Sacramento County Children's Coalition - Youth Focused Domestic Violence Services & Supports

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to fund a project that addresses the impact of domestic violence and gaps in services for children and youth in Sacramento County.

Domestic violence has historically been underreported across all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Children and youth involved in the foster care system are at particularly high risk of having experienced or currently experiencing violent environments, which increases their vulnerability to external harms such as sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and other destabilizing and traumatic circumstances.

Several organizations are working to make a positive difference, and many schools have become increasingly aware of how domestic violence affects children both in and outside of the classroom. While programs and supports are being implemented, there remains a critical need to do more by identifying service gaps and strengthening the effectiveness of existing efforts to better meet the needs of children and youth.

Despite the high number of child abuse, neglect (CAN), and child homicide cases, current efforts remain insufficient. By leveraging data from multiple sources—including Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office reports, Child Protective Services data, and information from relevant committees and agencies—the County can gain a clearer understanding of the scope of the issue and where gaps in prevention and response persist.

This initiative seeks to focus on children and youth affected by the complex and multifaceted impacts of domestic violence. By leveraging accurate data, informed analysis, and effective programs, the goal is to reduce the incidence and impact of domestic violence on children and youth. Areas of Interest for the CTF and Coalition include (but are not limited to):

1. Current socioeconomic factors and pressures contributing to domestic violence affecting children and youth ages birth (0) through 17.
2. Assessment of the number of children, youth, and families receiving domestic violence– and trauma-informed services, including the types of assistance provided, foster care entry rates, and demographic data such as ethnicity.
3. Analysis of access to and utilization of support services by children and youth seeking help for personal or family challenges through schools, faith-based organizations, counselors, or other trusted adults.
4. Community listening sessions to gather input on lived experiences, perceived service gaps, and community-identified needs for keeping children safe.
5. Utilization of panel discussions, data review, and other information-sharing approaches to identify service gaps and strengthen prevention and early-intervention efforts.

The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) and the Sacramento County Children’s Coalition seek demonstrated evidence of strong partnerships with organizations and agencies across Sacramento County, or a clear commitment and articulated plan to establish and strengthen such partnerships.

This project will be funded with Children's Trust Fund dollars.

The Sacramento County Children's Coalition - Children's Trust Fund

The Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) was created by California State legislation (Assembly Bill 2994), enacted in 1983, to provide funding for child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention programs operated by private non-profit organizations or public institutions of higher education with recognized expertise related to child well-being. Funding for the CTF is derived primarily from a portion of the fees charged for certified copies of birth certificates in Sacramento County. The CTF may be augmented by grants, gifts, and bequests from private sources, tax appeals, and/or funds appropriated to Sacramento County for the CTF by the California State Legislature.

County Boards of Supervisors may designate a local voluntary commission, board, or council to carry out the purposes of the legislation establishing the CTF. Accordingly, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors appointed the Children’s Coalition (Coalition), an advisory board composed of community volunteers, as the body responsible for administering the CTF and conducting its competitive bid/selection processes. The CTF Committee has been delegated by the Coalition to carry out this competitive bid/selection process by issuing this RFP. The Sacramento County Department of Child, Family and Adult Services is the fiscal agent for the Children's Coalition; therefore, awards will result in contracts with the County.

The Coalition is made up of a broad range of individuals who intersect with various children’s systems in Sacramento County, such as education, physical and mental health, child advocacy, childcare, and social services.

In August 2025, the SCCC held its annual member retreat, during which the Coalition identified advocacy priorities for 2025–2026 based on insights gained from interactions and information gathering over the past two years. The Coalition recognizes that true child abuse prevention and early intervention start with addressing the social determinants that ensure positive mental health, safety in the home and education support.