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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Napa County Grand Jury • 2022-2023

Continuity Report: Review of Responses to the 2022-2023 Grand Jury Reports

Published: June 30, 2024 123 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings 12 findings

TheJury found thatNapaCounty has manydedicated peoplein countyagencies and nonprofits whoare workinghard tohelp theelderly agegracefully.

TheJury found thatnooneappears tobeaccountable for ensuringthat all mandatory reportersknow their responsibilities.Manydonot havesufficienttraining toidentify elder abuse.Many maynotknow the correctprocedurefor reporting elderabuse, exposing themto liability for failingtoreport.

TheJury found thatthe constellationofservicesavailable tothe elderlyis broad and complexmaking ita challengefor some people tofind theresourcesthey need.

TheJury found thatinformationsources andservice deliveryareoftenonline. Ongoing efforts to gettechnology intothe handsof theelderly ishampered bytheirlack of computerliteracyresultingin acontinuingneedfor in-person informationand services.

TheJury found thatservicessuch asProvidenceHome HealthNapa “Caregiver Resources”and “Information andAssistance”existtomeetthe needsof theelderly and their caregivers.Theseservicesappear tobeunderutilized.

TheJury found thatmoreoutreach isneeded tomake thecommunity awareofelder abuse andavailable services.

TheJury found thatanaffluent populationmakesNapaCounty particularly vulnerable to elder financialscams. Expertspredictthat emergingartificialintelligencetechnologies will make financialscams abigger problem.Thebest deterrenttothis type offraudis for potentialvictimstohave thecapability andstrategies toidentify thembeforehand.

TheJury found thatthe elderlypopulationinNapa Countyis increasing.Astheelderly populationincreases,the demand for resourcesneeded tokeepthem safewill also increase.Additionalsocialworkers andmentalhealththerapistswill beneeded inthe county.

TheJury found thatlawenforcement trainingonhow toidentify andreport elderabuse is limited. COMMENDATIONS TheJury exploredthehumanitarian workof localCommunityPartner nonprofitorganizations providing vitalservicestothe disabled,elderly andthose inneed.TheJury recognizestheir invaluablecontribution to thecommunityand commendthededication ofall those whowork diligently and volunteerso generously.

F10

Theenrollment processfor Everbridge iscumbersomeand notwellunderstood bythe citizenry.

F11

Everbridge hasnotfulfilledall of itscontractual obligationswithNapa County.

F12

NapaCounty’s staff haveimproved measurestofacilitate communicationwithcitizen’s diverselanguages andfor those havingdisabilities orspecial needs.

Recommendations 10

R1

BySeptember30,2024,HHSAdevelop andannuallydistributeasimple, briefcardor letter toall mandatoryreporters inNapaCounty. Thisformwouldinform them oftheir reporting responsibilities,andhow toreport andlink toonline resourcesfor additional information.
R2

ByDecember31,2024,HHSAdevelop a“HealthyAgingGuide” for NapaCounty toaid theelderly,families,andcaregivers inunderstanding how tobetterassess theirneeds and locate theavailableresources. Suchaguide needsto gofarbeyondthe simplelistapproach of thecurrent NapaCountyAging andDisability ResourceGuide.HHSAshould utilize countypartnerssuchas theLibraryand CountyCommunications staffas wellas other avenuesto distributethis tothe people whoneed theinformation.
R3

ByDecember31,2024,HHSAworkin conjunctionwiththe CommissiononAging,the Elder AbuseTaskForce,and HealthyAgingPopulation Initiative(HAPI) todevelop and implement acomprehensivecommunicationplan aimedatboth theelderly andthewider community.Theobjectives ofthis plan aretobreakdown barriersfor eldersupport, increasecommunityengagement andinclusion,educate thecommunityonrecognizing and avoiding financialscams,andincreasethe awareness andunderstanding ofelderabuse.
R4

HHSAcontinues ongoing workwiththe DistrictAttorney’s Officeandnonprofit organizationsto developandenhancescamawareness andpromote preventioncampaigns. Theobjectives of thesecampaigns aretoassist theelderly torecognize andavoidpotential scams andknow howtorespondif facedwith one.
R5

Beginning July1,2024, NapaCounty HHSAproactivelyincreasetheirinvolvement inthe California MasterPlan for Agingtohelp shapefuture programs andbemoreawareof resources andgrantavailability.
R6

Beginning July1,2024, lawenforcement establishperiodic trainingthat reinforces how to recognize andreport elderabuse. 15
R7

BySeptember30,2024,HHSAdevelop plans for hiring additionalsocialworkers and mental healthprofessionalstomeetthe growingdemand of theincreasingelderly population.
R8

By September 30, 2024, the City of Napa Police Department create a succession plan for the Community Service Officer role in the Juvenile Diversion Program, including program expansion.
R9

By December 31, 2025, the Napa County Sheriff, the City of Napa Police Department, the City of St. Helena Police Department, the City of Calistoga Police Department, the District Attorney’s office and the Napa County Probation Department create an integrated 38 data collection system to improve the efficiency of trend monitoring associated with gangs and gang crimes.
R10

BySeptember30,2024, theSheriff’sDepartment OEScollaborate withNapaCounty communicationstaff to addressproblems withthe “AlertNapaCounty”citizen enrollment processincludingincreased awarenessof how toenroll,streamline theenrollmentprocess, and improve citizen’sabilityto managetheirown alertnotification preferences. Requestfor Responses Board of Supervisors: R1,R2, R3,R5, R6,R7, R8 Napa CountySheriff: R4,R9, R10 Invited Responses County ExecutiveOfficer: R1,R2, R3,R5, R6,R7, R8 Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed . Pena l Cod e sectio n 92 9 requires that repo rts of th e G rand J ur y not contai n the name of an y pers on or fact s leading to the id entity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury. 67 , 2024 FINAL REPORT SKYLINE ACADEMY AT JUVENILE HALL DELAY AND DISORGANIZATION 68

Conclusions 1

CL1

The County would like to acknowledge the work of the Grand Jury. It is apparent they have an interest in the important and complex work of HHSA and share in our goals of making mental health crisis services available and accessible to the community. 101 Napa County Responses To The Grand Jury Report On Napa County Groundwater Management INTRODUCTION The “Napa County Groundwater Management” Report of the 2022-2023 Napa County Grand Jury sets forth eight (8) findings and five (5) recommendations relating to the management of groundwater resources in Napa County. This Memorandum comprises the responses of the Director of the Department of Planning, Building and Environmental Services (PBES), the County Executive Officer and the Board of Supervisors. We would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of this year’s Grand Jury. We appreciate the Grand Jury’s interest in and focus on groundwater management in Napa County. It is a highly complex topic, especially with the overarching goals of ensuring that water resources are managed to protect communities and the environment, ensuring water supply reliability, and preparing for future weather extremes in the face of climate change and uncertainty.

Commendations 5

CM1

TheJury exploredthehumanitarian workof localCommunityPartner nonprofitorganizations providing vitalservicestothe disabled,elderly andthose inneed.TheJury recognizestheir invaluablecontribution to thecommunityand commendthededication ofall those whowork diligently and volunteerso generously.
CM2

C1. The Jury commends the Napa Police Department Special Enforcement Unit as well as the Napa County District Attorney’s office’s interdiction efforts to stop gang violence. C2. The Jury commends the Napa Police Department’s Juvenile Diversion Program and the dedication of its diversion officer. C3. The Jury commends the Napa Police Department, Napa Sheriff’s Department, the Napa Valley Unified School District, and the Napa County Office of Education for their School Resource Officer program and also acknowledges the dedication of the School Resource Officers assigned to the Napa County Schools. 37 C4. The Jury commends the Napa County Probation Department’s officers assigned to Camille Creek who go beyond their duties to help at-risk youth as well as the officers assigned to supervise gang members and associates. C5. The Jury commends the Napa Sheriff’s Department for its Youth Activities League programs.
CM3

The Jury commends the continuing efforts of the PBES team implementing the online digital platform. The Jury commends the PBES’s dedicated staff who perform despite the challenges of staff shortages and cramped office environment.
CM4

Commendation 1: The Napa County Grand Jury commends the NCJ for managing the Covid-19 pandemic with innovative solutions to keep the outbreaks at a minimum. Response to Grand Jury Final Report on Napa County Juvenile Hall
CM5

The Napa County Probation Department appreciates the Grand Jury's recognition of the hard work of County staff to ensure youth and staff were safe in the Juvenile Hall throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. 88 Information Technology Services in Napa County INTRODUCTION The “Information Technology Services in Napa County” final investigative report (Report) of the 2022- 2023 Napa County Civil Grand Jury presents five (5) findings, five (5) recommendations and one (1) commendation related to ITS in Napa County. This letter represents the responses of the Napa County Board of Supervisors and County Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO), pursuant to California Penal Code Section 933.05. Napa County Board of Supervisors and County Executive Officer would like to thank the Grand Jury for their work, and for the opportunity to respond to the findings and recommendations in the final investigative report.