Department: Domestic Relations
Department Head/Elected Official: David W. Simpson, J. D., Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable): GY25_VOCA
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Victims of Crime Act Formula Grant Program
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Domestic Relations for approval to accept from the Office of the Governor grant funds in the amount of $370,500, with a required match of $148,936, for the FY 2024-25 Family Victimization Services for Children Referred to Supervised Possession Program.
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Background and Discussion:
Chapter 203, Texas Family Code, authorizes a Domestic Relations Office to provide supervised visitation for parents whom a court has deemed unsuitable to have access to their children absent supervision. The Domestic Relations Office has provided cooperative parenting services for 38 years and supervised visitation services since April 2018. As a county legal agency, our vision includes ensuring that parents provide both financial and emotional support. This project will ensure protected and secured access to children for parents who have been ordered to visit with their children in a supervised group setting. In suits affecting a parent child relationship, Harris County Family Judges regularly determine what type of possession/access a parent should have with their child. Sometimes a court determines that it is not in a child's best interest for their parent to have unsupervised possession/access. Under such a finding, the Court generally orders that all possession times be supervised in the presence of a third person responsible for observing and ensuring the safety of the child. Issues that can impair a person's ability to have supervised possession, include d...
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