Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Human Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All
Domestic Violence Intervention &Advocacy Contract between Dekalb County, Georgia and Women Moving On, Inc - Transfer funds from the Victim Assistance Fund to the Grant Fund for a State Certified Assistance Agency at a Cost to the County of $150,000
Body
Information Contact: Director of Human Services, Damon Scott
Phone Number: 404-687-2385
PURPOSE:
To consider approval of a contract between DeKalb County and the non-profit agency, Women Moving On, Inc. to provide domestic violence intervention and advocacy services for women and children living in DeKalb. The contract would be in effect from September 1, 2023-August 31, 2024.
NEED/IMPACT:
In the County’s 2023 Adopted Budget, $176,232 was approved for state-certified victim assistance to non-profit agencies and $150,000 of this amount has been 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 allow for the continuation of domestic violence intervention services for vulnerable citizens.
Women Moving On, Inc. operates a Safe House for domestic violence victims living in DeKalb County. The agency also manages a 24-Hour telephone hotline which provides legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, crisis counseling, and assists families with supervised visitation of children. For over 30 years, Women Moving On, Inc. has provided services to meet the immediate and long term needs of women and children who experience domestic violence.
During the 2022-2023 contract, Women Moving On, continued a modified service delivery model in response to the ongoing COVID pandemic. Guest rooms were limited to one family, and emergency hotel rooms were used to support the demands of the shelter. Counseling sessions were held virtually, and safety protocols were added to supervised visitation services. The agency provided safe shelter to 161 women and children, answered more than 7,149 phone calls from the crisis line and coordinated 256 supervised visits for DeKalb families. Women. Moving On, is the only authorized non-profit agency in DeKalb County, to provide secure supervised visitation. Women Moving On, was established in 1985, as the first entity in DeKalb to provide family domestic violence services, which they have been doing for the last 38 years.
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-Accounting 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, and advocacy services in an amount not to exceed $150,000; Approve the transfer of funds from the Victim Assistance Fund to the Human Services Grant Fund; and Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute all necessary documents.