Item 2 - FY24 Annual Internal Review — original pdf

Backup

Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024 __Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board__ The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: The mission of the Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board (“Board”), according to article 2-1-130 of the City Code, is to “advise the Downtown Austin Community Court on policy and operational issues and advise the council on the policies and operations of the court.” The purpose of the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) is to collaboratively address the quality of all residents in the downtown Austin community through the swift, creative sentencing of public order offenders. The Court seeks to hold people responsible while also offering help to change behavior. 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. During the reporting period (7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024), the Board met six (6) times. Meetings were held as a hybrid of virtually and in person. All meetings were posted and open to the public. Our actions during this time were primarily educational, including: - The board posted opportunities to receive feedback from individuals with first- hand lived experience being served in Austin’s homelessness system on each agenda. - The Board received regular updates from DACC staff; Rapid Rehousing efforts, housing placements, and the waitlist for services; virtual hearings and warrant Annual Review and Work Plan Year Page # confirmation policies; facilities, and the Violet KeepSafe Storage Program. On November 2023, DACC launched Community Court News, and internal newsletter with updates about DACC operations, and provided during board meetings along with data updates across all DACC units (5 times). - Yvonne Mboss, DACC Clinical Case Manager Supervisor, presented on the Clinical Diversion Program, the data is continually being gathered and updated, plus the program has transportation available from Austin Municipal Court (AMC) to DACC office for clients, when needed. - Robert Kingham, DACC Court Administrator, discussed the plan tolaunch DACC’s Mobile Court Pilot on October 18, 2024, and collected feedback from the Board on suggestions for data to be collected and potential locations for services. Mobile Court updates shared at subsequent board meetings. - Kate Ballew, DACC Clinical Case Manager Supervisor, discussed the clinic services provided by Community Care Clinic at DACC’s office, available on Wednesdays. - Jennifer Sowinski, DACC Clinical Operations Manager, shared that Rapid Rehousing Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) started with $139,000 in 2013, there has been no increase since, and discussed challenges and how DACC has worked to address gaps with other resources. Data was shared at each meeting regarding the individuals served through this grant. The Board discussed the DACC budget, including items coming to an end in FY24 and needs for FY24-FY25, and formed a working group to plan recommendations to City Council. On March 22, 2024, the Board approved Recommendation No. 20240322-005, recommending the following: - Support for City Council Initiatives - $254,178 of ongoing funding to fund full implementation of DACC Mobile Court. Increase Service Capacity to Meet Community Needs - $729,116 of ongoing funding to augment DACC’s Intensive Case Management capacity by adding two housing-focused case manager FTEs and programmatic funding to continue connecting clients to housing. Increase Resources for Operational Needs - - o $82,950 of ongoing funding for one Court Clerk Lead FTE to address increase in cases and support operational efficiencies o $250,000 of ongoing funding and $87,500 one-time funding to support and enhance operations of the Violet KeepSafe Storage Program - $250,000 for facility enhancements at DACC to support a trauma-informed environment and address operational needs. - Future Considerations – Plan for $2,187,348 of ongoing funding in Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget for six grant-funded clinical case managers and programmatic Annual Review and Work Plan Year Page # funding to continue connecting clients to long-term, stable housing. 2. Determine if the board’s actions throughout the year comply with the mission statement. The Board’s actions during this reporting period comply with the Board’s mission statement. All the educational aspects described above were designed to enable us to understand the policy and operational needs of the Court, so that we may give informed advice with respect to Court policies and operations. Our recommendations to staff and leadership were built upon the knowledge learned and offered in support of the policies and operations of DACC. 3. List the board’s goals and objectives for the new calendar year. - Continue to learn about, monitor, and support the implementation of evidence- based practices to address issues of race and equity, access to care, recidivism, and homelessness. - Continue to work with DACC to assess and advocate for system redesign and funds to address the complex needs of people it serves. Respectfully submitted, Lea Downey Gallatin, Chair