REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: AARON A. AGUIRRE, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SHELBY MACNAB, MPA, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
BY: CHANELL WEST, MPA, Senior Management Analyst
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Grant Subrecipient Agreement with the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (EOC) to provide reimbursement for licensed mental health services for Advance Peace Fellows and violence impacted individuals in amount not to exceed $270,000.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the agreement with Fresno EOC to provide reimbursement for licensed mental health services for Advance Peace Fellows and violence impacted individuals in the amount not to exceed $270,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Council action will enable the City of Fresno to enter into an Agreement with Fresno EOC to reimburse Fresno EOC for providing licensed mental health services to Advance Peace Fellows and violence impacted individuals in an amount not to exceed $270,000. The Agreement does not include any funding for stipends as part of the Advance Peace program. Funding for the grant sub-recipient agreement comes from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance Federal Byrne Community Project/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program.
BACKGROUND
On March 15, 2022, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (Act) of 2022 which included a $300,000 discretionary grant appropriation to the City of Fresno to be used for the Advance Peace Fresno-Violence Prevention and Intervention Program. On August 11, 2022, PARCS staff applied for the grant funding and received a notice of award letter on September 7, 2022.
On December 1, 2022, Council authorized the PARCS Director or designee to accept the grant award from BJA and entered into an agreement with Fresno EOC to provide mental health services. The original performance period for the grant program ran from October 1, 2022, through March 31, 2025. To date, no eligible expenditures have been incurred, and the grant has a remaining balance of $300,000.
On March 31, 2025, the City applied for a grant extension from BJA to extend the performance period by twelve months (through March 31, 2026). On April 28, 2025, BJA approved the City’s request to extend the grant performance period through March 31, 2026. Staff now desires to enter into a new agreement with EOC since the original agreement has expired.
In coordination with Fresno EOC, staff have established the goals and objectives of the grant funded project. There are two goals: (1) improve the mental health and well-being of those impacted by violent crime to reduce cyclical and retaliatory violence by supporting social-emotional skill development and mental health services for fellows and individuals at-risk of or impacted by violent crime; and, (2) provide mental health screening, referrals, and trauma-informed therapeutic interventions to individuals who are at-risk of or have been impacted by violent crime to interrupt the cycle of violence, including Advance Peace fellows. The goals will be achieved by Advance Peace Fresno by providing comprehensive services that address the underlying contributors to gun violence to 70 individuals and providing up to 1,476 hours of group family or individual therapeutic interventions.
Under the Agreement, Fresno EOC may request reimbursement not to exceed $270,000. The remaining $30,000 has been allocated to the City of Fresno PARCS Department to partially cover the costs associated with administering the grant including providing technical assistance to Fresno EOC, monitoring grant progress, processing reimbursements and fulfilling federal reporting requirements. The PARCS Department will ensure that the City of Fresno Community Violence Intervention Vetting Policy adopted by Council on November 21, 2024 is adhered to in the implementation of this grant award.
All mental health services requiring licensure in the state of California shall be provided by a licensed mental health professional. Fresno EOC will subcontract with a licensed mental health care provider to provide clinical mental health services to Advance Peace fellows.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Based upon the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item does not qualify as a “project”.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable as this resolution does not include a bid, or an award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Up to $30,000, which is 10% of the $300,000 grant award, has been appropriated to reimburse the City of Fresno for the costs associated with administering the grant.
Attachment:
Grant Subrecipient Agreement between the City of Fresno and Fresno EOC