Agenda Item # ___
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
6/23/2015
Agenda Report # ____
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Office of Dispute Resolution
INITIATED BY: Columbus Office of Crime Prevention
Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into a one-year contract with
Muscogee County Office of Dispute Resolutiont to award funding for Crime
Prevention initiatives.
Background: Columbus Office of Crime Prevention has agreed to recommend the
funding of $20,000.00 to the Office of Dispute Resolution to run the
Legitimation Station.
Analysis: This program will help establish relationships between fathers and
their children that were born out of wedlock.
Financial Considerations: These funds are appropriated from the Other Local
Option Sales Tax, Crime Prevention Program and do not require a match.
Recommendations/ Actions: Approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor and
City Manager to enter a one year contract with Office of Dispute Resolution to
provide funding for The Legitimation Station.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH OFFICE OF
DISPUTE RESOLUTION FOR $20,000.00 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE INITIATIVES OF
LEGITIMATION STATION.
WHEREAS, Office of Dispute Resolution has the Legitimation Station Program to
impact the lives of fathers to reconnect them to their children and,
WHEREAS, the Columbus Office of Crime Prevention has authorized funding under
the Crime Prevention Program for this project in the amount of $20,000.00 to
the Office of Dispute Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
The Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into a one-year contract
through the Columbus Office of Crime Prevention with the Office of Dispute
Resolution for $20,000.00 for funding the Legitimation Station Program. Funds
are budgeted in the FY16 budget: Other Local Option Sales Tax, Crime
Prevention Program.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the 23rd day of June, 2015 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote
of ____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting________________.
Councilor Baker voting________________.
Councilor Barnes voting_______________.
Councilor Buck voting_____________.
Councilor Davis voting________________.
Councilor Henderson voting____________.
Councilor Huff voting_________________.
Councilor Pugh voting_________________.
Councilor Thomas voting______________.
Councilor Woodson voting_____________.
__________________________________ ______________________________________
TINY B. WASHINGTON TERESA
PIKE TOMLINSON
CLERK
MAYOR
Local Assistance Grant Agreement
Grant Program Name: Columbus Office of Crime Prevention
Fiscal Agent: Muscogee County
Administering Agency: Columbus Office of Crime Prevention
Grant Recipient: Office of Dispute Resolution
Amount: $20,000.00
Budget: Personnel ? $20,000.00
Total - $20,000.00
Program Contact Information
Name: Judge Gil McBride Title: Director
Address: 308 10th Street, Columbus, GA 31901
Phone #: 706-653-4464
Project Description
The Legitimation Station?s objective is to help fathers of children born out of
wedlock to establish legal relationships with their children through
legitimation, which is required to secure a father?s legal rights to custody
and visitation of nonmarital children. To achieve this objective, the
Legitimation Station seeks funding to employ a project co-ordinator to recruit,
train and co-ordinate pro bono attorneys and paralegals to assist fathers in
preparing and filing legitimation pleadings in superior court and to maintain
the pro se forms on the family law information center website.
I, Gil McBride the duly authorized representative of the above named Grant
Recipient, do hereby agree to the following terms that outline the requirements
of Columbus, Georgia for organizations/agencies receiving funds from the
Columbus Office of Crime Prevention. I have been given the opportunity to ask
questions regarding these terms and fully understand my organization?s
obligations incurred by accepting this grant. I understand that prior to the
disbursements of any funds the following criteria must be met:
1. The above named Grant Recipient represents the beneficiaries of the Grant
and the above named individual is authorized to act in the name of Office of
Dispute Resolution as the Grant Recipient.
2. The subject matter of this Agreement is primarily the provision of services
in the form of legitimizing fathers.
3. When reimbursement is sought, the name of the person providing the service
shall be provided along with the type of service provided. The Grant Recipient
shall immediately notify the Agency if any of their service providers are
arrested. At the time Grant Recipient learns that one of its service providers
has been arrested, then Grant Recipient shall cease to use such service
provider in connection with programs funded by this Grant.
4. In the initial report submitted to the Administering Agency, Grant Recipient
shall provide: (a) the name of the chairman and the secretary of the advisory
committee; (b) the times and dates that the Grant programs are available ?
essentially a schedule of services; (c) the number of participants in the
program; (d) Description of the process used to identify individuals for which
services will be provided; (e) provide specifics on the evaluation process
that addresses how the process will work, how the statistical data will be
gathered, how it will be analyzed.
5. Grant Recipient shall provide an accounting system that shall separate Grant
Funds from other funds. The accounting system shall also separate Grant
related expenses from other expenses.
6. Grant Recipient shall submit to Agency a monthly report on the progress of
the programs. The annual report shall provide statistical data that supports
the projects goals of reducing the recidivism rates of the participants within
the program.
7. Grant Recipient shall use Grant Funds strictly for the purposes outlined in
the Grant. Any changes to the programs must be submitted in writing to
Columbus Office of Crime Prevention for approval or the funding may be
jeopardized.
8. Grant Recipient shall identify the members of its Board of Directors which
will assume liability if the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
determines the funds have been misused.
9. The Grant Recipient shall use generally accepted accounting principles
(?GAAP?) to account for all financial transactions used to substantiate the
fulfillment of this Grant.
10. The Grant Recipient shall maintain all records of Grant-related financial
transactions for a minimum of three years after the completion of the Grant and
to make all records available for inspection and fully cooperate with any audit
or investigation requested or undertaken by the Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council, the State Auditor, the Internal Auditor for Columbus, Georgia, or any
other officials of the state or federal government who have the authority to
conduct audits.
11. The Grant Recipient shall comply at all times with the provisions of
Article I, Section II, and Paragraph VII of the Georgia Constitution regarding
the prohibition against Sectarian Aid.
12. The Grant Recipient hereby releases Columbus, Georgia from any liability
whatsoever and Grant Recipient hereby agrees to indemnify Columbus, Georgia
against any and all claims for damages, bodily injury or death arising from any
of the activities contemplated by this Agreement raised by any person. Grant
Recipient shall provide to Columbus, Georgia a certificate of insurance that
shows general liability coverage in the amount of at least $1,000,000 per
occurrence and which shows that Columbus, Georgia is named as an additional
insured.
13. All services must be provided by properly certified or licensed personal.
14. In the event there is any discrepancy in the language of the project
description and these numbered paragraphs, the language in the numbered
paragraphs shall control.
__________________________________________________________________________
Signature of City Manager, Isaiah
Hugley Date
___________________________________________________________________________
Approved as to form by City
Attorney
Date
__________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Director of Finance, Pam
Hodge
Date
__________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Grant Recipient Representative, Gil
McBride Date
- 7 -
Application for Columbus Office of Crime Prevention Grant
A. Applicant
Name of Organization: Office of Dispute Resolution
Address: 308 Tenth Street, Columbus, Georgia 31901
CEO/Executive Director: Chief Judge Bemon G. McBride III, Chairman
Contact Person/ Title: Larry E. Love, Circuit Court Administrator
Telephone and email: 706-653-4464 Email Address: llove@columbusga.org
Has the applicant organization ever received a grant from COCP?
_____Yes ___X__No
B. Project
Project period (full life of project)
The current Legitimation Station Project will be a one-year project. Based on
its success, subsequent COCP grant requests will be submitted each year.
Where, specifically, will it occur?
Legitimation Station will operate in the Law Library located on the 8th Floor
of the Government Center at 100 Tenth Street, Columbus, Georgia 31901 or at the
Office of Dispute Resolution at 308 Tenth Street, Columbus, Georgia 31901.
Approximately how many people will benefit from the project?
With the addition of a paid, part-time coordinator, we estimate approximately
200 fathers per year plus their children and other dependents will benefit
directly from this project. The community at large will benefit indirectly
from the positive ripple effects of children involved in more stable and
supportive family units by way of legitimation.
How did you arrive at the above numbers?
The estimated number of fathers served annually is based on traffic figures
compiled over the five years Legitimation Station has been in existence plus an
expected increase due to adding a paid, part-time coordinator.
When will funds be needed?
Funds are needed as soon as possible to enable the hiring of a part-time
coordinator to oversee the project and for additional operating expenses.
Grant amount requested (must be no more than 90% of total project
expense) $25,000
Total project revenue and support (from line 3, pg. 6) $9,000
Total project expenses (from line 12, pg. 7) $34,000
C. Project Budget
Project Revenue and Support
1. Revenue
Admission/Ticket income: $0. Legitimation Station does not
charge for services.
Other Revenue: $0. Legitimation Station does not charge
for services.
2. Support (indicate with * if already
committed)______________________________
Corporate support: $0
Foundation support: *$9,000- One-time grant by Columbus
Bar Association
Other private support: $0
Government support
Federal: $0
State: $0
Other County agency: $0
Organizations cash applied to project: $9,000
3. TOTAL PROJECT REVENUE AND SUPPORT: $9,000
Project expenses
4. Personnel (give as much detail as possible)
Legitimation Station plans to hire a part-time coordinator who will also be a
licensed Georgia Attorney familiar with family law. The projected annual
salary for this position is $18,000. Additional fringe benefits are projected
at $1,377 per year.
Subtotal, Personnel: $19,377
5. Consultants and professional fees: $0
Subtotal, Consultants and professional fees: $0
6. Supplies and equipment: $6,000.00
Subtotal, Supplies and equipment: $6,000
7. Travel (Itemize) $2,600
Subtotal, Travel: $2,600
8. Printing and copying: $3,400
Subtotal, Printing and copying: $3,400
9. Marketing and publicity: $0
10. Mailing/postage: $823
11. Telephone/fax: $1,800
Subtotal, Other: $1,800
12. TOTAL PROJECT EXPENSE: $34,000
D. PROJECT SUMMARY/NARRATIVE
1. Organization: Briefly state the primary purpose of the organization.
Legitimation Station?s primary purpose is to strengthen families by helping
fathers of children born out of wedlock legitimate their children as provided
by Georgia law.
2. Background of the organization: Briefly describe when the organization was
started, number of members and any other helpful information.
Beginning in the Fall of 2009 a group chaired by Lauren Mescon began meeting to
address the problems caused by illegitimacy and to help the low-income
community gain greater access to courts in domestic relations cases. Among
others, the group consisted of representatives from the Columbus Bar
Association, the Superior Court, the Juvenile Court, the Department of Human
Services? Fatherhood Initiative, the Pastoral Institute?s Right from the Start
Initiative, Georgia Legal Services, Child Support Services, the Office of
Dispute Resolution, the medical community, the law librarians, counselors, and
clergy.
Meeting regularly between the Fall of 2009 and the Spring of 2010, the group
identified additional stakeholders, developed brochures, drafted and revised
pro se pleadings (largely thanks to the efforts of Georgia Legal Services?
Managing Attorney, Sally Haskins), worked out disclosure and liability issues,
established a website, and recruited and trained pro bono attorney volunteers.
By the Spring of 2010, the legitimation project website
(www.chattahoocheefamilylawcenter.org) was up and running. Also, the Columbus
Law Library was hosting Legitimation Station attorney volunteers on the first
and third Friday of each month. The attorney volunteers assisted fathers in
completing pro se forms and better understanding the legal process involved.
Between 2010 and 2012, Judge Marc D?Antonio volunteered as the Legitimation
Station?s project coordinator. Between 2012 and 2014, Lauren Mescon took over
responsibility as the project coordinator. The Legitimation Station?s project
coordinators recruited and supervised volunteer attorneys and paralegals and
ensured the project?s overall success. Since its inception, the Legitimation
Station has expanded to three weeks per month, has recruited over 40 attorney
and paralegal volunteers, and has served over 500 fathers seeking to legitimate
their children.
3. Project description and objectives: Clearly state the project and objectives.
The Legitimation Station?s objective is to help fathers of children born out of
wedlock to establish legal relationships with their children through
legitimation, which is required to secure a father?s legal rights to custody
and visitation of nonmarital children. To achieve this objective, the
Legitimation Station seeks funding to employ a project co-ordinator to recruit,
train and co-ordinate pro bono attorneys and paralegals to assist fathers in
preparing and filing legitimation pleadings in superior court and to maintain
the pro se forms on the family law information center website.
4. Target group: Identify target groups for the project and how they will be
selected.
The target group is fathers of children born out of wedlock seeking to
establish a legal relationship with their children. The Legitimation Station
is open to all fathers that come on the first, second, or third Fridays for
assistance completing pro se forms from attorney and paralegal volunteers
and/or who use the pro se forms on the Family Law Information Center website.
5. Expected outcome: List and explain the expected outcome of the project or
program.
Since its inception, Legitimation Station volunteers have assisted over 500
individuals. To date, the project has not tracked how many of those assisted
successfully obtained final orders legitimating their children; however, it is
safe to estimate that a significant portion of those individuals have become
?legal? parents through the help provided by the Legitimation Station.
Moreover, even those that did not complete the process to a final adjudication
gained knowledge about their legal rights and how to become a parent to their
children. With the hiring of a paid coordinator, we expect Legitimation
Station?s success to continue to flourish.
6. Success: How will you assess the success of your program?
The Legitimation Station will measure success objectively by the number of
fathers served by volunteers, the number of hits and downloads from the family
law information center website, www.chattahoocheefamilylawcenter.org, and the
number of pro se legitimations filed and completed in the Chattahoochee
Judicial Circuit. Ultimately however, the success of the project will be
measured by increased involvement of fathers in their children?s lives, which
in turn will benefit our community as a whole.
7. Participants: Are the participants required to do anything specific, (for
example, attend religious services/training or pay a fee), to participate? If
so, describe.
Legitimation Station does not charge for its services. While the majority of
those seeking assistance through Legitimation Station are low income
individuals, the only requirement to receive services from Legitimation Station
is a father?s willingness to establish a legal relationship with his
child(ren).
8. Significance: Why is your program significant to the community?
By assisting fathers of children born out of wedlock, the Legitimation Station
helps improve the quality of life for children, which in turn benefits our
community as a whole by helping reduce criminal behavior.
Research suggests that children raised in households lacking a father
experience psychosocial problems with greater frequency than children with a
father in the home These problems have been found to extend into adolescence
and adulthood and include an increased risk of substance use, depression,
suicide, poor school performance, and contact with the criminal justice system.
Allen, S., & Daly, K. (2007). The Effects of Father Involvement: An Updated
Research Summary of The Evidence. Guelph, Canada: Father Involvement Research
Alliance. Retrieved from
http://www.fira.ca/cms/documents/29/Effects_of_Father_Involvement.pdf
Children living in female-headed families with no husband present had a poverty
rate of 47.2 percent, over 4 times the rate of 11.1 percent in married-couple
families.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2013). Information on Poverty
and Income Statistics: A Summary of 2013 Current Population Survey Data.
Washington, DC: ASPE Human Services Policy Staff. Retrieved from
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/13/povertyandincomeest/ib_poverty2013.pdf
Even after controlling for income, youths in father-absent households still had
significantly higher odds of incarceration than those in mother-father
families. Youths who never had a father in the household experienced the
highest odds. Harper, C. C. and McLanahan, S. S. (2004), Father Absence and
Youth Incarceration. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 14: 369?397.
Positive parental involvement is a key factor in the development of children
into responsible, law-abiding adolescents and adults. By offering a service
that encourages fathers to become more involved in their children?s lives, the
Legitimation Station helps reduce juvenile delinquency and criminal activity in
adulthood.
9. Administered: How will your project be administered? How is your
organization qualified and/or qualified to carry out this project?
The project will be administered by the Office of Dispute Resolution. The
Circuit Court Administrator, Larry Love oversees the Office of Dispute
Resolution. Mr. Love has over 35 years experience in managing grants at the
National, State and Local level. He has managed grants from the State Crime
Commission (4 years), the Columbus Consolidated Government (26 years), the
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit (7 years). He managed the grants to implement
the Adult Felony Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Courts in
Muscogee County. He also managed Office of Crime Prevention Grants funded for
the Accountability Courts..
10. References: Please include any reference letters or documents that you feel
would support your application for the grant.
See enclosed letters from:
The Superior Court Judges of the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit
The Columbus Bar association
The Muscogee County Law Library
Columbus Technical Institute
E. CHECKLIST
Include one original signed copy of the application and all supplementary
materials. In addition include ten photocopies of the application and
supplementary material. Staple each copy packet together.
__X__ IRS letter certifying tax-exempt status,(exempt if a government agency of
the CCG)
__X__ Name and qualifications of people administering and/or participating in
the project
__X__ Board list, showing officers, professional titles and telephone numbers
__X__Annual Report if available
__X__Letters of agreement from collaborating organizations
__X__ Any other desired support material
AUTHORIZATION
All organizations receiving Columbus Funds will be required:
? To provide background checks at the expense of the applicant for those in
contact with juveniles.
? Provide reports on the progress of the program after 3 months, 6 months and
program?s end. The only exception to this will be if the program is seasonal
and then a schedule will be worked out to determine effectiveness of the
program.
By signing this application, we understand and agree to the terms included on
the application and certify that the information in the application is true and
accurate and that the undersigned is authorized to apply on behalf of the
applicant.
___________________________________________ ______________________
Signature of Authorizing Official Date
Name and Title of Authorizing Official
(print/type)__________________________________
Daytime Telephone ( )_____________________________
___________________________________________ ______________________
Signature of Board President/Chair Date
Name and Title of Board President/Chair
(print/type)_______________________________
Daytime Telephone ( )_____________________________
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