Background
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement in an amount up to $350,000.00 with Choice Network, Inc. to support their Choice Center.
Choice Network, Inc. ("Choice") is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide factual information, affirmative counsel, and barrier free support to pregnant people, people seeking to parent, and at-risk parents and their children - without judgment of their circumstances, identities, or choices. Choice Network specializes in working to ensure every family makes the best choice for themselves with the guidance of a trusted and objective team of professionals. Services offered for birth mothers include: a personalized adoption plan, counselor and support network available 24 hours a day, as well as grief counseling and support groups. Services provided for adoptive applicants include: application interview, home study, education and training, placement, pre and post finalization services, as well as pre and post counseling and support groups.
Choice Network is coalescing their programs into the “JustChoice Center,” through which they can better counsel pregnant people in Franklin County and Ohio about their options and help those parenting on the margins. Unlike the ubiquitous Crisis Pregnancy Centers that trick and coerce pregnant people into keeping their pregnancies at all costs, the JustChoice Center will provide affirmative, factual counsel and tangible support whether their clients choose abortion, to place their child for adoption, or to parent - because they believe that reproductive freedom is a cornerstone of thriving families and thriving communities.
Choice Network is also committed to public partnership and education. Their community advocacy group includes staff, community members, and volunteers. Additionally, Choice Networks partners with other local organizations and aid in coordination of events that help increase knowledge and awareness.
No public funds shall be used to subsidize abortion procedures and associated services such as anesthesia, laboratory tests, or hospital services as proscribed by RC §§5101.55 and 5101.56.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding of $350,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement in an amount up to $350,000.00 with Choice Network to support their Choice Center; and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $350,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. ($350,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into a grant agreement with Choice Network to support their Choice Center; and
WHEREAS, Choice Network has provided pregnancy counseling for more than a decade in Columbus and Central Ohio and plans to offer real parenting support through the Choice Center; and
WHEREAS, the Choice Network is coalescing its programs into the Choice Center, through which they can better counsel pregnant people in Franklin County and Ohio about their options including offering parenting support; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Choice Network, for the support of their Choice Center.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $350,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to the Department of Development per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $350,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.