Primary Department: Domestic Relations
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: David W. Simpson, J. D., Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Application
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Bar Foundation
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): Grantor does not allow indirect cost capture
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Domestic Relations for approval to submit an application to the Texas Bar Foundation for grant funds in the amount of $5,025, with no required match, for the FY26-27 Child Possession/Access Attorney Consultations Grant Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
Since 1983, the Harris County Domestic Relations Office (DRO) has provided attorney consultations to clients who are low-income and are in need of guidance with possession/access to their children, child support, establishment or enforcement of their family law case. Currently, we assist clients with possession/access enforcement services. When issues remain unresolved, parents meet with a DRO attorney to review the enforcement process, discuss the court order, gather case facts, and prepare for possible litigation. The attorney determines whether the case is appropriate for legal action, considering factors such as safety concerns, criminal history, domestic violence, and prior case activity. Court intervention is used only when necessary, but can be an effective remedy for repeated denial of parenting time.
Domestic Relations is seeking a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to fund the cost of attorney consultations for the Child Possession/Access Attorney Consultations for the Legal Services Division.
Expected Impact:
The grant will waive the attorney consultation fee for 67 parents who need legal guidance towards enforcing their parenting time order - aligning with county strategic goals to improve outcomes for indigent defendants through holistic services and connections to necessary resources.
Alternative Options:
A fee of $75.00 for an attorney consultation will be assessed.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: E: Increase efficiency across the legal system.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): D3: Improve outcomes for indigent defendants through holistic services and connections to necessary resources.
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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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Child Possession/Access Attorney Consultations |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Grant |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Total Funding Sources |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$5,025 |
$5,025.00 |
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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: 7/21/2026
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: Blanca Reyna; Data Analyst, Grant/Contract Manager, IT Specialist; Domestic Relations Office
Attachments (if applicable): Texas Bar Foundation Grant Application; Court Order