Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

A. MOTION TO RETROACTIVELY APPROVE Grant-In-Aid Agreement between Broward County and the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, Inc. (FNCAC), in the amount of $522,789 beginning July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018,  with two one-year option periods to renew, for the purpose of providing advocacy and mental health services to child victims of sexual violence and abuse and their non-offending family members served at the Nancy J. Cotterman Center  (NJCC) as well as community outreach and system coordination with the Office of the State Attorney and local Law Enforcement Officials; authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; authorizing the County Administrator to execute amendments which do not increase the total funding amount above $577,789; authorizing the County Administrator to execute renewal options subject to approval of the same by the Office of the County Attorney; and authorizing the County Administrator to take any necessary budgetary and administrative actions needed to implement the Agreement.

ACTION:  (T-10:49 AM)  Approved.
 
VOTE: 9-0.

B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2017-491 in the Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers Grant In Aid Fund to appropriate revenue in the amount of $522,789 for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 with the Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers Grant for the purpose of providing services to victims of sexual assault and child abuse at NJCC.

ACTION:  (T-10:49 AM)  Approved.
 
VOTE: 9-0.

C. MOTION TO APPROVE two full-time new grant positions pending award of the grant. These positions will expire at the conclusion of the grant.

ACTION:  (T-10:49 AM)  Approved.
 
VOTE: 9-0.

A-C. Broward County Administrative Code, Section 23.7 requires Board approval for agreements with external agencies. Florida Statutes, Chapter 129.06.2d requires Board approval to provide for unanticipated revenue. Administrative Code, Section 20.8 requires Board approval to increase personnel.

Approval of Motions A-C enables the Nancy J. Cotter man Center to provide advocacy and mental health services to child victims of sexual violence and abuse, their non-offending family members and caregivers as well as community outreach and systems coordination with the Office of the State Attorney and local Law Enforcement Officials.

None.

THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF ABOVE MOTION.

This action supports the Board's Value of "[A]pproaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable" and the Goals to “[D]eliver evidence-based services to the public, and connect customers and their family members, to sustainable support, with special emphasis on financial supports" and "[C]ollaborate with public and private partners to find creative, equitable, and responsible solutions to systemic community problems, especially permanent supportive housing for persons experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness." Collaboration and funding from Florida Network of Child Advocacy Centers, Inc. (FNCAC) facilitate services to child victims of sexual violence and abuse and their non-offending family members by highly trained staff.  

Retroactive approval is requested as the FNCAC notified the County of the Grant-In-Aid funding (Exhibit 2) award for Fiscal Year 2017/2018 on August 30, 2017.

The award is administered by NJCC as the designated Child Advocacy Center in Broward County. NJCC has been awarded the FNCAC re-occurring Grant In Aid fund ($322,789) on an annual basis since 2012. Continued funding of the Grant In Aid will allow for the provision of direct client services to child victims of physical abuse and sexual violence. The non-recurring grant award ($200,000) is provided by the Office of the State Courts Administrator (OSCA) through the FNCAC-Grant In Aid Agreement and supports the State Attorney’s Liaison Program at NJCC. NJCC has received this grant consecutively since Fiscal Year 2015-2016; however, the new award includes a significant funding increase that will support the addition of two new positions. The State Attorney Liaison program seeks to complement the existing advocacy services, communication, system coordination and outreach between NJCC and the courts or other legal entities to ensure timely access to care, treatment and services for victims of sexual violence.

The grant performance measures remain the same as in prior years, and all deliverables for the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 have been met.

The agreement is in FNCAC's format and has been reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney with Disclosures identified in Exhibit 4. FNCAC will sign following Board approval. 

Mandy Wells, Director, Community Partnerships Division, 954-357-6398
Miriam Firpo-Jimenez, Section Manager, Nancy J. Cotterman Center, 954-357-5775