Title
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MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Members of the Lake County Board of Supervisors
FROM: Susan J. Krones, District Attorney
DATE: March 5, 2019
SUBJECT: Adopt the Resolution authorizing the 2019-20 Grant Project - Lake County Child Advocacy Center Program and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification and Assurance of Compliance
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This grant from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) was created last year for the purpose of funding affiliate, developing, and accredited Child Advocacy Centers in California who work with child abuse victims to reduce trauma to children and their families by using a multidisciplinary team approach. The Victim Witness Division of the District Attorney's Office has had its Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center (MDIC) operational for nearly 13 years. The MDIC uses specialized audio/video equipment to conduct children's interviews in a less intimidating setting. Due to the nature of these situations, interviews must be conducted by a specially trained, trauma-informed professional who can build rapport with the child, while conducting a meaningful and productive interview.
There are several reasons we are requesting to continue to apply for this grant:
(1) this is the only CalOES victim services grant that allows funds to be used for MDIC equipment and personnel;
(2) the current MDIC equipment is outdated and out of warranty - properly operating equipment is imperative so that a child does not have to be called in again to relay and re-live such traumatic events; this equipment was not purchased during the previous grant period
(3) this grant has provided for one Extra Help position, a specially trained forensic interviewer - this will partially relieve law enforcement agencies from the burdensome and time consuming responsibilities associated with forensic interviewing
(4) this grant will be able to reimburse the County for the time that our District Attorney Investigator,...
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