services, the California Controller, and the Senior Advisor to the Governor. Shortly after the 9/11 event, this State board had special legislation passed (SB551) which extended victims restitution beyond previous statute. The legislation contains the following points: ➢ Allows reimbursement to California County Boards of Supervisors for group mental health counseling and for promotion of tolerance for targets of discrimination. ➢ Expands the scope of assistance to derivative victims (those who are related to California residents). ➢ Assists rescue teams from California to receive counseling. ➢ Allowed single California Board compensation to the State of New York Victims' Compensation Fund of one million dollars. ➢ Established that the single compensation to the New York Victims' Compensation fund that was made did not constitute a gift of public funds for its contribution. (Local governments were not included in this consideration.) The State of California Victims Compensation Fund is collected as fines from persons committing misdemeanors or felonies. Coincidentally, the proportionate contribution of the million dollars based on Contra Costa's share of the population is close to $25,000. These funds have been transmitted to New York by the Governor. State Funds for County Initiatives In addition to funds sent to New York, the State also appropriated funds to counties for mental health counseling and promoting tolerance. A total of$75,000 has been set aside for Contra Costa County. Attachment A describes the program developed for joint use of these funds by the Mental Health Division and the Probation Department. The activities include the following: ➢ Increased clinical services at Martinez and Richmond crisis service. ➢ Group counseling for institutionalized youth. ➢ A community tolerance event. ➢ Staff training. ➢ Creation of resource materials. The County has until January 2, 2002 to incur expenses and submit them for reimbursement. Potential for State Legislation to Expand Mutual Aid In the aftermath of the events of 9/11, government agencies affected by disasters may call for additional help from a range of professions and Contra Costa County may receive such calls for assistance. Mutual aid may become relied upon increasingly in response to natural and terrorist crises. Contra Costa County may wish to support legislation that would revise the definition of"gift.of public funds" in response to emergencies elsewhere. BOARD ORDER RE: 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACK PAGE 3 However, given the current economic climate in California, as a result of which the County will be urging the Legislature to refrain from enacting measures that would negatively impact County revenues, sponsorship of such legislation might send a conflicting and confusing message. Mutual aid legislation may be a good idea to pursue at another time. Private Donations There are many ways in which the Board can encourage private donations as they have done in the past. To facilitate giving, information about the charities listed below could be posted on the County's website. These charities are all non-profit agencies designed for private giving under IRS 501 C(3) requirements. ✓ American National Red Cross (Liberty Disaster Relief) ✓ Community Foundation for the Natl Capital Region (Survivors) ✓ International Association of Firefighters (New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief) ✓ New York City Police Foundation (Heroes) ✓ New York City Public/Private Initiatives ✓ New York Daily News (Daily News Charities) ✓ New York State (World Trade Center Relief) ✓ New York Times (9/11 Neediest) ✓ Salvation Army (Disaster Relief) ✓ United Way of New York City (September 11th) Probation Department Contra ATTACHMENT A Victim/Witness Assistance Center Costa ❑ 100 Glacier Drive, Suite A County Martinez, California 94553-4826 ��JJ (925) 646-2474 FAX (925) 646-2739 (800)648-0600 ❑ 2555 EI Portal Drive San Pablo,California 94806-3303 (510)374-3272 ��� '?;• *� FAX(510)374-3441 Srq�otiKt` (800)648-0600 DATE: November 7, 2001 TO: Gayle B. Uilkema, Chair, Board of Supervisors John Sweeten, County Administrator FROM: Steven L. Baustita, County Probation Officer SUBJECT: SB 551 expenditure plan The Probation Department has collaborated with the Health Services Department/Mental Health Division to submit this joint proposal for the use of funds available in SB 551. The proposal, if approved, will allow the Mental Health Division to provide needed support to their staff and the community. The Probation Department will facilitate group- counseling services to the youth detained at Juvenile Hall and other County juvenile facilities. Finally, the Probation Department will contact the County school districts and facilitate tolerance promotion activities within the schools. The Probation Department's Victim-Witness Program will assist in the.implementation of these activities and funding . is being requested to provide temporary staff assistance for this purpose. During a recent meeting in Sacramento, it was learned that the staff of the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board was going to recommend to their Board that the period for expending these funds be extended nine months. If this occurs, filing of claims for reimbursement would occur quarterly, beginning January 1, 2002. To: Gavle B. Uilkema, Chair, Board of Supervisors John Sweeten, County Administrator From: Donna M. Wigand, LCSW Steven L. Bautista Mental Health Director County Probation Officer Date: November 8, 2001 Subject: Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board Reimbursement In response to the October 2 letter from the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board advising that funds are available to reimburse counties for the costs of providing group mental health counseling and tolerance promotion activities, the Mental Health Division and Victim Witness .Program are submitting a list of expenses already incurred and other expenses projected to be incurred. Crisis Response Expenses $17,000.00 This amount represents enhanced clinical services required, beyond what we can handle during normal times, both at the Martinez and Richmond Crisis Services, and responses by request to other Departments and agencies in the County. This amount includes overtime for the Crisis Program Chief, the Mental Health Program Supervisor, and additional on call/overtime for Mental Health Clinical Specialists, M.D.s, clerks, and language interpretation services as needed. Group Counseling for Institutionalized Youth $12,000.00 Provide group counseling to youth detained at Juvenile Hall and other County Juvenile facilities. The focus of the counseling would be the events of September 11`h and the trauma associated with these terrorist activities. Many of the detained youth have been bombarded with media reports of the terrorist activities and have not had an opportunity to discuss their feelings about these events in a supervised setting. This effort is intended to prevent these youth from becoming either perpetrators or victims of violence after their release from custody. Community Tolerance Activity $12,500.00 Provide appropriate information about Middle .Eastern, East Indian and other Americans of foreign ancestry to help prevent violence towards these groups. This activity is intended to help prevent future violent acts based on intolerance and hatred. School Tolerance Activity $12,500.00 Collaborate with interested school districts within the county to provide information about Middle Eastern students and their cultures to prevent violence and promote tolerance. Staff Trainings The Mental Health Division is in process of increasing its capacity to respond to the community's need to manage stress related to critical incidents. This begins with developing a training and support program for our staff. We strongly believe that it is necessary to build our resources in order to sustain our capacity to deliver these services. With this in mind, we intend to record our training sessions for staff unable to attend and for new staff who come on board.. As well, we continue to develop our regional and program resource centers for our families and community. 3 Critical Incident Stress Management trainings, to be scheduled .in November and December, to increase staff awareness and skills in helping people during and after a critical incident in the community. $ 1,200.00 2 sessions on The Cultures and Mental Health Issues of the Middle East Populations, to be held in December. These sessions will increase awareness and sensitivity of staff on the cultural nuances, language issues and mental health needs of this population. $ 800.00 3 sessions on healing the Healers, to be held in November, to help mental health staff deals with their anxiety, fear and concern around the Events of September 11, so they can better serve their clients. $ 450.00 3 Regional lunch hour meetings for all Division staff $ 5,000..00 (overtime, consultant expenses) Resource Material $ 5,050.00 CCTV video taping of traiiungs/events and copies of tapes Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) response material Temporary Help $ 5,500.00 For Victim/Witness program to facilitate community tolerance events and coordinate group counseling for institutionalized youth. Grand Total $ 75,000.00