Primary Department: Domestic Relations
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: David W. Simpson, Executive Director
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Award
Project ID (if applicable): Grant 3576708
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Victims of Crime Act - Office of the Governor
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.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Domestic Relations for approval to accept from the Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division grant funds in the amount of $370,500, with a required match of $161,333 for the FY 2025-26 Family Victimization Service for Supervised Possession grant program with an indirect cost exemption requested due to historical precedent.
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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 domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health issues and other difficulties that might impair a parent.
Expected Impact:
The Domestic Relations Office has received this grant for seven years. The grant funds 45% of the service. Without the VOCA funding, additional general funding and application fees would be required. 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 parent communicate more effectively with each other to increase quality parenting time with children.
Alternative Options:
Discontinuing the service would leave noncustodial parents without an alternative method of visiting with their children, would deny children the emotion support they need and the ability to have an ongoing, frequent relationship with their parent. There is a need for this service to meet the emotional needs of children and ensure safe and positive contact with their parents. 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 in this format or at this cost through any other entity.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 4. Improve physical and mental health outcomes across all communities.
County Strategic Plan Objective: P: Improve children’s health outcomes.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): A3: Increase resources available to families exposed to domestic violence.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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2-6-25 |
180 |
Approved |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
FY 2025-26 Family Victimization Service for Supervised Possession |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Non-Labor |
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Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Total Existing Budget |
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$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
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Total Funding Sources |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
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No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: 1000 - General Fund |
$161,333.00 |
$ |
$161,333.00 |
1 |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$370,500 |
$ |
$370,500.00 |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Additional Positions Request |
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Total Personnel |
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Anticipated Court Date: 12/11/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Blanca Reyna, Grants/Statistical Analyst, Domestic Relations Office
Attachments (if applicable): Court Order, Internal Signature Page, Statement of Grant Award (SOGA)