Primary Department: Domestic Relations
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: David W. Simpson
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Amendment
Project ID (if applicable): 3576707
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item. N/A
FY25 award accepted prior to county indirect cost policy implementation
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Domestic Relations for approval to temporarily transfer general funds in the amount of $30,000 to fund the cost of three positions pending receipt of the grant award for the FY26 Family Victimization Services for Children Referred to Supervised Possession Program from The Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division and extend the positions to September 30, 2026.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Domestic Relations Office has provided cooperative parenting services for 36 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 domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health issues and other
difficulties that might impair a parent.
Expected Impact:
If the grant is not awarded, the temporary transfer will be used to pay any grant costs incurred. If the
grant is awarded the temporary transfer will be reversed and budget returned to the Department.
Project goals include: (1) keeping children safe when visiting with their noncustodial parent (2) helping
children and noncustodial parents develop mutually beneficial relationships with each other; (3) providing
services which reduce conflict that may occur at visitation; and (4) helping parents communicate more
effectively with each other to increase quality parenting time with children.
Alternative Options:
The potential impact of this temporary transfer would be only if the award is not received. Otherwise,
the transfer would be reversed when the award is received. There is a need for this service to meet the
emotional needs of children and ensure safe and positive contact with their parent. Absent extenuating
circumstances, there is an emotional benefit to Harris County children who maintain a relationship with
their parents and extended family. Should the Domestic Relations Office not provide this service, it is not
available through any other entity.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: P: Improve children’s health outcomes.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
|
|
|
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Family Victimization Services |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$30,000 |
$ |
$30,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$30,000 |
$ |
$30,000 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$30,000.00 |
$ |
$30,000.00 |
$ |
|
Grants – Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget:
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request:
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 9/18/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 10/1/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: David W. Simpson, Executive Director
Attachments (if applicable): RCA, Forms 3441