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Board renews Project Kinship reentry contract amid calls for stronger audit and performance monitoring
Summary
Supervisors approved renewal and amendments to Project Kinship contracts aimed at supporting reentry and reducing recidivism while several public commenters and some supervisors urged clearer performance metrics and forensic auditing of certain grant-related expenditures.
The board approved contract renewals and amendments for Project Kinship — a reentry service provider that offers screening, assessments and post-release support — and directed staff to monitor contractor performance and audits.
Public commenters raised concerns about cumulative funding levels and the need for stronger fiscal oversight. One speaker said Project Kinship’s cumulative contracts totalled approximately $26.3 million and called for federal review; another asked for forensic audits of successor contracts and related vendors. County staff and supervisors defended the program’s role in reducing recidivism and said performance metrics are tracked monthly. Health Care Agency staff reported the program is trending toward meeting or exceeding several performance objectives for the current fiscal year but acknowledged areas for improvement (for example, a counseling‑outcome metric where the program’s midyear figure was below an objective of 75 percent).
Supervisors emphasized the need for post‑award compliance, stronger performance monitoring and completion of audits that are already underway within the Health Care Agency and the Audit Oversight Committee. After discussion the board approved the amendments and contract renewals, with supervisors signaling continued attention to metrics and potential follow-up if outcomes do not improve.
