Subject:
Title
Funding agreement for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Trust Fund program. Funding agreement with Boley Centers, Inc., Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, Inc., Operation PAR, Inc., Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health Services, Inc., and Westcare Gulfcoast-Florida, Inc. for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Trust Fund program.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Trust Fund (Trust Fund) Agreement with Boley Centers, Inc. (Boley), Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, Inc. (Gulf Coast JFCS), Operation PAR, Inc. (PAR), Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health Services, Inc. (PEMHS), and Westcare Gulfcoast-Florida, Inc.(WestCare).
• Annual funding of the Trust Fund is provided through the assessment of court fees for alcohol and drug-related charges. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 available Trust Fund allocation is $35,000.00.
• Funds are awarded to licensed substance use service providers for non-recurring expenditures such as equipment or renovations.
• A competitive application process is held annually to award grants ranging from $1,000.00 to $10,000.00. Following the committee review process, the Substance Abuse Advisory Board (SAAB) recommended six (6) Pinellas County nonprofit agencies for awards.
• Since being recommended, Directions for Mental Health, Inc. d/b/a Directions for Living, decided not to proceed with their award. Per the SAAB award recommendation if any of the agencies decline the award, funds will be disbursed equally to any partially funded projects in order of ranking until funds are exhausted. WestCare was the only partially funded recommended award and will now be fully funded, bringing the total recommended awards to $34,051.74.
• The Board approved the SAAB’s recommendations at the November 14, 2023, meeting.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need.
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
This Agreement funds nonrecurring expenditures such as equipment, special projects, training, renovations, and formalized prevention activities for five (5) community providers. On August 15, 2023, the SAAB approved the recommendation of six (6) projects for funding. Recommended awards range from approximately $4,000.00 to $10,000.00. Since that date, one (1) awardee has declined to proceed. The accepted awards are as follows:
PAR: Painting 3 buildings and mattresses
PEMHS: Computer Monitors
Gulf Coast JFCS: New laptops (3)
Boley: Greenhouse Project
WestCare: Security Cameras
Background/Explanation:
The Trust Fund awards are disbursed annually to recipients who are licensed as substance use treatment providers with the Florida Department of Children and Families. The County facilitates a competitive process to solicit applications for the Trust Fund. Applications are reviewed and selected for funding by the SAAB, a Sunshine Board. The funds must be used for one-time only, non-recurring expenditures such as equipment, special projects, training, renovations, and formalized prevention activities.
The Trust Fund is funded by fees collected by the Clerk of Court generated from $15.00 court fees as defined in Chapters 938.23 and 893.165 of the Florida Statutes. To be eligible for an award the organization must be licensed as a substance abuse treatment provider under Chapter 397 of the Florida Statutes.
Fiscal Impact:
Appropriation in the amount of $35,000.00 dollars to support these agreements is consistent with the development of the FY24 Human Services Approved Budget. The total funding amount of the agreement is $34,051.74
PAR: Painting 3 buildings and mattresses; $9,749.50
PEMHS: Computer Monitors; $5,399.52
Gulf Coast JFCS: New laptops (3); $3,927.81
Boley: Greenhouse Project; $5,032.91
WestCare: Security Cameras; $ 9,942.00
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Boley Centers, Inc.
Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, Inc.
Operation PAR, Inc.
Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health Services, Inc.
Westcare Gulfcoast-Florida, Inc.
SAAB
Attachments:
Agreement