Explanation
The Office of CelebrateOne and Columbus Public Health have been awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. This ordinance is to accept and appropriate $1,462,800.00 in grant money to fund G402502, the Maternal and Infant Vitality Initiative for the period July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027. This project will allow CelebrateOne to focus on nine zip codes in Franklin County with the greatest potential to impact the birth outcomes of pregnant African-American women at risk for preterm and low birth weights in Franklin County. It will also cover the Fetal Infant Mortality Review community-based program that identifies local infant mortality issues and develops recommendations and initiatives to reduce infant deaths.
Funds will cover a percentage of the costs of the team managing the project - Health Data Abstractor, Project Coordinator; Assistant Manager of Pregnanct and Postpartum Support, Epidemiologist and Neighborhood Navigators. In addition, funding will cover other operational expenses including but not limited to: office supplies, outreach materials, professional development, and mileage reimbursement.
EMERGENCY ACTION is requested at this time in order to meet payroll as well as impact the lives and birth outcomes of women and families in Columbus and expend the grant funds by The Ohio Department of Children and Youth.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Maternal and Infant Vitality Initiative is entirely funded by the grant from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and does not generate revenue or require a City Match.
Title
To authorize the Executive Director, Office of CelebrateOne, and the Board of Health, to accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth in the amount of $1,462,800.00 for the Maternal and Infant Vitality Initiative Project through June 30 2027; to authorize the appropriation of up to $1,462,800.00 from the City’s General Government Grant Fund and to declare an emergency. ($1,462,800.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $1,462,800.00 has been made available through the Ohio Department of Children and Youth for the period July 1st, 2025 through June 30, 2027 for the Maternal and Infant Vitality Initiative ; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate up to $1,462,800.00 from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth for the support of the Maternal and Infant Vitality Initiative ; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is being submitted as an emergency so as to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City’s accounting system as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, up-to-date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes and grant numbers for the Maternal and Infant Vitality Initiative as needed upon request by CelebrateOne; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of CelebrateOne and Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to accept these funds on behalf of CelebrateOne to continue support of all activities for the Maternal and Infant Vitality Initiative, to meet payroll as well as impact the lives and birth outcomes of women and families in Columbus and expend the grant funds by The Ohio Department of Children and Youth, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Executive Director, Office of CelebrateOne, and the Board of Health are hereby authorized to accept a grant award of $1,462,800.00 from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth for the Maternal and Infant Vitality Initiative Program for the grant period from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027,
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Fund 2220, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $1,462,800.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated to the Office of CelebrateOne and the Columbus Public Health Department as per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance. Appropriated upon executed grant agreement.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Office of the Mayor and the Board of Health and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
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 the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes and grant numbers for the Maternal and Infant Vitality Initiative as needed upon request by CelebrateOne to carry out the purpose of the grant.
SECTION 6. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances that may be required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 7. That for 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.