Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a grant agreement for $50,000.00 with Franklin County Children’s Services (FCCS) to create and implement a 12-month childcare and early education pilot program. The goal of this program is to assist individuals and families who have legally adopted children who were previously in FCCS Kinship Care Program.
Before legal adoption, Kinship Caregivers received a stipend to assist with childcare costs. However, this assistance ceases once the children are legally adopted, creating a financial burden for adopting families.
Therefore, the City of Columbus would like provide a grant of $50,000.00 to FCCS to pilot a program to help at least five families in need of childcare and early education tuition assistance. To be eligible, families must reside in Franklin County with an income at, or below, 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The program will be administered by FCCS to at least five families who have been identified by FCCS as eligible based on the before-mentioned criteria. 100 percent of the grant will awarded to families in tuition assistant grants of up to $10,000 per family. None of the grant will be used by FCCS to administer the program. The 12-month program will commence on the effective date of the grant agreement. An upfront payment is needed, and authorized by this ordinance, so that tuition may to paid to the early education provider at enrollment
Only licensed childcare centers, family childcare centers or Preschool programs, who have attained at least a bronze rating in the State’s Step up to Quality quality rating and improvement system may participate.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this grant agreement is available within the 2025 Mayor’s Office of Education General Fund budget ($50,000.00).
Title
To authorize the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education to enter into a grant agreement for $50,000.00 with Franklin County Children’s Services (FCCS) to create and implement a 12-month childcare and early education pilot program; to authorize the transfer of $50,000.00 within the Department of Education General Fund; and to authorize the expenditure of $50,000.00 within the Department of Education General Fund. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the goal of this program is to assist individuals and families who have legally adopted children who were previously in FCCS Kinship Care Program; and
WHEREAS, before legal adoption, Kinship Caregivers received a stipend to assist with childcare costs; and
WHEREAS, this assistance ceases however, once the children are legally adopted, creating a financial burden for adopting families; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus would like provide a grant of $50,000.00 to FCCS to pilot a 12-month program to help at least five families in need of childcare and early education tuition assistance; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Office of Education to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement for $50,000.00 with Franklin County Children’s Services (FCCS) to create and implement a 12-month childcare and early education pilot program, to preserve the public health, peace, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Education is hereby authorized to enter into a 12-month, $50,000.00 grant agreement with Franklin County Children’s Services to create and implement a 12-month childcare and early education pilot program.
SECTION 2. That the grant agreement shall be for a period of 12 months, commencing on the effective date of the grant agreement.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $50,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized within the General Fund 1000 from Dept-Div 40-06, Object Class 03 to Dept-Div 40-06, Object Class 05 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $50,000.00, is hereby authorized within the general fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
Div.: 40-06 | Fund: 1000 | SubFund: 100010 | Obj. Class: 05 | Main Acct: 65026 | Program: ED001 | Amount: $50,000.00
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 legislation.
SECTION 7. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.