Subject
Final Reports for the 2021 Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant with the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the final grant reports for the 2021 Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment (CJMHSA) grant with the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).
• The CJMHSA grant funded the Complex Case Reintegration Program (CCRP), a partnership with Pinellas Ex-Offender Re-entry Coalition (PERC) and WestCare GulfCoast Florida-Inc. (WestCare) to increase access to effective, evidence-based community treatment services and resources for adults with serious mental illness or co-occurring substance use disorders, who are involved in or at risk of becoming involved in the justice system.
• CCRP was a three-year project, from March 1, 2022 - February 28, 2025.
• The project screened 155 participants over the life of the grant period and admitted 77 participants for expanded services. Out of the 77 participants, 37 participants (48%) achieved successful completion.
• The CJMHSA grant award for CCRP provided up to $1,200,000.00 over a 36-month grant period and required 100% in-kind match, which was provided by a partnership between Pinellas County, PERC and WestCare.
• Total payments received from DCF were $891,000.00. Actual expenditures during the grant period were $793,563.39 and required in-kind match was met. Delays in grant start-up activities because of COVID-19, difficulty filling vacancies in grant funded positions and engagement challenges for clients due to transportation and housing resulted in lower enrollment and actual expenditures than anticipated.
• A refund of the unexpended grant funds received in the amount of $97,436.61 will be issued through Clerk Finance out of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) approved budget.
• The program will remain active for continuous data tracking of participants by PERC and WestCare for at least one year after discharge. A coordinated effort between data systems will facilitate the collection of data from internal systems, HMIS, and Odyssey.
• Submission of the final report documents, due to DCF by April 29, 2025, require presentation to the Public Safety Coordinating Council and the approval of the County Administrator.
• A refund of the unexpended grant funds received in the amount of $97,436.61 will be issued through Clerk Finance out of the FY25 approved budget. There are sufficient grant funds in the FY25 Budget to cover the reimbursement of advanced funding.
Strategic Priorities
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary
The CJMHSA Grant funded the 36-month CCRP program from March 1, 2022 through February 28, 2025. Final reports are required to be presented to the Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC) and require the approval of the County Administrator. Presentation to the PSCC occurred on April 2, 2025.
The primary goal of the CCRP program was to divert adults from arrest, prosecution, or incarceration and into treatment and support services. The project screened 155 participants over the life of the grant period and admitted 77 participants. Out of the 77 participants, 37 participants (48%) achieved successful completion. The goal was to achieve a target of 105 participants to successfully complete the program. Delays in grant start-up activities because of COVID-19, difficulty filling vacancies in grant funded positions and engagement challenges for clients due to transportation and housing resulted in lower enrollment and actual expenditures than anticipated.
Background/Explanation
DCF’s CJMHSA Grant provides funding to counties for initiatives that improve public safety, avert increased justice system spending, and improve accessibility and efficacy of treatment services for people in or at-risk of entering the justice system who have mental illness, substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders.
The Board of County Commissioners approved the grant agreement with DCF, and the funding agreement with PERC and WestCare on May 24, 2022.
Fiscal Impact
A refund of the unexpended grant funds received in the amount of $97,436.61 will be issued through Clerk Finance out of the FY25 approved budget. There are sufficient grant funds in the FY25 Budget to cover the reimbursement of advanced funding.
Delegated Authority
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Affidavit is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners
Pinellas Ex-Offender Re-entry Coalition
WestCare GulfCoast-Florida, Inc.
Florida Department of Children and Families
Attachments
Final Report Certification Form
Final Financial Report
Final Program Status Report
Final Appendix A Supporting Documents
Final Appendix B Quarterly Data Report
Final Appendix C Performance Measures Report