The County of Santa Clara is providing this Request for Information process to give qualified organizations an opportunity to respond and inform the County of their interest and capabilities to provide Catholic chaplaincy services in secure juvenile facilities within Santa Clara County.
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
A. Secure Facilities
The County of Santa Clara Probation Department operates two secure juvenile facilities within the geographic limits of Santa Clara County: Juvenile Hall (downtown San Jose, CA) and the William F. James Ranch (Morgan Hill, CA). Both facilities are in operation 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
B. Juvenile Population
Individuals residing in one of the Probation Department’s secure juvenile facilities are: • Generally between the ages of 12 and 18 years old, and
• Of any sex, sexual orientation, gender, ethnic background.
Between both facilities, an estimated 1,500 youth per year will reside in Probation facilities with an average daily population of approximately 150 youth.
C. Catholic Chaplaincy Services
The County of Santa Clara Probation Department retains a Catholic chaplaincy service provider to provide Catholic services to individuals residing in either juvenile facility. Services typically include:
- Coordinating religious services for facility residents adhering to the Catholic faith; E.g. Catholic worship, religious observances, pastoral visitation, spiritual counseling, or other related services.
- Recruiting, training and supervising approximately 25 local volunteers or staff (clergy and laity) to provide services; and all staff and volunteers will be subject to fingerprint clearance.
- Preparing regular reports detailing services provided each month/quarter.
Conversion therapy (also known as reparative therapy) is explicitly prohibited in County facilities.
Length of service is dependent on the individual needs of each facility resident requesting services. Chaplaincy services are available during normal business hours consistent with normal religious observances and/or days of worship. Certain emergency services, such as counseling or consultation in conjunction with mental health services, are generally required on an on-call basis.