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Sheriff and probation outline limited parenting programs for detained parents; committee asks for a scope‑of‑work and RFP plan for expanded services
Summary
Sheriff and probation staff described parenting programs and visitor supports for incarcerated parents, noting services are inconsistent and often provided by outside partners; probation will draft a scope of work and issue an RFP for juvenile‑parent services.
The Sheriff’s Office and probation presented a brief update on programs that support parent–child contact in custodial settings on June 26. Holly Child (director, Restorative Services Division, Sheriff’s Office) and Deputy Chief Jill Ugalde (Probation) described existing parenting classes, visitor programs, and partner‑delivered vendor services available to people in custody.
Current services and limits: Staff said several parent‑focused activities exist — examples listed included reading programs, parenting classes (a 12‑session Parent Project program was mentioned as one of the cohorts run in custody), and ad hoc activities organized by community partners. Staff acknowledged these offerings are not consistently available; the Sheriff’s core budget for the unit that coordinates religious and volunteer services is small (the meeting referenced a figure of about $47,000 annually for the sheriff’s internal unit), and many programs are delivered by outside partners or funded through other county divisions such as reentry or custody health.
Probation programs for juvenile parents: Probation said the number of youth who are parents is small and that during the past grant cycle New Hope for Youth provided parenting services under an external grant. Probation staff said they are preparing a scope of work and plan to issue an RFP to procure more consistent parenting services for youth in custody (the department expects to draft the scope of work and issue procurement documents in the coming months).
Committee direction: Supervisors asked for an off‑agenda report summarizing the scope of services the county will seek, the procurement outreach strategy, and how the county will engage potential providers. A motion to receive the report and request the off‑agenda scope of work/RFP plan passed; supervisors said they would follow up on funding opportunities (including whether Medi‑Cal or CalAIM alternatives could be matched to parenting or transitional services) and offered to coordinate with county partners.
Action: The committee voted to receive the report and requested an off‑agenda report detailing the RFP scope and outreach strategy; Vice Chairperson Young and Chairperson Arenas voted yes and the motion carried.
What’s next: Probation will finish the scope of work and issue the RFP in the fall; the committee asked for an off‑agenda update when the scope is published and to be briefed on outreach to potential providers.
