Subject:
Title
First Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with the Guardian Ad Litem program office for the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of First Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with the Sixth Judicial Circuit’s Guardian Ad Litem (GAL).
● This Amendment aligns the annual contract funding amount to the adopted FY25 budget appropriation of $58,490.00, with all other terms and conditions of the original agreement remaining unchanged. Article V of the Florida Constitution specifies requirements for county funding of court-related functions to include required communications and computing equipment for the GAL program.
● The GAL program continues to provide essential advocacy services for children in the child welfare and judicial court systems. The County has historically supported the GAL program through in-kind services and funding for operational needs such as technology, communications, and office support.
● The County Administrator previously approved the original Interlocal Agreement with the Guardian Ad Litem Office on October 1, 2022, to provide operational funding.
● This Amendment increases the GAL agreement by $19,480.00 to $58,490.00 in alignment with the FY25 budget appropriation reflecting variation for computer replacements and communications. Funding is included through the Human Services Department budget for the GAL Program and is subject to adjustment based on Article V requirements reflected in the adopted budget each fiscal year. The Agreement term remains unchanged.
Body
Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health
2.2 Enhance community safety
Smart Service Delivery
4.3 Improve efficiency of service delivery through technology.
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement
Summary:
This Amendment aligns the agreement to the FY25 appropriated budget amount of $58,490.00 to support evolving technology and operational needs. The GAL program provides volunteer advocacy services for children involved in the child welfare and judicial court systems, ensuring their safety and well-being.
This Amendment is necessary to adjust the funding cap to accommodate fluctuating technology and operational requirements, ensuring continued effective service delivery.
Background/Explanation:
The Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) program was established in 1980 to provide volunteer advocacy services for children in the child welfare system and the judicial court system, ensuring that the voice of the child is heard. The GAL program recruits, trains, and manages community volunteers who advocate for children through case management. The program is funded through local counties in accordance with the Florida Constitution and relevant state statutes, including Chapter 110, Chapter 112, and Chapter 125 of the Florida Statutes.
In Fiscal Year 2021, the GAL program served a cumulative total of 34,879 children, supporting their safety, security, and well-being. This amendment is intended to align the agreement with the annual funding appropriation at $58,490.00 for FY25, reflecting the evolving technology and service needs of the program. The funding will continue to ensure the program’s essential advocacy services are maintained, aligning with the Board’s previous actions to support the GAL program.
Fiscal Impact:
Additional funding in the amount of $19,480.00 has been included in the Human Services’ FY25 General Fund appropriation for the GAL Program. The original Agreement is in an amount not to exceed $39,010.00, and this amendment increases the total “not to exceed” amount to $58,490.00 in FY25.
Funding to support this agreement is included in the FY25 Human Services approved budget.
The agreement has a fiscal non-funding clause, should this portion of the budget not be approved.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Amendment is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Guardian Ad Litem Program, Sixth Judicial Circuit
Pinellas County Business Technology Services
Attachments:
Amendment