TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents, subcontracts, and subsequent amendments, including amending the award amount, with the Board of State and Community Corrections, California Violence Intervention and Prevention Cohort 4, to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $9,174 for mental health services for frontline workers engaged in the Long Beach Activating Safe Communities Program from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025, with the option to extend the agreement for an additional one-year period, at the discretion of the City Manager; and
Increase appropriations in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $9,174 offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Board of State and Community Correction (BSCC), California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Mental Health Services for Frontline Workers Grant, allows the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) to provide mental health services for frontline workers engaged in its CalVIP-funded program called Long Beach Activating Safe Communities (LB ASC). LB ASC is a citywide program that works to reduce gun violence with a focus on neighborhoods that are disproportionally impacted by gun violence. With this grant, the Health Department seeks to achieve these three goals: 1) Expand frontline workers' resiliency skills to manage vicarious trauma; 2) Increase social connectedness and support between frontline workers; and, 3) Increase frontline workers' ability to implement mental health practices in their lives in order to build long-term capacity to deal with trauma and stress surrounding this work. The Health Department will achieve these goals by providing quarterly mental health training on how to manage vicarious trauma, monthly support group meetings to debrief and process violent events, and quarterly workshops on how to implement different mental health practices such as resiliency skill-building techniques which may include breathing to self-regulate or strategies on how to deal with anxiety and grief.
The Health Department serves as the backbone entity for the City of Long Beach (City) violence prevention initiative driven by a cross-sector group of committed, inclusive, and diverse system leaders and community stakeholders working together with a shared safety approach to improve the safety and well-being of everyone in Long Beach. LB ASC directly supports the neighborhood-level violence prevention goals and strategies in the City and this grant will directly support frontline LB ASC staff and partners.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on September 25, 2023 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on September 20, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to accept and expend grant funding is requested on October 10, 2023, to begin the supplemental program as soon as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive grant funding in the amount of $9,174 from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025. An appropriation increase in the amount of $9,174 is being requested in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department, offset by grant revenue. Any indirect costs that might not ultimately be eligible for grant funds will be funded by the Health Operating Fund, General Fund, or other eligible funds. No match or in-kind service mandate is required. This recommendation is consistent with existing City Council priorities and has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER