October 4, 2022
Police Department
DATE: October 4, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Bisa French, Chief of Police
Subject:
Proposed Contract to Continue Services with the
Children’s Interview Center (CIC)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The $14,877.47 to pay for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 expenses, and an estimated $15,000.00 annualized cost
for the first year of the contract, will be paid for out of the approved Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Police Department
budget. An estimated annual amount of $15,000.00 will
be included in the operating budget for each of the next three fiscal years – 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-
2026 (01191021-400321).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
n/a
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Police Department is requesting approval of a new
contract that would continue services provided by the
Children’s Interview Center (CIC) for services rendered between July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a five-year, sole-source contract for
Children’s Interview Center (CIC) services to support
forensic interviews of children victimized by sexual or physical abuse, and/or who have been severely
neglected for the period July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2026, with the Children Interview Center (CIC), in a total
amount not to exceed $75,000 - Police Department
(Chief Bisa French 510-621-1802).
AGENDA
REPORT
October 4, 2022
DISCUSSION:
Since 1996, the Children’s Interview Center (CIC) has worked in partnership with Law Enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, Children and Family Services, County Mental Health, and other community agencies as part of a county-wide Multi- Disciplinary Team (MDT). Working collaboratively, the Team and the CIC respond primarily to allegations of child sexual abuse, but also to allegations of child physical abuse or witnesses to other traumatic events.
The primary goal of the CIC is to support effective criminal investigations of child abuse by providing standardized forensic interviews in order to hold abuse perpetrators accountable while minimizing duplicative interviews and further trauma to children and families. In order to reduce trauma, children are interviewed by a specially trained professional in a supportive setting. The CIC is a safe and child/ teen- friendly environment where children ages 2 – 17, as well as developmentally delayed people of any age, can disclose what happened in a safe and comfortable setting, and begin their healing. In certain circumstances, Contra Costa County’s specially trained facility dog may be present with the child during the interview to afford comfort to the child.
The proposed contract with the Children’s Interview Center (CIC) is a continuation of services to support forensic interviews of children victimized by sexual or physical abuse, and/or who have been severely neglected. The Contra Costa County CIC is used by all law enforcement agencies in the County. The Contra Costa County Employee and Human Services Department acts as fiduciary with oversight of services at the CIC.
The last contract with CIC was valid through June 30, 2021, and although the funds were budgeted for in the Police Department’s approved budget for FY2021-2022 (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022), the contract was not created in MUNIS. Realizing the error after receiving the invoice on July 20, 2022, we would like to continue the contracted service without interruption.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Police Department recommends that City Council approve a five-year sole- source contract with CIC, with an effective date retroactive to July 1, 2021.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Children Interview Center Contract (Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services, fiduciary)
Attachment 2 – Approved Sole Source
Attachment 3 – Approved After the Fact Form