Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Human Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All
Domestic Violence Intervention and Advocacy Services contract between DeKalb County Georgia and Women Moving On, Inc. (d.b.a.Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence)- Transfer Funds from the Victim Assistance Fund to the Grant Fund for a State-Certified Victim Assistance Agency - Cost to the County $150,000
Body
Information Contact: Allen Mitchell, Director, Community Development Department
Phone Number: (404) 371-2438
PURPOSE:
To consider approving a contract between DeKalb County and the non-profit, Women Moving On, Inc. (d.b.a. Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence) to support the domestic violence intervention and advocacy services for women and their children who live in DeKalb. The contract for this service would be in effect from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018 at a cost of $150,000 to the County.
NEED/IMPACT:
In the County’s 2017 Adopted Budget, $300,000 was approved for state-certified Victim Assistance to non-profit agencies. $150,000 of the total amount is designated for a contract with Women Moving On, Inc. The transfer of funds from the Victim Assistance Fund to the Human Services Grant Fund will help avoid the delay of payments to this critical non-profit agency.
Since 1985, Women Moving On, Inc. meets the immediate and long-term needs of women and their children living within the Atlanta metro area who experience domestic violence. This is done through numerous programs that promote safety, advocacy, education and prevention. Survivors of domestic violence can improve their safety by finding a safe place to stay and receive support to exercise their legal rights, as well as explore options to hold batterers accountable for their actions. Women Moving On operates a Safe House Program, hosts a 24 hour phone hotline to provide crisis counseling, facilitates support groups, assists with supervised visitation, conducts community education and provides legal assistance to survivors of domestic violence.
During the 2016-2017 contract year, Women Moving On, Inc. provided safe shelter to one hundred sixty-two (162) women and children through its Safe House program. In addition, forty-two (42) families received assistance with supervised visitation, seven hundred eighty-nine (789) people participated in domestic violence support groups, and one hundred seventeen (117) individuals received assistance through the Emergency Food Pantry program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact, as this action only transfers already appropriated funds. The transfer, once approved, will move funds from the Victim Assistance Fund- Account String 03101-611250-206 to the Grant Fund in Cost Center 67510 Human Services- Fund 250.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
Approve the contract between DeKalb County and Women Moving On, Inc. for the provision of domestic violence intervention programming and advocacy from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018 in an amount not to exceed $150,000. Authorize Chief Executive Officer to execute all necessary documents.