Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Mandy Wells (Acting Director)
Department: Human Services Division: Crisis Intervention & Support
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the Sheriff of Broward County, Florida (“BSO”) and Broward County, effective upon signature by both parties for a period of five years to provide crisis intervention services and victim advocacy services to inmates and detainees who are victims of sexual abuse, and reimburse the County $500 for each forensic medical examination completed by the County’s Nancy J. Cotterman Center (“NJCC”) of those inmates or detainees; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; authorize the County Administrator to execute renewals and amendments to the MOU, 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 MOU.
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Why Action is Necessary
Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approval is required for agreements with external agencies.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval enables the NJCC to effectively collaborate with BSO to offer inmates or detainees who are victims of sexual abuse with the opportunity to obtain confidential emotional support services and forensic medical examinations in accordance with National Standards.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Commission value of “approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately with special emphasis on the most vulnerable” and the goal to “deliver evidence-based services to the public and connect customers and their family members to sustainable support with special emphasis on financial supports.”
The collaboration with BSO allows the NJCC to respond to a BSO jail or hospital facility to provide crisis intervention, victim advocacy, and forensic medical examinations to inmates or detainees who are victims of sexual abuse. It also allows for the provision of mental health evaluations, confidential access to NJCC’s 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline, follow-up services including medical services if necessary, and connection to a NJCC victim advocate by mail or telephone while the victim is detained by BSO.
The framework created by the MOU facilitates BSO’s compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act National Standards, Part 115 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as required by the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA). The National Standards require that jail facilities provide inmate victims of sexual abuse timely, unimpeded access to emergency medical treatment, forensic medical examinations, and crisis intervention services where medically or evidentiarily appropriate.
BSO will pay the County for the initial forensic medical examination of an inmate victim of sexual abuse performed by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner at a cost of $500 per completed forensic medical exam. This is the standard reimbursement rate used by the Florida Office of the Attorney General.
The MOU is in BSO’s format and has been approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. BSO will sign following Commission 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 County will be reimbursed $500 for each forensic medical examination completed. The revenue generated from the MOU will be used to contribute to costs associated with safety and support needs of human trafficking victims.