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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06211988 - FC.1 To'."4--- V,,,'BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: FINANCE COMMITTEE: SUPERVISOR NANCY FAHDEN, CHAIRC=tra SUPERVISOR TOM POWERS Costa ' DATE: June 15, 1988 , / SUBJECT: REPORT ON JUNE 14 FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING ON RAPE CRISIS SERVICES SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Encourage the existing rape crisis units in Central and East Contra Costa County to immediately work together in cooperation with Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa to develop a coordinated plan for continuation of rape crisis services in all parts of the County, beginning July 1, 1988. 2. Indicate County support for continuance of services to victims of sexual assault if existing problems of service delivery in East and Central county can be resolved including the County's willingness to consider a long-term commitment if an appropriate service delivery mechanism can be developed; .such commitment to be tied to adherence to existing standards for provision of such services. 3. Authorize Chair, Board of Supervisors, to send a letter to the State Office of Criminal Justice Planning strongly recommending that the current level of funding to this County be maintained for fiscal year 1988/89. 4. Encourage all cities in Contra Costa County to financially participate (or continue to participate) in supporting rape crisis services. 5. Request the County Administrator's Office to explore the possibility of monitoring all private agency contracts within the County in a centralized approach and to submit such report to the Finance Committee. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS/BACKGROUND: Supervisor Fanden convened the meeting and asked those present to introduce themselves. There were representatives from Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa, Rape Crisis Service of Central Contra Costa County, and East County Rape Crisis Unit. Also present were representatives of the cities of Concord, Martinez and Walnut Creek, which have been funding the Central County services; the District Attorney's Office; the County Administrator's Office, and the Grand Jury. Supervisor Powers reviewed the June 7 Boa-rd Order regarding the continuance of rape crisis services in Contra Costa County and summarized that it was the intent of the Board Order to have the Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa County develop a contingency plan for the continuation of rape crisis services on a Countywide basis and to request the State CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _ YES SIGNATURE: _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMME TION OF BOARD COMMITTEE _ APPROVE HE S 1 GNATURE I S I ACTION OF BOARD N June ZZ, 19HH :"PROVED AS REC MENDED X OTHER .VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: CAO-Justice System Programs ATTESTED — L� ?a District Attorney P IL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Agency & City Representatives SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY M382/7-83 DEPUTY Report on June 14 Finance Committee 2 June 15, 1988 Meeting on Rape Crisis Services Office of Criminal Justice Planning (OCJP) to continue its current level of funding in the County. He mentioned the need to involve local community interest and individuals in any assumption of Countywide services by the West County agency and the problem of OCJP's funding policy which limits funding for any one agency in a county to approximately $79,000 per year. He asked that representatives of the Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa state their response to the Board's request for a contingency plan. Gloria Sandoval, Executive Director of the agency, indicated that the Board of Directors met on June 11 and adopted a resolution which she distributed to the Committee and those present (copy attached hereto). Briefly, that resolution indicates the willingness of the agency to assume delivery of services Countywide providing that such assistance be requested by existing agencies in other parts of the County, that adequate long-term funding commitment is forthcoming and that there is no adverse impact on the current level of services to West County citizens. The cities of Concord, Martinez, and Walnut Creek summarized their funding history with the Rape Crisis Service of Central Contra Costa County. Walnut Creek and Martinez indicated that funding would probably continue in 1988/89, but that, at this point, the city of Concord would not be funding the Central County agency because of organizational problems. However, $10,000 is being reserved for services if a new service provider should develop. The cities had no objection to the West County agency assuming that role. Supervisor Fanden encouraged those three cities to continue to participate financially in rape and sexual assault services and also urged other cities in the County to contribute to the services in their area. Representatives from Rape Crisis Service of Central Contra Costa County indicated that the organization as a legal entity is in the process of dissolving and all Board members have left, except one who will be closing down the agency. The remaining volunteers have met and have decided to ask the Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa to take over operation of the program. Victoria Porter, the Executive Director of the East County Rape Crisis Unit, indicated a willingness to restructure her organization and to deal with the problems that have emerged. She indicated that she would be willing to accept technical assistance from the Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa in this endeavor. Representatives of the West County group indicated that they were not in the business of providing technical assistance or restructuring ailing programs, but rather providing services to victims of sexual assault. They are prepared to discuss this issue further with East County Rape Crisis Unit. Supervisor Powers reviewed the findings of the Grand Jury report and the report of the independent consultant hired to review the program in East County and indicated that, in his view, it would be difficult for the East County group to take all the corrective actions needed by July 1, 1988. It would also be difficult for the Board to overlook the critical findings and recommendations in those reports. He did encourage both Central and East County groups to work with the West County agency in the next week or so to see if a plan can be developed so that rape crisis services can continue to be offered in Central and East County beginning July 1, 1988. All agreed to do this immediately. ATTENDANCE Finance Committee - 6/14/88 Dave Cutaia Commander, Martinez Police Department Edna Esposito East County Rape Crisis Unit Leslie Ann Fong City of Concord Renee Goldstein District Attorney's Office Erin Hallissy Contra Costa Times Marge Lasky Rape Crisis, Center of West Contra Costa - Board of Directors Charlene Lindsey Rape Crisis Service of Central Contra Costa County Mickie McDonald Rape Crisis Service of Central Contra Costa County volunteer Debbie Olsen Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa Victoria Porter East County Rape Crisis Unit George Roemer County Administrator's Office Gloria J. Sandoval Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa Scott Tandy County Administrator's Office Lou Ann Texeira City of Walnut Creek Tom Torlakson Supervisor, District 5, Pittsburg Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa 2000 Dale Road, San Pablo, CA 94806 —working to end sexual assault 236-RAPE RESPONSE TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ORDER ON CONTINUATION OF RAPE CRISIS SERVICES June 14, 1988 It is with deep concern that the Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa recognizes the difficulties currently being faced by Rape Crisig Centers in the State of California. The existence of limited and highly restricted funding and the lack of, multi-year contracts for these Centers has created a situation where Rape Crisis Centers are unable to respond to extensive administrative demands and have found themselves unable to do the long-range planning necessary for their survival. In response to the Board of Supervisors resolution adopted on June 7, 1988 the Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa Board of Directors met on June 11, 1988. We appreciate the high level of esteem in which our agency is held by the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors. After careful deliberation, the Rape Crisis Board reaffirmed the mission of the agency as delineated in 1974 to provide services to sexual assault survivors and their families and friends, to educate the community around the issue of sexual assault, and to work towards eradication of this violent crime. The Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa is committed to the provision of prevention, .intervention, and treatment services for sexual assault survivors with a community-based and feminist approach. We adhere to these principles based on our many years of experience in the field which have shown that survivors respond best when services are sensitive to the special needs of women and children. The Rape Crisis Center of West Contra Costa is also committed to trying to assist other areas and agencies within the limits of our resources and when those communities request such assistance. Given our agency's commitment to West Contra Costa as its primary focus any expansion of our services to additional areas must be conditioned on the following factors: 1) expansion efforts will not deprive the West Contra Costa community of . the vital services we are currently offering 2) any questions of legal liability are resolved by the previous rape crisis services 3) our willingness to assist is accompanied by an invitation of the local community which includes any existent rape crisis service 4) an adequate level of funding is assured which means that at least the previous level of funding for program operations is maintained and additional monies for administrative and public relations start-up costs are secured 5) in order to expand services without an adverse impact on our current program we expect a multi-year contract OVER Services for Children and Adults -Child Assault Prevention Project -24 Hour Crisis Counseling -Therapy Services -Legal Services -Community Education -Agency Consultation Page 2 We have been informed by the remaining volunteers of the Central County Rape Crisis Center that they are interested in our assistance towards the continuation of services to this area. Given this invitation we stand ready to join with the Board of Supervisors and the Central County volunteers to negotiate these issues- towards provision of the critical services necessary for sexual assault survivors in our community.