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):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Office of the Texas Attorney General (OAG)
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 Texas Office of the Attorney General grant funds in the amount of $103,600.00, with a required match of $11,444.44, for the FY 2024-25 Access and Visitation/Shared Parenting Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
The grant award for access and visitation grant between the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Texas and the County (Contract No. C-01383) will extend an OAG grant in the amount of $103,000.00 for parenting time services. The county match is fulfilled by using available budget. The Harris County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved this contract.
Expected Impact:
The Domestic Relations Office provides possession and access services for litigants in the Family District Courts. Under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act, various forms of funding are appropriated to assist states in their operation of possession and access programs and then passed through the State agencies to support local operations. In the State of Texas, the Office of the Attorney General is the designated agency to distribute Title IV-D funding.
The project will seek to secure continuous access to children for parents. Parents who have been denied court-ordered parenting time or who are experiencing parenting problems which impact their co-parenting abilities may apply to our cooperative parenting program. This multi-step program includes an orientation, parent conferences, parent education, child counseling, attorney consultation, and when necessary, litigation. By including both parents up front in the process, the DRO has achieved success in moving parents into a co-parenting relationship.
Alternative Options:
The only alternative is for this service to be funded completely through general fund monies. The benefit of
receiving this grant provides an opportunity for a partnership and access to resources to assist in delivering
the services. This partnership has existed for over 10 years.
Alignment with Goal(s):
X Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
X Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
X Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
1-9-24 |
134 |
FY 24 Application Approved |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Access & Visitation |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
Grant FY 25 |
|
|
|
|
Grant |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
1000 - General Fund |
$10,644.44 |
$800.00 |
$11,444.44 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$10,644.44 |
$800.00 |
$14,444.44 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Grant |
$103,000.00 |
$ |
$103,000.00 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$103,000.00 |
$ |
$103,000.00 |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$113,644.44 |
$800.00 |
$114,444.44 |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: June 4, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date):
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Blanca Reyna; Data Analyst, Grant/Contract Manager, IT Specialist; Domestic Relations Office
Attachments (if applicable): Court Order; Contract for Access and Visitation Grant Between the Office of the Attorney General and Harris County