TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall hear and possibly take action to determine the method of management for the Maricopa Family Advocacy Center. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
The City of Maricopa Police Department began researching the need for a Family Advocacy Center in Western Pinal County since 2014 with the completion of a Human Services Needs Assessment and a formal Domestic Violence call to action. In July 2015 the Police Department formed a partnership with Dignity Health and began meeting with stakeholders to develop a proposal for the Mayor and City Council. In September 2016 a formal presentation was made to the Mayor and City Council through the collaborative efforts of Dignity Health and Honor Health. Any adult or child victim requiring a medical forensic examination must travel 45-60 minutes out of the county for services. In these instances the average amount of time an Officer, Victim Advocate or Volunteer is then out of the City and unavailable for service is 5-7 hours. In October 2016 the City of Maricopa was awarded grant funding through Ak-Chin Indian Community State Shared Revenue Funds in the amount of $278,712 for the first year lease, work stations, equipment and remodeling costs for a Family Advocacy Center. This grant was formally accepted by the City Council in January 2017 contingent upon signed agreements by stakeholders to demonstrate sustainability of the project for three to five years. In April 2017 an update was provided on the proposed Family Advocacy Center during a work session.
No community can create an effective Family Advocacy Center without a basic, solid, specialized law enforcement response to the crimes experienced by victims being served in the Center. If a community wants to co-locate services without law enforcement or prosecution, they can, however it will no longer be a Family Advocacy Center with a multi-disciplinary team approach. Communities that fail to understand the centrality of law enforcement / local government will do a great disservice to the victims and their children. Abusers must be arrested and prosecuted if we are going to stop family violence and sexual assault. (Dream Big, Start Small, How to Start and Sustain a Family Justice Center by Gael Strack and Casey Gwinn)
According to the National Children's Alliance, Family Advocacy Center's should maintain a good blend of public and provate funders. The national average blend is 68% public and 32% private. The most common funding source for centers to receive are public funding, with local funding at 71.2% and public funding streams are the largest source of funding advocacy center's nationwide. More than two thids of funding comes from a mix of federal, state and local funds. The service delivery model of a Family Advocacy Center saves the court, child protection, and investigation dollars averaging $1,000 per child abuse cases. An increased use of multi disciplinary teams has increased successful prosecutions of perpetrators. One study shows an average 94% conviction rate.
Municipal Governments which take the lead in Family Advocacy Centers across Arizona:
1. Glendale Family Advocacy Center
2. Mesa Center Against Family Violence
3. Phoenix Family Advocacy Center
4. Scottsdale Family Advocacy Center
5. Southwest Family Advocacy Center ( Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
On April 25, 2017 the stakeholders met and developed a mission statement:
“The Maricopa Family Advocacy Center exists to empower victims of violence and neglect through the collaboration of connected professionals.”
The following stakeholders have provided commitments with intent to sign the agreement with the City:
1. Honor Health - In-Kind Medical Supplies, Electronic Records, Medical Director, and Nurses through contract.
2. Pinal County Attorney’s Office - Expense of the sexual assault nurse examinations
3. Toyota Foundation - $2,500
4. Community Alliance Against Family Abuse - $25,000 ( $5,000 per year for five years)
5. Casa Grande Police Department - $50,000 ($10,000 per year for five years )
6. Pinal County Sheriff’s Office - $50,000 ($10,000 per year for five years)
7. Dignity Health - $50,000 ($10,000 per year for five years)
8. Winged Hope Family Advocacy Foundation - 501(c)3 - Fundraising, Labor, Remodel, Painting, Furniture and unmet needs
An agreement has been provided reviewed by the above listed stakeholders.
The purpose and intent of the agreement are addressing the following key factors:
1. The partnering agencies will develop, own and manage the center.
2. Maricopa is the overall day to day manager of the Center subject to the guidance of the Steering Committee.
3. Each partnering agency shall contribute toward the annual operating maintenance and repair costs of the Center.
4. All Center accounts are subject to oversight and control of the Steering Committee
5. The Steering Committee is established by Maricopa and all partnering agencies and the Chairperson of the Committee is subject to change on an annual basis.
6. Criminal Investigations Lieutenant is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Steering Committee.
In the agreement for the Maricopa Family Advocacy Center there is no one agency or individual that has the ability to develop and manage the Center. The agreement provides for the joint leadership of the Maricopa Family Advocacy with each contributing stakeholder.
The following grant applications are pending for ongoing operational costs:
1. Gila River Indian Community - $246,045 for lease and Bloom365 Implementation
2. Fort McDowell Community - $160,000 for nursing costs
3. Tohono O’odham - Application due June 3rd.
4. AZ Department of Public Safety - VOCA - Application announced Summer 2017
5. STOP Violence Against Women Act - Application announced Fall 2017
An additional option for ongoing sustainability of the Maricopa Family Advocacy Center is through a proposed ordinance change to allow the cost of fees of $100 designated to the Family Advocacy Center assessed through the municipal court for domestic violence related offenses to defendants that receive a deferred prosecution.
There are three methods of management to consider for the Maricopa Family Advocacy Center.
• City Managed (stakeholders provided shared leadership in facility)
• Non-Profit Managed
• Hybrid Model (non-profit, hospital based and government)
This item will be presented by Police Chief, Steve Stahl.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Mayor and City Council hear and take action to determine the method of management for the Maricopa Family Advocacy Center .