Agenda Item #_______
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
November 8, 2011
Agenda Report #_______
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Rental Agreement for Home Visiting Programs
INITIATED BY: Cooperative Extension Office
Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into Rental Agreement with
Columbus Healthcare Resources, Inc., as the representative of the Columbus
Consolidated Government on behalf of the Cooperative Extension Department?s
Positive Parenting Program, at no cost to the CCG, beginning November 1, 2011
and ending October 31, 2013.
Background: Office space is needed to house the new Home Visiting Programs
funded through the Governor?s Office for Children and Families (Federal
Maternal, Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting grant). One of the community
partners, Columbus Regional Healthcare System, has agreed to provide free space
(and utilities) in the 2000 Building (suite 170) on Tenth Avenue in Columbus
beginning 11-01-2011 and ending October 31, 2012; renewable for 12 months
(through 10-31-2013).
* 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 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.
*Columbus was one of six Georgia counties selected, based on a state-wide needs
assessment by Division of Public Health, to participate in the first funding
cycle because they have the capacity to implement home visitation as a service
strategy and work together on six outcome 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).
*Key points of Early Childhood System of Care: universal approach to
supporting expectant families and children 0 to 5 years; requires strong
coordination and collaboration among partners; provides something for everyone;
based on idea that all can benefit from support; all services are voluntary.
The HV Models chosen to implement in Columbus are Parents As Teachers, Healthy
Families Georgia and Nurse Family Partnership. PAT is housed at Cooperative
Extension office and HFG and NFP will be housed in suite 170.
Analysis: The grants will enable the expansion of home-visitation,
evidenced-based parent education programming, in order to reach more children
and parents. There is no cost to the participants. UGA Cooperative Extension
is a recognized leader in delivery of high quality trainings and, as a
collaborator with others, such as Columbus Healthcare Resources, Inc. to
maximize resources and achieve outcomes.
**Collective Impact Initiatives (the strategy for EC-SOC in Columbus) are
long-term commitments by a group of important stakeholders from different
sectors to a common agenda for solving a specific social problem. Their
actions are supported by a shared measurement system, mutually reinforcing
activities and ongoing communication, and are staffed by an independent
backbone organization.
**This office space will provide a location for two home visiting programs.
Office space expenses are not allowed under grant conditions. All transactions
are being conducted though Local Government Finance System. Grant period is
10/01/2011 to 09/30/2012.
Financial Considerations: The space rental is free, without payment of
utilities by home visiting programs, in order to implement the EC-SOC and HVP
strategy for the period 11-01-2011 through 10-31-2013. No local match
required.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: There will be no annual fiscal
impact.
Legal Considerations: The applicant, Columbus Consolidated Government (for
Cooperative Extension?s Positive Parenting Program), is eligible to sign the
Rental Agreement.
Recommendation/Action: Authorize the City Manager to sign the Rental Agreement
with Columbus Healthcare Resources, Inc., at no expense to the Columbus
Consolidated Government.
RESOLUTION
No. ___________
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN AND ACCEPT THE RENTAL
AGREEMENT WITH COLUMBUS HEALTHCARE RESOURCES, INC. TO PROVIDE OFFICE SPACE FOR
THE EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAMS CONDUCTED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION DEPARTMENT?S POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM THAT EDUCATES
PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN, WITHOUT ADDITIONAL EXPENSE FOR RENT AND UTILITIES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENTAL.
WHEREAS, the funds have been made available and received 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 and funded as one of six counties
eligible to apply; and,
WHEREAS, the UGA Cooperative Extension in Columbus has operated home
visiting parenting education programs, 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; and,
WHEREAS, it is important to have office space from which to implement the
Healthy Families Georgia and Nurse Family Partnership evidence-based, home
visiting program models.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is here by authorized to enter into a Rental
Agreement with Columbus Healthcare Resources, Inc., on behalf of the
Cooperative Extension Department, for office space to implement evidence based,
home visitation model strategy without additional expense for rent and
utilities to the Columbus Consolidated Government.
__________________________________________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held the 8th day of November, 2011 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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