Title
Human Services Department Director requesting ratification of his signature on an application to First 5 El Dorado Children and Families Commission for Mini-Grant 08-09-01 in an amount not to exceed $7,500 to acquire new and replacement furniture and equipment for the Department's five Child Protective Services family visitation rooms and, if awarded, authorize said Director to execute the subsequent grant agreement contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve.
FUNDING: First 5 El Dorado Grant (if Application is funded).
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BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost |
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$ 0.00 |
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Funding |
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Budgeted |
$ |
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New Funding |
$ |
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Savings |
$ |
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Other |
$ |
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Total Funding Available |
$ |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$ 0.00 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: No change.
Human Services has confirmed that no County Match is required. Since funding will not be released to successful applicants until July 1, 2008, revenues and appropriations for the proposed acquisitions will be included in the Department's FY 2008-09 budget request.
Reason for Recommendation:
Human Services maintains four Child Protective Services visiting rooms in Placerville and one in South Lake Tahoe where parents may spend supervised time in a safe environment with their children, who have been temporarily placed in foster care while the parents work to resolve the issues that preclude family reunification. These visiting rooms are used by more than twenty families each week. Acquisition of new and replacement furniture, equipment and supplies to brighten the atmosphere of the currently dreary rooms and facilitate family activities would provide a more conducive environment in which children can strengthen bonds with their parents during these visits. The Application also proposes the purchase of twelve car/booster seats to augment the existing supply. Child Protective Services workers require car seats to transport young children for family visits in the Department's visiting rooms, doctor appointments and court appearances. Additional car seats can be loaned to foster parents to enable them to take children into their homes immediately upon approval.
Human Services became aware of this First 5 El Dorado grant opportunity after the deadline to submit items for the March 11, 2008 Board of Supervisors meeting. In order to meet the grant application submittal deadline of March 21, 2008 the Department submitted the application with the Director's signature rather than miss out on the opportunity to obtain funding to upgrade the family visitation rooms without expending direct service dollars. The Department is recommending retroactive ratification of the Director's signature on said Application. The First 5 Mini-Grant Application, which will have been finalized and submitted by the deadline, and a list of proposed acquisitions are attached.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
If the First 5 Mini-Grant Application is funded, Human Services shall obtain necessary approvals, execute the grant agreement and acquire the furnishings and equipment specified in the Application.
Doug Nowka, Director, 621-6163
Concurrences: N/A