Agenda Item # 2
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
09/11/2012
Agenda Report # 110
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2012-13 Cribs for Kids ABC Mini-Grant Program
INITIATED BY: District Attorney's Office - VWAP/Child Fatality Review
Committee
Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved
accept $2,500 grant from the All Baby and Child, Inc., (ABC Corporation) along
with the $2,500 required match from St. Francis Hospital $1,300 and Positive
Parenting Program $1,200 for the District Attorney's Victim Witness Assistance
Program/Child Fatality Review Committee and amend the Multi-Governmental Fund
by the amount of the award.
The total of $5,000 will be used to purchase safe-sleep products, which will be
distributed according to a specified screening process. Efforts will be
coordinated between the two agencies listed above and other local agencies to
distribute cribs as well as create public service announcements regarding the
dangers of co-sleeping.
Background: The Office of the District Attorney, which oversees the
Victim-Witness Assistance Program (VWAP), is mandated to regulate a Child
Fatality Review Committee and thoroughly screen the records of each and every
deceased child in Muscogee County. Committee members are often left feeling
disheartened by the devastating statistics and they have long searched for a
venue with which to act on the results. Local studies reveal a shocking number
of babies dying due to improper sleeping conditions (such as placing a
newborn/infant on an adult bed and the baby rolls over and slips between the
mattress/headboard and suffocates) and even more often co-sleeping with a
parent or sibling and the baby is smothered. Upon discovering this national
funding program, we saw an opportunity to collaborate with local agencies that
already provide services to new mothers and we can then intervene with safe
sleeping supplies and education. We further discussed the need for public
service announcements and the chance to reach numerous families by creating
community-wide educational pieces for radio, television, newsprint and any
media venues that may impact infant safety. ABC was founded in March of 2003
and it relies strongly on community agencies that will not only locate the
recipients of their safe products, but will also work to further the safe sleep
education program.
Analysis: In an effort to positively impact the local infant mortality rate,
the DA VWAP/Child Fatality Review Committee will collaborate with the Positive
Parenting Program and St. Francis Hospital to take part in Cribs for Kids by
applying for funds to purchase $5,000 worth of safe-sleep cribs to be disbursed
locally.
Financial Considerations: The $2,500 grant is being provided by All Baby and
Child, Inc., (ABC Corporation) and must be matched locally. The Positive
Parenting Program will contribute $1,200 and St. Francis Hospital will
contribute $1,300. Crib packages are estimated to cost $65 each, which would
amount to 77 cribs for disbursement. It is requested that the
Multi-Governmental Fund be amended by the amount of the award.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: There will not be an annual fiscal
impact as a result of awarding this grant.
Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government has been notified
of its eligibility to receive the funds.
Recommendations/Actions: Authorize submission and if approved, acceptance of
funding in the amount of $5,000 which will enable the purchase and delivery of
safe-sleep products as part of our collaborative safe-sleep education program.
A RESOLUTION
NO._____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, ON BEHALF
OF THE DA-VWAP/CHILD FATALITY REVIEW COMMITTEE AND, IF APPROVED, ACCEPT FUNDING
IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000 CONSISTING OF $2,500 GRANT AWARD AND $2,500 LOCAL
MATCHES; TOTAL FUNDS TO PURCHASE SAFE SLEEPING PRODUCTS TO DISPERSE LOCALLY;
AND TO AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD.
WHEREAS, the DA-VWAP/Child Fatality Review Committee is requesting the
acceptance of funding in the amount of $2,500 from All Baby and Child, Inc.,
and $2,500 from local matching grants to purchase said amount in safe sleeping
products which will be distributed throughout our community as needed; and,
WHEREAS, the ABC Mini-Grant Program limits their funding contribution to $2,500
and the remaining must come from local donors in the form of a cash match; and,
WHEREAS, the Positive Parenting Program will contribute $1,200 and St. Francis
Hospital will contribute $1,300; and,
WHEREAS, members of the Child Fatality Review Committee will oversee the ABC
Mini-Grant and be responsible for receiving and dispersing the cribs; and,
WHEREAS, a representative from each of the participating agencies will meet
each month to decide a plan of action.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit an application
and, if approved, accept funding of $2,500 from the All Baby and Child, Inc.,
(ABC Corporation) in the form of an ABC Mini-Grant and $2,500 in local matching
grants (Positive Parenting Program $1,200 and St. Francis Hospital $1,300) for
the District Attorney's Victim-Witness Assistance Program/Child Fatality Review
Committee in order to provide education and outreach to those impacted by
infant mortality and authorize to amend the Multi-Governmental fund by the
award of the grants.
________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held the 11th day of October, 2012 and adopted 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 Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
______________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
Attachments
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