Approve agreement with the Yolo Crisis Nursery, Inc. by using American Rescue Plan funds in the amount of $1,100,000 for the period of April 12, 2022, through December 31, 2024, to construct a larger facility for Yolo Crisis Nursery, Inc., which will triple the capacity of the Crisis Nursery and increase the number of transitional housing for children and the number of nursery beds and childcare slots. (No general fund impact) (Pinedo/York)

On September 28, 2021, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the initial American Rescue Plan (ARP) Expenditure Plan, which included $5,500,000 for the Children, Youth, and Families Priority Category. The Board then subsequently reviewed and provided direction on specific Child, Youth, and Families funding at the February 22, 2022, board meeting and expressed support for funding the Yolo Crisis Nursery, Inc. to assist with the construction of a new facility. Staff has worked with the Yolo Crisis Nursery, Inc. to develop the final contract, which is recommended for approval with this staff report. Additional information on the scope of the contract with the Yolo Crisis Nursery, Inc. and performance measures are described below. 

Yolo Crisis Nursery, Inc.- New Facility Construction 
Funding this contract with the Yolo Crisis Nursery, Inc. will help construct a new larger facility that will retain and expand the number of Yolo County's Crisis Nursery beds and childcare slots. The objective of the Yolo County Crisis Nursery Brighter Tomorrows Campaign is to build a new crisis nursery with increased capacity and enhanced service programs for children and families. The Yolo Crisis Nursery serves children in need by offering a variety of child abuse protection services, including its signature programs Crisis and Respite Care, Wraparound Services for Families, and Specialized Infant Daycare and Preschool for children of families transitioning out of crisis and special needs children. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Crisis Nursery has provided childcare for essential workers and front-line workers with no alternative childcare available. The new home will triple the capacity of the Crisis Nursery to provide transitional housing for children in acute crises through the trauma-informed overnight respite care program. The new facility will substantially expand the ability of the Crisis Nursery to provide upstream interventions that both immediately protect young children susceptible to abuse and prevent the costly downstream consequences of unaddressed childhood trauma. 

The performance measures and outcomes associated with this project include tracking the number of children served, the number of safe stays for children in crisis, and tracking the construction of the new facility through all stages. More information about this contract, including a statement of work, budget, and performance measures, may be found in Attachment A.

No competitive bid is required. The countywide ARP funds were allocated as part of the Board's FY2021-22 budget hearing on September 28, 2021. The Board provided direction for ARP funds set aside for Children, Youth, and Families at the February 22, 2022, Board meeting.