Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with The Ohio State University (OSU), a non-profit entity, in an amount up to $2,390.97, to create opportunities for healing with a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention with justice-involved Black girls and their parents and caregivers, and to allow for the reimbursement of expenses incurred before the purchase order date, starting August 1, 2024.
Prior Ordinances relevant to this OSU-MBSR program;
1435-2021 06/14/2021 PO293529;
Ordinance 1435-2021, passed by City Council on June 14, 2021, authorized the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with OSU-CoSW for the MBSR program in amount up to $27,968.00. The agreement was executed with an agreement end date of December 31, 2022 (PO293529).
0591-2023 03/13/2023 PO293529;
Because of issues related to COVID, the program was not implemented as planned and Council approved a second ordinance, Ord. 0591-2023, on March 13, 2023 for the not-for-profit service contract. A contract modification to extend the agreement was not executed prior to the end of the contract term on December 31, 2024.
In light of the tragic death of Ma'Khia Bryant in 2021, there continues to be an urgent need to provide specific, targeted support for criminal justice system-involved and at-risk Black girls. These girls are experiencing more stress due to the coronavirus and its effect on their mothers (parents/caregivers), with 57% noting that their mental health was worse due to the virus and its affects. In partnership with the Columbus City Council (CCC), Franklin County Juvenile Court (FCJC) FCJC staff will refer interested parent/caregiver-dyads to the OSU program. This intervention will help reduce stress among all participants and promote restoration and healing that will reduce the potential for law-breaking behavior.
The targeted constituents include court-involved Black girls aged 14-17 who are also disproportionality affected by PTSD, with 70% of girls with histories of sexual or physical abuse as well as their parents/caregivers. The parent/caregiver-child dyads will undergo a stress reduction intervention, i.e., Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR). MBSR may improve PTSD symptomatology, which is linked to delinquency and other risky behaviors. MBSR may help modulate the dysregulated stress response in the body to improve physical and mental health concurrently.
The project is led by Dr. Camille R. Quinn, a licensed, independent social worker in Ohio and Assistant Professor at the OSU College of Social Work. Her work draws on over 20 years of prior experience in social and health services as a practitioner and administrator. She is a funded researcher and has substantive expertise to develop and tailor interventions to improve the well-being of Black youth and their families, especially girls and young women in the community and correctional settings, which are all needed to carry out this project.
These services provided by OSU cannot be provided by existing city employees because these services are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity and expertise to provide.
Emergency action is necessary to address the urgent needs facing criminal justice system-involved and at-risk Black girls and their parents and caregivers.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $2,390.97 from the Department of Development’s Neighborhood Economic Development Fund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 006163, and expires 3/29/2025.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with The Ohio State University, in an amount up to $2,390.97; to create opportunities for healing with a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention with criminal justice system involved Black girls and their parents and caregivers; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $2,390.97 from the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund; to allow for the reimbursement of expenses incurred before the purchase order date, starting August 1, 2024; and to declare an emergency. ($2,390.97)
Body
WHEREAS, in light of the tragic death of Ma'Khia Bryant, there is an urgent need to provide specific targeted support for criminal justice system involved and at-risk girls; and
WHEREAS, Franklin County Juvenile Court staff will refer interested parent/caregiver-dyads to the intervention program that will help reduce stress among all participants and promote restoration and healing that will reduce the potential for law-breaking behavior; and
WHEREAS, the targeted constituents include criminal justice system involved Black girls aged 14-17 who are also disproportionality affected by PTSD, with 70% of girls with histories of sexual or physical abuse as well as their parents/caregivers; and
WHEREAS, the project will be led by Dr. Camille R. Quinn, a licensed, independent social worker in Ohio and Assistant Professor at the OSU College of Social Work; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into a grant agreement with The Ohio State University to create opportunities for healing with a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention with criminal justice system involved Black girls and their parents and caregivers; and
WHEREAS, to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $2,390.97 to create opportunities for healing with a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention with justice-involved Black girls and their parents and caregivers, and to allow for the reimbursement of expenses incurred before the purchase order date, starting August 1, 2024; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to execute a grant agreement with The Ohio State University to address the urgent needs facing criminal justice system involved and at-risk girls thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with The Ohio State University (OSU), in an amount up to $2,390.97, to create opportunities for healing with a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention with justice-involved Black girls and their parents and caregivers, and to allow for the reimbursement of expenses incurred before the purchase order date, starting August 1, 2024.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, the sum of $2,390.97 is appropriated in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $2,390.97 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development Fund), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in object class 05 (Other), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That this contract is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.