Visions of the Cross (VOTC) and Shasta County, through its Health and Human Services Agency and Probation Department, entered into the original agreement, executed by the Board of Supervisors on June 9, 2015, with a term from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, with two automatic one-year renewals, and a maximum compensation for Probation Client referrals of $75,000 over the entire term of the agreement, and $399,000 maximum compensation for the entire agreement, for the provision of sober living services, Parent University, and other therapeutic modalities. The need for sober living services from VOTC for offenders referred by the Probation Department was higher than expected, and the contract maximum was almost reached as of June 30, 2016.

The Probation Department assesses each offender to determine the offender’s top criminogenic needs (those things most likely to be causing criminal behavior). Research has proven that by addressing these needs, the likelihood that the offender will continue committing crimes is significantly decreased.  Substance abuse is one of the most prevalent criminogenic needs of the population supervised by Probation. Having a living environment that provides structure and support for offenders while they are in the early stages of sobriety is essential. The objective of VOTC is to provide a safe and sober living environment for adult men and women seeking a semi-structured, recovering lifestyle. VOTC ensures clients maintain participation in treatment, makes referrals to other services in the community and assists the clients in increasing protective factors in their lives as part of a living environment that balances support with independence so that newly recovering men and women can progress in their recovery and become better prepared to succeed as clean and sober productive members of society.

VOTC has consistently provided satisfactory service for Probation. During Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Probation paid VOTC $74,290 to provide Sober Living Services to 49 offenders.

This amendment will increase the maximum compensation of the agreement by $150,000 to a new maximum of $549,000 to allow a greater number of offenders to benefit from the alcohol and drug-free housing that VOTC provides. The amendment does not affect the services utilized by the Health and Human Services Agency.

This amendment is retroactive because of an underestimation of demand for these services. Several of the other agreements the Probation Department held for sober living services recently expired and/or were terminated, resulting in fewer options for this type of treatment.