Primary Department: County Administration
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Diana Ramirez, County Administrator
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): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item. Grant awarded prior to policy.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Office of County Administration for approval to accept from the MacArthur Foundation grant funds in the amount of $100,000, with no required match, for the Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) Capstone Grant, and a supplemental general fund appropriation of $150,000.
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Background and Discussion:
In December 2024, Harris County was awarded a two-year capstone grant for $100k to help sustain the momentum of our racial disparities and jail population reduction strategies through and beyond the remaining grant period. The one-time award includes continued access to Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) site coordinators, program officers, and other technical assistance providers, who will provide support in accomplishing capstone goals.
We will use the anticipated award along with approximately $150k in leveraged funds from the General Fund to provide six peer support specialists to help support the jail reduction efforts and provide resources to the recently funded Associate Judges. Currently, the Peer Support Program is operating within the Responsive Interventions for Change (RIC) docket and the Success Through Addiction Recovery (STAR) court program, both of which have experienced positive outcomes. Peer support specialists build relationships, conduct needs assessments, draft wellness plans, and link defendants to community services. In addition, specialists facilitate support groups for defendants with a history of substance use.
Expected Impact:
Peer support specialists, paired with other community supervision options, have played a pivotal role in reducing recidivism, minimizing racial and ethnic disparities, and decreasing the reliance on local jails for low-level felony offenders. This grant would allow Harris County to expand its cadre of peer support specialists to serve in six additional courts, further reducing the jail population, promoting public safety, and maximizing court appearance rates.
Alternative Options:
Refuse the award and forfeit the opportunity to expand a proven jail reduction strategy further.
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): C3: Operationalize new and build upon successful pilot interventions targeted to reduce the jail population.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: N/A
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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08/27/2024 |
401 |
Approved |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Criminal Justice Reform Initiative - Capstone Grant (Peer Support Specialists) |
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Total Existing Budget |
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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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2 |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$100,000 |
$ |
$100,000 |
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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: 1/23/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 1/24/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Tonya Mills, Managing Director of Justice Innovation, Office of County Administration; Karen Evans, Manager of Justice Innovation, Office of County Administration
Attachments (if applicable): MacArthur Capstone Grant