Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Crisis Intervention & Support
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE Agreement No. GR-2025-Broward County-00010 between the State of Florida, Department of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General and Broward County, in an amount not to exceed $587,081, for the State of Florida 2025-2026 Fiscal Year, to provide recovery services to survivors of child abuse and sexual violence, including survivors of human trafficking, those at risk of human trafficking, and their eligible family members; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; authorize the County Administrator to execute amendments to the Agreement, subject to legal sufficiency review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, provided these amendments do not impose any additional financial obligations on the County; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the Agreement.
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Why Action is Necessary
Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ (“Commission”) approval is required for agreements with external agencies.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval of the Motion allows for the use of grant funding to provide recovery services to survivors of child abuse and sexual violence.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT DIVISION (“CISD”) RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This action supports the Commission’s value of “building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives,” and the goal of “delivering accessible human services that holistically address the whole person collaboratively and compassionately.” Funding from the State of Florida, Department of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) will be used by the Nancy J. Cotterman Center (“NJCC”) to deliver intensive, victim-centered, trauma-informed recovery services to survivors of child abuse and sexual violence, including survivors of human trafficking, those at risk of human trafficking, and their eligible family members.
The OAG funds will be used to deliver recovery services to at least 540 survivors and their eligible family members and provide support to guide the healing process. All survivors will receive an intake eligibility assessment. The assessment results will determine the need and type of recovery services required. Recovery services include advocacy and accompaniment, as well as referrals for housing, mental health services, legal assistance, and educational support. The Agreement also funds intensive case coordination services with weekly to monthly in-person or video conference contact for at least 40 identified survivors of human trafficking.
NJCC staff will:
• Link survivors to intervention services, assist in navigating the criminal justice system, and complete relevant documentation, including crime victim compensation applications.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team staffing with investigative partners and service providers.
• Maintain communication with the Office of the State Attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida and its victim advocates to update survivors’ case status and share NJCC’s forensic interview schedule.
• Conduct at least 12 outreach/educational events for community members to increase awareness of child abuse, human trafficking, and available recovery services.
NJCC has received funding through OAG for these services since the State of Florida’s 2015-2016 Fiscal Year. All deliverables for the prior year agreement have been achieved.
The Agreement (Exhibit 1) is in the form required by OAG and has been reviewed and approved for legal sufficiency by the County Attorney’s Office, with disclosures outlined in Exhibit 2. OAG will sign last after the Commission’s approval.
Source of Additional Information
Carol Cook, Director, Crisis Intervention and Support Division, 954-357-9590
Ana Ferrer, Human Services Administrator, Nancy J. Cotterman Center, 954-357-5765
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The Agreement provides a total amount not to exceed $587,081 in funding from OAG. No Broward County match is required.