Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Agenda Item # 7



Columbus Consolidated Government



Council Meeting



August 12, 2014



Agenda Report # 17





TO: Mayor and City Council



SUBJECT: Nurse-Family Partnership Home Visiting Program



INITIATED BY: Jennifer Davidson, Cooperative Extension





Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved

accept a grant (with no local match required) from the Governor?s Office for

Children and Families (federal MIECHV/Health and Human Services/HRSA) for up to

$491,000, for the period of January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015, with

Nurse-Family Partnership, a Colorado nonprofit corporation, which is

automatically renewable annually if funding through the Governor?s Office for

Children and Families is available. Approval is also requested to amend the

Multi-Governmental Grant Fund by the award of the grant.



Background: What happens in early childhood matters for a lifetime.

Neuroscience indicates that providing supportive and positive conditions for

early childhood development is more effective and less costly than addressing

consequences of adversity later. Since education begins at home and parents are

their children?s first and most influential teachers, educating and supporting

parents is a logical strategy.



*Federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program was created

in 2010 with funding available for each State for Evidence Based Home Visiting

programs. The Governor?s Office for Children and Families was designated as

the lead agency in Georgia. Funding is expected through September 2015.



* Nurse Family Partnership is a third Home Visitation evidence-based model

(Nurse-Family Partnership, which has strong maternal and infant health

components)that implements home visiting strategies directed toward six

outcome/benchmark areas (improved infant and maternal health; prevention of

child injuries, maltreatment and reduction in ER visits; improvement in school

readiness and achievement; reduction in crime and domestic violence;

improvement in family economic self-sufficiency; improvements in coordination

of and referrals for community resources and supports).



* Council approved application for funding in January 10, 2014. Contract

(#HVF14-010) issued by GOCF in January, 2014 to take effect for period January

1, through December 31, 2014, was signed by CCG officials. Funding has been

committed from GOCF in the amount of $491,000 (or otherwise awarded) for

CY2015. The program implementing department is Cooperative Extension.



Analysis: This grant enables the expansion of home-visitation, evidenced-based

parent education programming, in order to reach 100 children and parents. UGA

Cooperative Extension is a recognized leader in delivery of high quality

trainings and, as a collaborator with others.



Financial Considerations: The NFP program in Columbus was initially funded by

Contract #HV12-009 as part of the comprehensive home visiting strategy. No

local match required.

Legal Considerations: The applicant, Columbus Consolidated Government (for

Cooperative Extension) is eligible to receive these funds.



Recommendation/Action: Authorize the City Manager to apply and if approved

accept the $419,000 grant from the Governor?s Office for Children and families

and adjust the multi-Government fund by the grant amount.



A RESOLUTION



NO. _____



A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND

IF APPROVED ACCEPT A GRANT WITH NO LOCAL MATCH REQUIRED FOR $491,000 (OR AMOUNT

AWARDED) FROM THE GOVERNOR?S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO RENEW AND

CONTINUE HOME VISITATION PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE THE PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND

AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL GRANT FUND BY THE AWARD AMOUNT.



WHEREAS, the funds have been made available from the Governor?s Office

For Children and Families for the purpose of evidence based, home visitation

programs for parenting education under an Early Childhood System Of Care that

addresses Federal home visiting benchmark areas and constructs; and, Muscogee

was selected as one of six counties eligible to apply; and,



WHEREAS, the UGA Cooperative Extension in Columbus has operated Nurse

Family Partnership, a home visiting parenting education program, under the

umbrella of Positive Parenting Program; and,



WHEREAS, there is a need to increase the knowledge and skills of

parents with young children so that they can provide a nurturing and safe

environment while acting as their children?s first teachers; and,



WHEREAS, parent education through evidence based, home visiting models

is a proven strategy to prevent child maltreatment, improve maternal and

newborn health, improve school readiness and achievement, and improve

coordination and referrals for other community resources and supports; and,



WHEREAS, there is limited access to pro-active parent education for

families at-risk, in transition, or parents who want to increase their

parenting skills and knowledge.



NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS

FOLLOWS:



1. That the City Manager is here by authorized to submit an

application and, if approved, accept grant funds; and,



2. Amend the Multi-Governmental Grant Fund by the award of the

Grant.



__________________________



Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the

12th of August 2014, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of

_________ members of said Council.





Councilor Allen voting ____________.

Councilor Baker voting ____________.

Councilor Barnes voting ____________.

Councilor Davis voting ____________.

Councilor Henderson voting ____________.

Councilor Huff voting ____________.

Councilor McDaniel voting ____________.

Councilor Thomas voting ____________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting ____________.

Councilor Woodson voting ____________.





_________________________________ _________________________

Sandra T. Davis, Deputy Clerk of Council Teresa Pike

Tomlinson, Mayor

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