TITLE:
Receive Report and Consider Adoption of City Council Resolution Approving Grant Funding and Contracting with a Success Coach to fulfill Grant Requirements ISSUE:
Mendocino County ranks above the State average in every category related to opioid abuse. Furthermore, Fort Bragg’s rural nature and limited local healthcare infrastructure restricts access to substance use disorder treatment options, especially for juveniles.
The Fort Bragg Police Department recognizes that the current opioid crisis cannot be solved with traditional criminal justice tools alone and instead requires a more comprehensive approach.
The Fort Bragg Police Department was awarded a grant for $345,363 through the State and federally-funded Youth Opioid Response (YOR) program. The grant is intended to fund one full-time Care Response Unit (CRU) Team Member and a contract with an equivalent full-time Success Coach, as well as various supplies for fourteen months. The grant, budget amendment, and contract for the Success Coach require City Council approval.
ANALYSIS:
The YOR grant will expand the services of the Police Department’s CRU Team to include providing direct services to youth, ages 12-24 who currently have or are at risk of having a substance use disorder (SUD). Those direct services will include connecting youth with medical services, assisting with life skills, and supporting youth to successfully transition from incarceration. The program additionally includes preventative outreach at our schools. The Police Department has titled this expansion of services “Project Right Now” (PRN). PRN is based on the concept that youth with SUD require attention 24 hours a day in all aspects of their life, not just while in treatment or meetings.
Potential PRN clients are expected to be identified through self-referrals, friends, family, schools, and law enforcement. Once a client is identified, they will be connected with the CRU Team Member who will begin identifying available services needed by the youth and their family. The Success Coach program will work in conjunction with the CRU Team to continue meeting with the youth on weekends, evenings, and at school to work on critical life skills by promoting a positive environment while the youth receives medical treatment.
This program will include proactive outreach to youth currently incarcerated to begin the process of successfully transitioning them into more stable living environments as well as to include employment assistance when applicable.
The equivalent full-time Success Coach position has available funding up to $140,544. This was written as an equivalent full-time contracted position as it is expected to be staffed by more than one individual working part-time with individual clients. Bethany Brewer will lead the contracted portion of this program based on her extensive experience working with youth with SUD, and through multiple recommendations from individuals working in our local school system. Bethany Brewer will coordinate directly with the Police Department and our CRU Team to select additional Success Coaches to assist her and identify/prioritize clients.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt Resolution approving budget amendment, acceptance of grant, and contract with Bethany Brewer.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Provide alternative direction to staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This grant will provide a portion of the funding needed to maintain the Care Response Unit.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IMPACT:
N/A
CONSISTENCY:
N/A
IMPLEMENTATION/TIMEFRAMES:
This grant was awarded on 03/15/2023 and funding was available starting 04/01/2023. This program will begin immediately following the approval of City Council.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Budget Amendment
Contract with Bethany Brewer
NOTIFICATION:
None.
AGENDA ITEM NO. 8B
AGENCY: City CouncilMEETING DATE: April 24, 2024DEPARTMENT: Police DepartmentPRESENTED BY: Chief Neil CervenkaEMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]: City CouncilMEETING DATE: April 24, 2024DEPARTMENT: Police DepartmentPRESENTED BY: Chief Neil CervenkaEMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] AGENCY: City Council
MEETING DATE: April 24, 2024
DEPARTMENT: Police Department
PRESENTED BY: Chief Neil Cervenka
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
AGENCY: City Council
MEETING DATE: April 24, 2024
DEPARTMENT: Police Department
PRESENTED BY: Chief Neil Cervenka
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY