Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Crisis Intervention & Support
Information
Requested Action
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A. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute Agreement No. GR-2024-Broward County-00004 between State of Florida, Department of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General and Broward County, subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, in a total amount not to exceed $501,500, to the County for State Fiscal Year 2024-2025, 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 County Administrator to execute amendments to the Agreement, subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, that 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.
ACTION: (T-10:46 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 9-0.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution within the Crisis Intervention Fund to appropriate revenue in the amount of $501,500 for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 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.
ACTION: (T-10:46 AM) Approved Resolution No. 2024-473.
VOTE: 9-0.
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Why Action is Necessary
A. Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approval is required for agreements with external agencies.
B. Section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, requires a budget Resolution to recognize revenue.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval of Motions A and B 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 RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
These actions support 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.
OAG funding 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 services, and referrals for housing, mental health services, legal services, and education assistance. The Agreement will also fund intensive case coordination services with weekly to monthly in person or video conference contact for at least 30 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.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team staffing with investigative partners and services 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 the forensic interview schedule.
• Conduct at least 32 education sessions for survivors and those at risk of human trafficking, and 12 outreach events for community members to increase awareness of child abuse, human trafficking and available recovery services.
NJCC has been receiving state general revenue funding through OAG for these services since State Fiscal Year 2015-2016. The Human Services Department and the Crisis Intervention and Support Division are requesting delegation of authority for the County Administrator to sign the Agreement for State Fiscal Year 2024-2025 to ensure its timely execution after the parties conclude negotiations regarding certain programmatic matters and allow NJCC to begin billing for services as soon as possible.
The Agreement will be in the form required by OAG and will be reviewed and approved for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney 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 will provide a total amount not to exceed $501,500 in funding from OAG. No Broward County match is required.