REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: AARON A. AGUIRRE, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
Aldi RAMIREZ, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
BY: SHELBY MACNAB, Business Manager
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
MAGGIE NAVARRO, Program Manager
Office of Neighborhood Safety and Community Engagement (ONSCE)
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the allocation of funding for the Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Grant Program:
1. Approve the recommendation of grant proposals allocating $950,000 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $550,000 in General funding to local Community Based Organizations totaling $1,500,000 to the following organizations: Boys & Girls Club of Fresno County ($165,000); Every Neighborhood Partnership ($75,000); Focus Forward ($50,000); Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission/Advance Peace ($375,000); Fresno Police Activities League ($75,000); HandsOn Central California/Fresno Street Saints ($75,000); Hope Now for Youth ($130,000); Live Again Fresno ($150,000); Take a Stand Committee ($50,000); The Resiliency Center ($50,000); Trauma Research and Education Foundation of Fresno ($130,000); West Fresno Health Care Coalition dba West Fresno Family Resource Center ($150,000) and Integral Community Solutions Institute ($25,000) for evaluation services.
2. RESOLUTION - Granting Authority to the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Director or their Designee to Enter Into Agreements with Community Based Organizations For One Year With The Option of One, One-Year Extension and Amendment to Provide Programs and Services Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and General Fund to Aid in the COVID-19 Recovery Effort. (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the recommendation of grant proposals allocating $950,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $550,000 in General funding to local Community Based Organizations totaling $1,500,000 to the following organizations: 1. Approve the recommendation of grant proposals allocating $950,000 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $550,000 in General funding to local Community Based Organizations totaling $1,500,000 to the following organizations:
Boys & Girls Club of Fresno County ($165,000);
Every Neighborhood Partnership ($75,000);
Focus Forward ($50,000);
Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission/Advance Peace ($375,000);
Fresno Police Activities League ($75,000);
HandsOn Central California/Fresno Street Saints ($75,000);
Hope Now for Youth ($130,000);
Live Again Fresno ($150,000);
Take a Stand Committee ($50,000);
The Resiliency Center ($50,000);
Trauma Research and Education Foundation of Fresno ($130,000);
West Fresno Health Care Coalition dba West Fresno Family Resource Center ($150,000); and
Integral Community Solutions Institute ($25,000) for evaluation services.
Staff also recommends that Council authorize and approve the PARCS Director or designee to execute, amend and extend contracts with each Community Based Organization as approved to provide a variety of programs and services that will ultimately support recovery from the public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on violence intervention and prevention efforts. No extension shall extend beyond December 31, 2024, as ARPA requires costs to be incurred prior to that date.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2021, the City of Fresno was awarded ARPA funding in the amount of $170,808,029. Of this funding, $950,000 was approved in the FY23 budget process to provide grant funding to local Community Based Organizations for projects that address the public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic through violence intervention and prevention efforts. The FY23 budget also approved $550,000 in General Funding toward violence intervention and prevention efforts. Collectively, this funding totals $1,500,000 and has been allocated to the City of Fresno’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative which will administer grant funding for evidence-based activities that prevent and/or intervene the cycle of violence. Through a competitive grant solicitation process, 18 proposals were received totaling $5,640,898. On August 11, 2022, staff brought the item before Council with recommendations for funding. At the request of Council, the item was pulled for further review and discussion by the Council Budget Subcommittee. This item brings forward revised recommendations, which would fund projects totaling $1,500,000.
BACKGROUND
The FY23 approved budget includes $950,000 of ARPA and $550,000 in General Funding for grant funding to local Community Based Organizations for projects that address violence intervention and prevention efforts, and the public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic through violence intervention and prevention efforts.
Collectively, this funding has been allocated to the City of Fresno’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative which will administer a total of $1,500,000 in grant funding for evidence-based activities that: (1) expand the capacity of Violence Interventionists, especially those serving communities of color, (2) interrupt cycles of violence and retaliation to reduce the incidence of homicide, shootings and aggravated assaults, and, (3) invest in prevention efforts for youth and young adults that mitigate the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and trauma. The goals and activities of the Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative grant program were created based on the Federal requirements outlined in the Department of the Treasury’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Final Rule.
On June 28, 2022, the City met with an Advisory Group of subject matter experts for feedback on the grant solicitation. The Advisory Group included representatives from: Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, Fresno County Office of Education, Advance Peace, Street Saints, Community Regional Medical Center, Hope Now, the Police Activities League, Barrios Unidos, Focus Forward, Care Fresno, Live Again, the Resiliency Center and Stop the Violence. On July 5, 2022, the PARCS Department’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Community Engagement (ONSCE) released a grant solicitation which incorporated feedback received from the Advisory Group. The solicitation was emailed directly to over 250+ stakeholders working in the violence intervention and prevention in the City of Fresno. The solicitation was also posted to the City of Fresno’s website. The call remained open for two weeks. During that time, frequently asked questions were compiled and posted for all applicants to access on the City of Fresno’s website.
The grant closed on July 19th, 2022. A total of 18 proposals were received with requests totaling $5,640,898. Several proposals included collaborative partnerships between multiple Community Based Organizations. All proposals were vetted for eligibility based on the grant solicitation guidelines. A review committee was formed consisting of representatives from PARCS, City Manager’s Office, ONSCE, and the Mayor’s Office. Proposals were evaluated based on their demonstrated alignment to the goals of the program. As stated in the solicitation, prioritization was given to programming that serves populations most disproportionately impacted by violent crime, including youth and communities of color. On August 11, 2022, staff brought this item before Council with recommendations for funding. At the request of Council, the item was pulled for further review and discussion by the Council Budget Subcommittee. Staff met with the Council Budget Subcommittee (Subcommittee) on August 25, 2022 to review grant proposals. Following the Subcommittee meeting, Staff contacted applicants to ask clarifying questions and prepare scope of work documents that included the information requested by Subcommittee members.
During this process, an applicant previously recommended for evaluation services withdrew their application. On August 31st, 2022, the City released an invitation for letters of interest to provide independent evaluation services via email to over 250+ stakeholders. In response to the invitation, the City received four letters of interest. Staff reviewed each letter and requested a cost proposal from all four applicants. Based on experience illustrated in the letter of interest and cost proposal, Dr. Juan Carlos Gonzalez of the Integral Community Solutions Institute was recommended for funding by the review committee.
On September 16th, 2022, staff met with the Subcommittee a second time to present scope of work documents and recommendations for evaluation services. Based on the feedback received, staff have updated their recommendations. The following Community Based Organizations are recommended for funding:
Boys and Girls Clubs of Fresno County (BGCFC) - Phoenix Prevention Program, $165,000
Funding will be used for four programs designed for approximately 360 at-risk youth including: the Phoenix Program for elementary through high school age youth which builds emotional intelligence and gang resistance skills; the Keystone Club which is a small group leadership program for youth ages 14-18; the Junior Staff internship program which provides workforce development and paid internships for youth; and, Triple Play which includes sports activities that build a sense of belonging among at-risk youth. On June 23, 2022 BGCFC was awarded funding under the City of Fresno’s ARPA grant solicitation. Proposed services under this grant program are non-duplicative with the scope of services under that award.
Every Neighborhood Partnership - Recreational Resilience Saturday Sports, $75,000
Every Neighborhood Partnership will utilize $75,000 to expand the Recreational Resilience Saturday Sports program to 4 additional locations to reach approximately 160 youth. Police officers will be invited to programming to connect with youth and families. Community Equipping services offered as part of the Saturday Sports programming will assist youth in recovery from violence to obtain mental health supports, licensed trauma-informed therapeutic services and other supports to meet their most urgent needs.
Focus Forward - Pipeline to Opportunity (P2O), $50,000
The P2O Program will connect at least 20 justice-involved youth residing in the City of Fresno to higher education opportunities. The P2O Program offers a seamless pipeline from Juvenile Justice Systems to Higher Education by establishing a system whereby youth enroll in Fresno City College courses through the dual enrollment program at Alice Worsley while incarcerated, and are then capable of earning high school and college credits concurrently. The P2O program then continues to bridge services when youth have exited the juvenile justice campus and provides regular college enrollment, educational counseling, barrier removal, and mentoring services to ensure retention and overall collegiate success.
Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (EOC) - Advance Peace Program, $375,000 Advance Peace will provide street level intervention services to a minimum of 60 youth to interrupt the cycle of retaliatory violence. The Advance Peace Program will also include a Junior Fellows program, which will reach approximately twenty-five (25) at-risk youth ages eight to eighteen (8-18) with violence prevention services. Junior Fellows will participate in an 18-month program designed to provide wrap-around supports to disrupt the cycle of violence. Supports include intergenerational mentoring, career exploration, educational opportunities and identifying Junior Fellows goals/interests as part of creating an action plan/road map for their life. Fresno EOC receives grant funding under the California Violence Intervention Program (CalVIP) and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) for street outreach and intervention services. This award will be used toward matching requirements under EOC’s CalVIP Round 4 award. The funding from the City will help meet the goal of more than 340 individuals served during the CalVIP contract period by providing 33%-65% match for Junior Fellowship staff salaries in year one.
Fresno Police Activities League (PAL) - Sports & Leadership Academy Programming, $75,000
Fresno PAL will expand youth mentorship, increasing program capacity across multiple programs and enabling a new PAL Leadership Program at Yosemite Middle School. As a result of this funding violence prevention services will be expanded at the Hinton Center and Romain Park Gym to serve approximately 41 additional youth through boxing and mentorship programming. The PAL Leadership program will reach 35 youth at Gaston Middle School and 45 youth at Yosemite Middle School, including a trip to the Tolerance Museum in LA. The PAL Fightgirl Fitness Program will expand programming by 40 additional youth.
HandsOn Central California/Fresno Street Saints - Educational Enrichment & Community Liaison Mentoring/Safe Passage, $75,000
Street Saints will provide educational enrichment programming for approximately 200 youth at Sunset Community Center, Bigby Villa Apartment Complex, MLK Square Apartment Complex and West Gate Garden Apartments as well as community liaison mentoring and safe passage services at six schools including: Gaston Middle School, Tehipite Middle School, Scandinavian Middle School, Fresno High School, Roosevelt High School and Edison High School. Approximately 60 middle school youth and 50 high school youth will receive services. This funding will increase the number of youth previously served by approximately 60%.
Hope Now for Youth - Workforce Development Interventions for At-Risk Young Men, $130,000
Hope Now for Youth’s proposal will expand evidence-based workforce development and job placement to 40 additional young men with a history of gang involvement and/or incarceration. Funding will also be used to launch a social enterprise concession truck which will be used for job training. The social enterprise model will allow Hope Now's case managers to continue mentoring and training clients on their character and soft skills in a supervised environment. Hope Now for Youth was awarded funding on July 21, 2022 to provide wrap around supports under the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program. Proposed services under this grant program are non-duplicative with the scope of services under that award.
Live Again Fresno - Change in Course, $150,000
Live Again Fresno will provide violence prevention services to approximately 800 individuals through the Resource Referral Program and outreach barbeques, provide after school & mentorship programming to an additional 125 youth, increase the reach of the Mobile Meal Service program by 100 individuals, and provide discovery trips for approximately 75 individuals. Services will focus on the neighborhood located in the 93728-zip code.
Resiliency Center - Trauma Informed Clinical Counseling and Training, $50,000
The Resiliency Center of Fresno is a licensed mental health clinic which offers trauma informed case management and clinical counseling services using an evidence-based approached. Funding will be used to ensure Community Based Organizations selected in this RFP have immediate and unhindered access to mental health care for their clients, trauma informed training for each organization and clinically supported self-care to include critical incident debriefings for partners exposed to a traumatic scene. This grant will enable the Resiliency Center to make over 1,000 hours of mental health services available to violence impacted individuals.
Take a Stand Committee - Teen Summit and A Mother’s Cry, $50,000
The Take a Stand Committee will host a Teen Summit event for approximately 500 at-risk youth and implement programming for approximately 20 violence impacted mothers called “A Mother’s Cry.” The Teen Summit programming will address teen public health issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic including substance abuse, gang violence, peer pressure and mental health. A Mother’s Cry provides support for Mothers impacted by gun violence in a group setting.
Trauma Research and Education Foundation of Fresno - Expanding Hospital Based Violence Intervention; Closing the Revolving Door of Violence, $130,000
The Trauma Research and Education Foundation of Fresno will expand hospital-based violence intervention at Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC) to serve an additional 45 patients ages 12-40 arriving at CRMC with injuries resulting from violence, or individuals identified to be at-risk for violence. Patients will be referred to Violence Intervention Specialists who will devise a service plan to reduce risk factors for violence recidivism and work with patients to implement the plan. Funding will enable extended hours for Specialist’s services and provide group therapeutic interventions led by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for patients and their families impacted by violence. This program will further build capacity of Violence Intervention Specialists in Fresno.
West Fresno Family Resource Center - Sweet Potato Social Enterprise & Food for Thought, $150,000
This grant will fund phase two of the “Sweet Potato” project ($67,800) which will develop a youth-led business plan to enable youth to launch a self-sustaining sweet potato social enterprise. The remaining funding totaling $82,200 will be used for “Food for Thought” parent programming reaching approximately 60 parents.
Integral Community Solutions Institute - Evaluation Services, $25,000
Dr. Juan Carlos Gonzalez of the Integral Community Solutions Institute will provide evaluation services for the Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative.
The funding term is proposed to begin once contracts are fully executed, on or around November 1, 2022. The grant funding will run for 12 months from the date of contract execution, on or around October 31, 2023, with an option of one, one-year extension. The contract term for the independent evaluator is 15 months to allow time to prepare the final report. Agreements must be amended by mutual agreement of the parties, but may be administratively amended by the City to increase funding within the scope authorized within the Agreement. Prior to final approval for funds, all grantees must permit City staff to conduct a subrecipient risk assessment, as required under the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200.332(b)). Failure to allow City staff to conduct this subrecipient risk assessment, and compliance with insurance requirements, may result in the City terminating the Agreement. Additionally, the Grantee’s failure to be certified by City staff at the end of the risk assessment as having adequate internal controls to manage the funding provided in this agreement may also result in the City terminating their Agreement. The City Attorney’s Office and Risk Department have reviewed and approved the agreements as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, these recommendations do not qualify as a “project” as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
All of the organizations recommended are located in the City of Fresno and services proposed will assist City of Fresno residents.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding has been appropriated in the FY23 budget adopted by Council on June 30, 2022 and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the General Fund.
Attachments:
Resolution
Grant Solicitation
Frequently Asked Questions and Responses
Grant Solicitation Application List
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-01: Boys & Girls Club of Fresno County
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-02: Every Neighborhood Partnership
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-03: Focus Forward
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-04: Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission - Advance Peace
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-05: Fresno Police Activities League
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-06: Hands On Central California - Street Saints
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-07: Hope Now for Youth
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-08: Integral Community Solutions Institute
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-09: Live Again Fresno
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-10: Resiliency Center
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-11: Take a Stand
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-12: Trauma Research and Education Foundation
Grant Agreement # VIPI2223-13: West Fresno Healthcare Coalition dba West Fresno Family Resource Center