Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Human Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All
Awarding of the 2021 Human Services Grants to Local Non-Profits-At a Cost of $617,808 to the County
Body
Information Contact: Damon Scott, Human Services Department Director
Phone Number: (404) 270-1178
PURPOSE:
To approve the award of fifty-three (53) Human Services Grants for 2021 in an amount not to exceed $617,808. The grant period for all awards will be one year from the date of BOC approval.
NEED/IMPACT:
In the County’s 2021 Adopted Budget, $617,808 was approved for Human Services Grants to support the work of local non-profits. This year marks the 17th consecutive year that Human Services Grants Program has presented recommendations for grant awards. The service areas designated for awards include youth, family/human services, food insecurity, public health, elderly, disability, and homelessness prevention. This year was the 2nd year that the entire grant application process was electronic.
There were 200 people in attendance at the virtual Grant Program Orientation Meeting on May 19, 2021. All attendees received an electronic copy of the grant application instructions and program guidelines. The Department received 103 grant applications during the 2021 grant application intake period, which ended on June 23, 2021. There were 32 applications were incomplete (electronic folder was created but there was no information in the folder) and therefore were not evaluated. A minimum threshold review was conducted, and 2 grant applications did not meet the minimum threshold requirements. A notification letter was sent to these organizations on July 9, 2021.
The Human Services Coordinating Committee (HSCC) reviewed the remaining 69 applications between July 21, 2021 and August 25, 2021. The Human Services Grant Program Evaluation policy states that “grant applications must have a composite score of 80 to be recommended for funding.” Each application is read and scored independently by 3 different members of the committee and the composite score is obtained by averaging these scores. At the conclusion of the evaluation period, which was approximately five weeks, the HSCC recommended fifty-three (53) non-profits whose applications received a composite score of 80 or more. These Human Services Grant Awards, once approved, will assist individuals and families living in DeKalb with needed services and supports.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Transfer funds from the General Fund to the Human Services Grant Fund-250 Cost Center 67510 to avoid the delay of payments. There is no fiscal impact, as this action only transfers already appropriated funds.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
Award the Human Services Grants for 2021 in an amount not to exceed $617,808. Authorize disbursements under the terms of the grant agreement and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute all necessary documents.