Department: Purchasing
Department Head/Elected Official: DeWight Dopslauf
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Contract - Award
Project ID (if applicable): 230444
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): 0%
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: 0% - Specialized, Technical, or Unique in Nature
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent for approval of an award on the basis of best proposal meeting requirements and that the County Judge execute agreement(s) with Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council for early childhood resiliency fund for the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity for the period of May 7, 2024 - September 6, 2026 (230444), Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: 0% - Specialized, Technical, or Unique in Nature.
end
Background and Discussion:
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Domestic Violence (DV) rose significantly in Harris County during the COVID - 19 pandemic. In fact, according to the Houston Area Domestic Violence Providers Study, between 2019 and 2022, IPV and DV related homicides rose from 32/year to 64/year. Additionally average daily calls requesting shelter and nonresidential safety nearly doubled. Unfortunately, many Harris County young are exposed to DV and IPV raising their risk for emotional trauma and developmental delays.
Early experiences shape the brain and when young children are repeatedly exposed to stress and violence there are profound negative developmental impacts, including higher levels of anxiety, impaired cognitive function, and social problem-solving deficits. However, just like physical trauma, with the right care and approach, humans can heal and recover from emotional trauma, reducing their risk for related challenges in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
The local IPV and DV response network in Harris County contains a multitude of shelter-based and nonresidential interventions and programs aimed at supporting families experiencing DV and IPV. Many shelters also include childcare centers, childcare classrooms, and child and family counseling. Further, there are approximately 325 families experiencing Domestic Violence placed in publicly supported, affordable housing. This service network is a key intervention point for reaching extremely vulnerable children with needed services.
Through this award, Harris County will support a two-year program to incubate, accelerate, and enhance solutions to the complex problem of responding to the developmental needs of young children in Harris County exposed to IPV and DV. The Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) will serve as an intermediary for the program and will conduct a granting process to provide subawards to organizations and providers that propose to address the developmental and therapeutic needs of young children exposed to IPV and DV.
Expected Impact:
The Harris County Early Childhood Resiliency Fund will measurably increase access to early childhood trauma interventions for Harris County children and family systems experiencing or exposed to IPV/DV, reaching approximately 250 families and children with developmental and therapeutic support. The program will also build local capacity and knowledge, through funding and technical assistance, towards better addressing the complex therapeutic and developmental needs of Harris County child and family systems experiencing or exposed to IPV/DV.
Alternative Options:
Harris County could opt to forgo the investment in the Early Childhood Resiliency Fund program, reinvesting these ARPA funds in other areas.
Alignment with Goal(s):
_ Justice and Safety
X Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
12/05/23 |
161 |
Advertisement Approval |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Early Childhood Initiatives |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 05/07/24
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): N/A
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Don Titcombe, Associate Director, Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity; Jeremy Woodard, Sourcing Manager, Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter