Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Crisis Intervention & Support
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute agreement between the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, Inc., and Broward County, subject to legal sufficiency review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, in an amount not to exceed $9,557, to fund forensic and specialized interviews for children and families involved in an allegation of child maltreatment, effective upon the date of full execution through June 30, 2026; 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 forensic and specialized interviews to children and families involved in an allegation of child maltreatment.
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 Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, Inc., (“FNCAC”), will be used by the Nancy J. Cotterman Center (“NJCC”) to provide forensic and specialized interviews to children and families involved in an allegation of child maltreatment.
The funding for the agreement is derived from court fines for certain crimes committed against minors. These funds are appropriated to the Florida Department of Children and Families, which contracts with FNCAC for distribution to accredited children’s advocacy centers as defined in Section 39.3035, Florida Statutes. NJCC is Broward County’s only certified children’s advocacy center. FNCAC determines the allocation methodology, and the annual award varies based on the amount of court fines that are issued and collected. NJCC has received this grant annually since 2007.
FNCAC issued the agreement on October 9, 2025, with an acceptance deadline of November 30, 2025. However, certain provisions of the agreement are still under review, and FNCAC’s acceptance deadline precedes the Commission’s next meeting on December 9, 2025. CISD is requesting approval for the County Administrator to execute the agreement because Broward County will lose the funding if the agreement is not fully executed by the acceptance deadline.
There are no required outcomes; however, NJCC must submit monthly activity and service detail reports outlining the number of children and families served, and the services provided. NJCC is also required to submit monthly demographic data for clients receiving services funded through the agreement.
The agreement will be reviewed and approved for legal sufficiency by the County Attorney’s Office prior to execution by the County Administrator.
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 $9,557 in funding from FNCAC. No Broward County match is required.