Agenda Item # 4
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
March 11, 2014
Agenda Report # 85
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Promoting Safe and Stable Families Grant for Healthy Families Georgia
INITIATED BY: Jennifer Davidson, UGA Cooperative Extension
Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved,
accept a total grant amount of up to $45,000, including a local match of up to
$11,250, from the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and
Children Services, Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program and adjust the
Multi-Governmental Fund by the total grant amount of $45,000.
Background: Annually more than 3.5 million children are reported to state and
local Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies as victims of child abuse and
neglect. Almost three children die each day in the U.S. from child abuse and
neglect each day. The earliest years of a child?s life are the foundation for
all that follows and programs that work with parents before or right after
birth stand the greatest chance of reducing the risk of child abuse.
Healthy Families Georgia is an evidence-based, nationally recognized home
visiting program model designed to work with overburdened families who are
at-risk for adverse childhood experiences, including child maltreatment. It is
the primary home visiting model best equipped to work with families who may
have histories of trauma, intimate partner violence, mental health and/or
substance abuse issues.
The Healthy Families America model, launched by Prevent Child Abuse America,
has a strong research base and has produced the following outcomes: reduced
child maltreatment; increased utilization of prenatal care and decreased
pre-term, low weight babies; improved parent-child interaction and school
readiness; decreased dependency on welfare, or TANF and other social services;
increased access to primary care medical services; and increased immunization
rates.
Analysis: This grant will enable continuation of home visitation within
Healthy Families Georgia in order to reach more families within the Columbus
community. There is no cost to participants who have few choices for proactive
parent education programs. UGA Cooperative Extension is a recognized leader in
delivery of high quality training and as a collaborator with others who need
training and resources.
The Healthy Families Georgia home visitation program was implemented in
Columbus due to a larger grant awarded in FY12, FY13, and FY14 from the
Governor?s Office for Children and Families, Maternal Infant Early Childhood
Home Visitation grant. The MIECHV grant allowed for HFG to staff 2 direct
service Family Support Workers. Since implementation in January 2012, HFG
Family Support Workers have conducted over 1,150 home visits with 60 families
promoting positive parenting, enhancing child health and development, and to
prevent child abuse and neglect. All deliverables for FY12, FY13 and FY14 were
met with the Governor?s Office for Children and Families. Benchmark data is
being collected within a database system to indicate impact of home visitation
in local communities.
This grant will ensure that more Columbus families will be reached through home
visitation through Healthy Families Georgia. All transactions will be
conducted through Local Government Finance System. Grant period is October 1,
2043 to September 30, 2015.
Financial Considerations: The grant is for an amount not to exceed $33,750 and
is contingent on 25% cash match amount not to exceed $11,250 for October 1,
2014-September 30, 2015 and will continue to be a component of the Positive
Parenting Program ? Healthy Families Georgia. If funds are awarded, there will
be a $11,250 match allocated from the FY15 Budget, General Fund ? Transfer for
Local Match.
Legal Considerations: The applicant, Columbus Consolidated Government (for
Cooperative Extension?s Positive Parenting Program), is eligible to receive
these funds. Council is the approving authority for all grants.
Recommendation/Action: Authorize application for funding and acceptance of a
grant amount not to exceed $45,000 from the Georgia Department of Human
Services, Division of Family and Children Services, Promoting Safe and Stable
Families Program and adjust the Multi-Governmental Fund by the grant amount.
A RESOLUTION
NO. ____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, AND
IF AWARDED, ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES,
DIVISION OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES, PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES
PROGRAM OF AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $45,000 TO FUND PROGRAMMING TO EDUCATE
EXPECTING PARENTS AND PARENTS OF NEWBORNS AND TO AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL
FUND BY THE GRANT AMOUNT.
WHEREAS, the funds have been made available from the Georgia Department
of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services, Promoting Safe and
Stable Families Program for the purpose of preventing childhood maltreatment by
providing an evidence based, home visitation program for parenting education;
and,
WHEREAS, the UGA Cooperative Extension in Columbus has operated Healthy
Families Georgia, 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:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to apply for and accept a
grant from the Georgia Division of Human Services, Department of Children and
Family Services, Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program not to exceed
$33,750 with a local match not to exceed $11,250 to fund a home visiting parent
education program and authorize amending the Multi-Governmental fund by the
award of the grant.
________________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held the _________ day of March 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 ____________.
_____________________________ ________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
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