Subject:
Title
Funding Agreements with Community Action Stops Abuse, Inc., Religious Community Services, Inc., and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office to support the Pinellas Criminal Domestic Battery Response Improvements project.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Funding Agreements with Community Action Stops Abuse, Inc. (CASA), Religious Community Services, Inc. (RCS), and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), to support additional courses, training, and advocacy staff in the Pinellas Criminal Domestic Battery Response Improvements project.
• The project will enhance services for victims and defendants assigned to the Pinellas County Civil Domestic Violence Court who are parties to misdemeanor domestic battery, domestic assault, stalking, and other related domestic violence charges.
• The project’s aim is to provide additional services in over 5,000 cases during the three-year grant period.
• Funding for this award is through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) program, and there is no cash match required. Total three-year not to exceed amount- $864,210.00
o CASA- $126,525.00 (Approximately $42,175 per year)
o RCS- $127,045.00 (Approximately $42,349 per year)
o PCSO- $527,629.00 (Approximately $175,877 per year)Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener, and purchaser of services for those in need
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
These Agreements provide full-time victim advocates with both CASA and RCS; additional Batterers Intervention Program groups and substance abuse testing through the PCSO; and related support, education and advocacy through the Pinellas Criminal Domestic Battery Response Improvements Project. This project will enhance services for victims and defendants who are parties to misdemeanor domestic battery, domestic assault, stalking, and other related domestic violence charges.
This project is a collaboration between the County, the Sixth Judicial Circuit, CASA, RCS and PCSO. Planned initiatives for this project will: 1) add two to four Batterers Intervention Program groups at the jail; 2) provide early access to advocacy and referral services to domestic violence victims; 3) test domestic violence probationers for substance abuse monthly; 4) create a multidisciplinary domestic violence advisory group; and 5) train stakeholders to identify and address the specialized needs of LGBTQ victims of domestic violence and victims of sex trafficking. The project partners will work together to ensure victim safety and offender accountability.
Background/Explanation:
Funding for this award is through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) program for Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking. The Pinellas County Civil Domestic Violence Court will provide enhanced services with an emphasis on both defendants and victims. The project’s aim is to provide additional services in over 5,000 cases during the three-year grant period.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding in the following three-year, not-to-exceed amounts are made available through the federal OVW Improving Criminal Justice Responses Program grant. There is no cash match. This grant was not included in the FY19 Adopted Budget and a budget resolution may be required to recognize and appropriate this funding in FY19.
CASA- $126,525.00 (Approximately $42,175 per year)
RCS- $127,045.00 (Approximately $42,349 per year)
PCSO- $527,629.00 (Approximately $175,877 per year)
Total three-year not to exceed amount- $864,210.00
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign these agreements is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Daisy Rodriguez, Director, Human Services
Partners:
CASA
RCS
PCSO
6th Judicial Circuit
OVW
Attachments:
CASA Agreement
RCS Agreement
PCSO Agreement
Attachment 1- BIP MOU
Attachment 2- Data Sharing Agreement
Attachment 3- Agreement Modification Template
Attachment 4- Insurance Requirements
Appendix A- Grant Application
Appendix B- Detail Budget
Appendix C- Notice of Award
Appendix D- Grant Funding Conditions
Appendix E- Certifications