REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PACO BALDERRAMA, Chief of Police
Police Department
BY: TOM ROWE, Captain
Police Community Relations Bureau, Support Division
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the Chief of Police to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Resiliency Center of Fresno to assist child victims exposed to trauma.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) represents the best interest of the City of Fresno and child victims exposed to trauma. It is recommended that the City Council approve the MOU which follows negotiations between the Resiliency Center and the City of Fresno. The MOU language was agreed upon by both parties.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Council approval is being sought to authorize the City of Fresno Police Department to enter into a MOU with the Resiliency Center of Fresno to better assist in providing treatment, care and counseling services to children who have been exposed to traumatic events. The term of the MOU will be 3/30/2023 and end on 3/30/2024. Subject to three one-year extensions as mutually agreed upon by the Resiliency Center and Fresno Police Department.
The Resiliency Center of Fresno is a non-profit organization that provides care, counseling, and treatment programs for identified youth who have been exposed to trauma. Payment for these services comes from a variety of sources to include insurance billings, grants, community donors. However, regardless of the persons ability to pay, the Resiliency Center of Fresno has committed to providing these treatment services at no-charge for those who don’t have insurance and are not able to pay.
BACKGROUND
The Resiliency Center of Fresno received a competitive grant from the City of Fresno to provide care to child trauma victims. As a requirement of the grant, the Resiliency Center of Fresno has agreed to work cooperatively with the Fresno Police Department to identify child trauma victims who could be served by the program. This partnership is a natural fit as police officers often come across victims of child trauma while responding to calls for service and investigating criminal acts.
These interactions provide our officers with the ability to members to make referrals to the Resiliency Center of Fresno for follow-up counseling services. If not for these interactions and referrals, there is a strong likelihood these trauma victims would not receive care and counseling.
Research has shown childhood traumas are associated with greater rates of PTSD, PTSS, depression, anxiety, anti-social behaviors and greater risk for alcohol and substance use disorders. Through early intervention programs such as those offered by the Resiliency Center of Fresno, exposed youth are more likely to develop effective coping strategies, increased resiliency skills which will allow them to be more successful as they progress through their lives.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable to this item because these services were not the subject of a competitive bid process. However, the competitive grant application and approval process did take into account local businesses and the Resiliency Center of Fresno is local.
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY 24 budget for the Police Department is not impacted by this MOU.
Attachments: Memorandum of Understanding