SACRAMENTO (Feb.11,2021) - The Board of State and Community Corrections gave approval today for development of a Request for Applications for $9.6 million in Regional Youth Programs Facilities Grant funding to help counties plan for the realignment of youth in state custody to county care.

The Board also extended until March 12 the deadline for counties to apply for $41 million in Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding and will reissue a Notice of Funding Availability to the 33 counties that didn’t apply. The Board also broadened allowable reentry uses for $15 million of CESF funds it had allocated to help people transition out of state prisons.

Officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported to the Board that so far, they have helped 2,326 people into transitional housing. With $11.5 million remaining, they asked to be able to assist people be more successful in transition with wrap-around services that include substance-use disorder treatment, family reunification, therapy and general healthcare services. Board Meeting – Agenda Item B .

The Regional Youth Programs Facilities Grant Program is part of Senate Bill 823 (Chapter 337, Statutes of 2020), which began the closure of the state Division of Juvenile Justice. DJJ intake is scheduled to close July 1, after which counties will be responsible for the housing and treatment of youth being held at higher offense levels. Board Meeting - Agenda Item C

Part of SB 823 set aside $9.6 million to “award one-time grants to counties for the purpose of providing resources for infrastructure-related needs and improvements to assist counties in the development of a local continuum of care.”

Under the direction of Board Chair Linda Penner and Board Member David Steinhart, the BSCC sent a survey to each county to help assess the facility and programming needs of these youth. A majority responded that they lacked capacity to serve certain youth, including females, sex offenders and youth who are seriously mentally ill. Most counties also indicated they needed significant infrastructure improvements to separate youth by age, offer additional treatment space and specialized programming.

Based on the data, Penner and Steinhart proposed that the RFA make available $4 million to fund four projects that would create regional hubs to serve youth in those areas identified as high-need – females, sex offenders and mentally ill young people. The remaining $5.12 million will be distributed equally to all counties to support infrastructure improvement projects.

The RFA will come back to the Board for discussion on April 8 and will be released upon approval. Funding recommendations would be made at the June 10 Board meeting.

In other news the Board:

• Heard an update on a public listening session held in December to seek input into the BSCC’s enhanced inspection process. Analysis of listening session comments

• Appointed a chair and began seeking statement of interest from people who would like to serve on an Executive Steering Committee that will develop the Request for Proposals for the Proud Parenting grant. Board Meeting - Agenda Item F

• Approved the February 12, 2021 release of the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Request for Proposals. Board Meeting - Agenda Item E
A link to the RFP will be posted on the BSCC Grants page upon release.