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Budget committee backs retroactive DOJ grant to expand children’s forensic support unit at SF General
Summary
The Budget and Finance Committee forwarded a resolution authorizing San Francisco Department of Public Health to accept an $829,025 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to relocate and build out the Child and Adolescent Support, Advocacy and Resource Center (CASARC) closer to the San Francisco General Hospital emergency department.
The Budget and Finance Committee on Feb. 12 voted to forward to the full Board of Supervisors a resolution that would retroactively authorize the San Francisco Department of Public Health to accept an $829,025 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to expand the Child and Adolescent Support, Advocacy and Resource Center (CASARC) at San Francisco General Hospital.
The grant would fund a build-out and relocation of CASARC from Building 80’s basement to Building 20, which city and hospital staff said would place the unit much closer to the hospital emergency department and would include “secure tunnel access” between CASARC and the emergency department. Jason Zook of San Francisco General Hospital told the committee the move is intended to create a more welcoming environment for child patients and to provide privacy and safety for interactions that may involve law enforcement. “The Child and Adolescent Support Advocacy and Resource Center offers trauma focused psychotherapy and educational training to diverse groups including community providers and youth,” Zook said.
Why it matters: Committee members said proximity and secure access to the emergency department will improve patient care and evidence integrity in cases involving minors. DPH said it received the award letter Jan. 8 after the grant’s predetermined start date of Oct. 1, 2024; the department sought retroactive approval because it did not receive notice before the program start date and completed required fiscal reviews after the fact.
Details: DPH staff said the existing CASARC location is in an older basement space that staff described as not suited to children. The requested move includes construction for secure access that staff said will facilitate privacy and better protocols when law enforcement is present. DPH staff also said the grant and the relocation were routed through the city’s fiscal approval channels, including review by the Controller’s Office, before coming to the committee.
Next steps: The committee voted to forward the resolution to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation. If the Board approves, the department will accept the DOJ award and begin work under the grant’s period (listed in the committee report as Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2026).
