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