Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Administration
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Master Internship Agreement between Broward County and the Broward Workforce Development Board, Inc. d/b/a CareerSource Broward (“CSBD”), to provide paid internship opportunities to students participating in the County’s University Student Practicum Program (“USPP”); authorize the County Administrator to execute the Agreement and any assurances, certifications, and other documents required by CSBD to receive or allocate funding to the USPP that do not increase the County’s financial obligation, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative actions to implement the Agreement.
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Why Action is Necessary
Board approval is required for agreements with external agencies.
What Action Accomplishes
This action provides paid internship opportunities to interns participating in the USPP that meet the CSBD eligibility criteria established in the Agreement.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND EQUITY AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT SECTION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
Approval of this item will support the Board’s value of “building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions” and the Board’s goal “to deliver accessible human services that holistically address the whole person collaboratively and compassionately.”
The Broward County Human Services Department (’HSD’) operates several direct service programs in its Broward Addiction Recovery Division, Community Partnerships Division, Elderly and Veterans Services Division, Family Success Administration Division, Crisis Intervention & Support Division, and HSD Administration. These direct services provide unique and meaningful learning opportunities for Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D., and Psy.D. level students studying in the fields of social work, counseling, psychology, nursing, public administration, and business administration. Students that participate in the USPP are provided an opportunity to work in a professional setting, develop and demonstrate skills in the human services field, integrate the theories and practices learned in and out of the classroom, develop a commitment to the profession, as well as an understanding of the diversity of the Broward community and its role in the delivery of human services. Undergraduate and graduate students that participate in HSD’s USPP obtain experience by providing direct services under the supervision of HSD staff.
CSBD receives federal funding pursuant to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which can be utilized to offer paid internships to interns meeting certain criteria. Entering into this agreement with CSBD provides paid internship opportunities for students that participate in the USPP and meet CSBD’s eligibility requirements. To be eligible for CSBD funding, USPP interns must: (i) reside in Broward County; (ii) be eligible to work in the United States; (iii) if male, be registered for the selective service; and (iv) meet other CSBD eligibility criteria such as income guidelines. If a USPP intern meets the CSBD eligibility criteria, they are eligible to receive payment for a maximum of 480 hours of USPP work at $17 an hour. All internship funding is provided by CSBD and paid directly to the intern, and participation in the paid internship opportunity is voluntary.
This Agreement (Exhibit 1) was reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney.
Source of Additional Information
Keith D. Bostick, HSD Deputy Director, (954) 357-6051
Jennifer Melgarejo, SPPC, Equity and Community Investment Section, (954) 357-6463
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
No fiscal impact.