Subject:
Title
Employment Screening Affidavit required by the Department of Children and Families to continue the Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Employment Screening Affidavit required by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for the Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant (CJMHSA Grant).
• The CJMHSA Grant funds the expansion of the Public Defender’s Jail Diversion program, which serves offenders suffering from mental health, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders.
• DCF requires that a background Employment Screening Affidavit is executed by the County annually under the terms of the agreement.
• The original project period was for three years. In January, the County was granted a five-month no-cost extension to use remaining funds.
• The CJMHSA Grant provides $1,200,000.00 over a 41-month period and requires 100% match. The Public defender provides a cash match and WestCare Florida-Gulfcoast (WestCare) provides in-kind match.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
2.4 Support programs that seek to prevent and remedy the causes of homelessness and move individuals and families from homelessness to permanent housing
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
A previous Employment Screening Affidavit was executed on May 5, 2019 by the County Administrator (Legistar # 19-364D). The affidavit asserts that all employees operating under the CJMHSA Grant have been screened in accordance with Florida Statutes Chapter 435. WestCare provides all client services under this grant and has also executed a new Employment Screening Affidavit attesting that all CJMHSA Grant employees have been screened.
Background/Explanation:
The CJMHSA Grant term is February 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. The target population is adults who have been charged with a crime and have co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions. The primary goal of the program is to divert high-risk individuals from arrest, prosecution, or incarceration to treatment and support services.
The Board of County Commissioners (Board) approved the grant agreement with DCF on January 24, 2017, the service funding agreement with WestCare was ratified by the Board on April 25, 2017.
Fiscal Impact:
No fiscal impact to funding by or through this item.
Funding in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000.00 over 41 months is provided by Grant #RFA06HI6GSI and is included in the applicable budgets. Grant includes 100% match composed of in-kind match from Westcare and cash match from the Public Defender.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this Affidavit is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Daisy Rodriguez, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Public Defender, Sixth Judicial Circuit
Westcare GulfCoast-Florida, Inc.
Florida Department of Children and Families
Attachments:
County Employment Screening Affidavit
WestCare Employment Screening Affidavit
DCF CJMHSA Grant Agreement
WestCare Service Funding Agreement
WestCare No-Cost Extension Amendment
DCF CJMHSA No-Cost Extension