Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Williams
Department: Human Services Division: Crisis Intervention & Support
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO APPROVE Agreement No. K05343 between the State of Florida, Department of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) and Broward County in the amount of $306,000, effective retroactively from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, to provide intensive, victim-centered, trauma-informed recovery services to victims of child abuse and sexual violence through the OAG Anti-Human Trafficking/Family Advocacy Program at the Nancy J. Cotterman Center; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; authorize the County Administrator to execute amendments to the Agreement that do not impose any additional financial obligations on the County, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the Agreement.
ACTION: (T-10:48 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 7-0. Commissioner Moskowitz was not present.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution within the Crisis Intervention Fund to appropriate revenue in the amount of $306,000 for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 to provide intensive, victim-centered, trauma-informed recovery services to victims of child abuse and sexual violence.
ACTION: (T-10:48 AM) Approved Resolution No. 2022-395.
VOTE: 7-0. Commissioner Moskowitz was not present.
C. MOTION TO APPROVE one new, full-time grant position within the OAG Anti-Human Trafficking/Family Advocacy Program to provide intensive trauma-informed recovery services to victims of child abuse and sexual violence, including human trafficking victims and those at risk of human trafficking, and to their non-offending family members. This position will be terminated if future funding is discontinued.
ACTION: (T-10:48 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 7-0. Commissioner Moskowitz was not present.
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Why Action is Necessary
A. Section 20.31(b)(3), Broward County Administrative Code, requires that the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approves all state and federal grant agreements.
B. Section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, requires a budget resolution to recognize revenue.
C. Section 20.8(b), Broward County Administrative Code, requires Commission approval to increase the personnel cap.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval of Motions A-B allows for the delivery of intensive trauma-informed recovery services to victims of child abuse and sexual violence, including human trafficking victims and those at risk of human trafficking, and their non-offending family members.
Approval of Motion C provides additional staffing for the OAG Anti-Human Trafficking/Family Advocacy Program.
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 MOTIONS.
These actions support the Commission’s 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.” Collaboration and funding from the OAG will allow the Nancy J. Cotterman Center (“NJCC”) to deliver intensive, victim-centered, trauma-informed recovery services to victims of child abuse and sexual violence, including human trafficking and those at risk of human trafficking, and their non-offending family members.
OAG issued the Agreement to Broward County on July 6, 2022. The effective date of this Agreement (Exhibit 1) is retroactive due to contract negotiations with OAG regarding language and formulation of the document. The Agreement was finalized on August 16, 2022.
Funding for the OAG Anti-Human Trafficking/Family Advocacy Program will be used to provide a comprehensive and coordinated system of care to respond to the needs of children and adults who are victims of child abuse and sexual violence, including human trafficking and those at risk of human trafficking. NJCC will serve as the coordinating entity in connecting victims to needed services. Staff will deliver advocacy services to at least 300 victims of child abuse and sexual violence and their non-offending family members to support them through the investigative stage and healing process. Staff will link victims and non-offending family members to intervention services, assist in navigating through the prosecutorial phase and assist in completing documentation, including crime victim compensation. Staff will also participate in multidisciplinary team staffings with investigative partners and service providers. They will also maintain collaborative communication with the Florida State Attorney’s Office, 17th Judicial Circuit and its victim advocates to update clients’ case status and share the forensic interview schedule.
Funding will provide at least 12 identified human trafficking victims with intensive case management services with weekly to monthly in-person client contacts. These clients will also receive an intake eligibility assessment, victim advocacy and accompaniment, and referrals for housing, mental health services, legal services, and education assistance. In addition, life skills training through 24 education sessions will be available.
The Agreement is in OAG’s format and has been approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. OAG 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
This Agreement funds $306,000 to Broward County with no cash match required. The new grant position will be a full-time behavioral health clinician. One hundred percent (100%) of the cost of this position will be paid from the grant. The position will be terminated if future funding is discontinued.