To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ellen McDonnell, Public Defender
Report Title: Stand Together Contra Costa Contract
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Defender, or designee, to execute an agreement with Multimedia Abacus Corporation, DBA Cerenade, in an amount not to exceed $21,420 to provide case management and data tracking services for Stand Together Contra Costa, for the period November 1, 2025 through November 1, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of this agreement is 100% funded with the Department's County General Fund allocation.
BACKGROUND:
On September 19, 2017, the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to establish Stand Together Contra Costa, a collaborative partnership between the County and local community-based organizations to provide rapid response, legal services, and community education services to support safety and due process for immigrant families in Contra Costa County. Stand Together Contra Costa provides culturally responsive, no-cost legal defense services, and immigrant rights education and training to promote equity and due process for immigrant families in Contra Costa. This agreement will allow the Department to provide case management and data tracking services for Stand Together Contra Costa. Cerenade’s Terms and Conditions include a limitation of liability capping liability at the amount of fees paid in a twelve-month period, and a requirement to reimburse the costs of defense in the event both parties are sued for damages and only one party provides the defense.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this agreement is not approved, Stand Together Contra Costa will not be able to continue with the current case management system, which would negatively affect ongoing program evaluation, data systems, efficiency, and overall quality of services.