APPROVAL OF SECURE FAMILIES
COLLABORATIVE GRANT AGREEMENT
FOR FISCAL YEARS 2022/23 AND 2023/24
City Council Meeting
June 21, 2022
1 Kate Goldfine, Administrative Services Officer
Housing & Community Services
Background
• The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors established the Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative in 2018 to meet the needs of our immigrant community’s increased challenges due to the changes in federal immigration policy and the North Bay wildfires. • The Secure Families Collaborative has requested funding from the City each year since FY 2018/19. The City has contributed General Fund funding to the Secure Families Collaborative as follows: $35,000 in FY 2018/19, and $50,000 each in FY 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 for a total of $185,000.
• It was determined that grant agreement was necessary because the City General Fund funding was a donation.
Background
• In February 2022, Council directed $100,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the Secure Families Collaborative specifically to fund a youth immigration attorney for two years ($50,000 each year). This is in addition to the annual $50,000 of City General Fund funding the Council has granted in the most recent three fiscal years. 2 Analysis
• This agreement with Secure Families Collaborative allocates $50,000 of ARPA funding and $50,000 of General Fund funding, total $100,000, in Fiscal Year 2022/23 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023); and $50,000 of ARPA funding and $50,000 of General Fund, total $100,000, in Fiscal Year 2023/24 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) contingent upon Council’s approval of each fiscal year budget and Secure Families Collaborative fulfillment of all grant agreement requirements.
2 Analysis
• The focus of the attorney funded by this grant agreement is to assist undocumented youth to achieve Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), which is a path to legalize status for minors who are single and under the age of 21 who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by at least one parent.
• Provides:
• Full scope immigration legal services, including information and referral, counsel and advice, preparation of pleadings and immigration documents, and representation in administrative proceedings.
• Direct point of access to all Legal Aid’s other services, including screening for rental housing issues, domestic violence, family law, guardianship, and debtor creditor relief. one parent. 2 Analysis
• Provides focused outreach to eligible youth at least once quarterly through community partnerships and collaboration with organizations that serve undocumented families. Outreach will occur at events such as health fairs, Black, Indigenous and People of Color student fairs, and events focused on serving Latino residents.
• It is anticipated that 75-85 youth will be served, with the goal to file 50 SIJS cases and obtain SIJS status for up to 40 youth annually. Other goals include education of up to 150 youth about their legal rights through both individual advocacy and focused outreach. • Under the provisions of ARPA, the City must report quarterly upon expenditures and accomplishments of the organizations receiving funding, so City staff will be in regular contact with Secure Families Collaborative staff to collect this information. 2 RECOMMENDATION
• It is recommended by the Housing & Community Services Department that the Council, by resolution, approve the grant agreement with Secure Families Collaborative for the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024, for a total amount not to exceed $200,000, including $100,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and $100,000 of City General Fund, to fund a youth immigration attorney.
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