Primary Department: Juvenile Probation
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Henry Gonzales
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Amendment
Project ID (if applicable): OJJTOC_GY24
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): U.S. Department of Justice/Office of Justice Programs/Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
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
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Juvenile Probation for approval to decline from the U.S. Department of Justice/Office of Justice Programs/Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention grant funds in the amount of $523,233, with no required match, for the FY25 Workforce Development Program - The Opportunity Center.
end
Background and Discussion:
Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) submitted a grant application to OJJDP requesting $1,500,000 over a 36-month period to support a project designed to meaningfully advance equity and reduce barriers to accessing services and opportunities for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, adversely affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization. The proposed initiative also incorporated a justice response with comprehensive reentry services.
When the award was made, the funding level was reduced to one-third of the requested budget for the same 36-month period. This significant reduction in funding limits the department’s capacity to carry out the project as it was originally designed and approved internally. Furthermore, OJJDP recommended substantial modifications to the project scope that diverged from HCJPD’s original vision and intent for the program. Taken together, these changes materially altered both the feasibility and the alignment of the project with the department’s strategic priorities.
For these reasons, HCJPD is respectfully requesting to return the award. We remain committed to advancing equity and supporting youth and families in Harris County and look forward to future opportunities to partner with OJJDP on initiatives that are better aligned with our agency’s capacity and objectives.
Expected Impact:
By returning the award, HCJPD seeks to preserve program integrity and ensure that future funded initiatives remain capable of producing meaningful, measurable, and sustainable impacts. The department remains committed to advancing equity and improving outcomes for justice-involved youth and families and will continue to pursue opportunities that allow for the appropriate level of resources and alignment to achieve these goals.
Alternative Options:
HCJPD will seek alternative funding sources to support this project or implement the project in phases until full realization of the program is reached.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: D: Reduce racial, ethnic, and economic disparities in the criminal legal system.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): B3: Increase school-based juvenile justice diversion and other interventions.
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):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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8/6/24 |
189 |
Permission to Apply |
|
10/29/24 |
268 |
Permission to Accept Award |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
FY24 Workforce Development Program - The Opportunity Center |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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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 |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Grant |
$ |
$-523,233 |
$-523,233.00 |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$-523,233 |
$-523,233.00 |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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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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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 11/13/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Kelly Barron, Special Projects Coordinator, Juvenile Probation
Attachments (if applicable): OJJDP Award Letter, Letter from HCJPD to terminate Grant