Explanation
This ordinance authorizes The Office of CelebrateOne to enter into a grant agreement with R.O.O.T.T. (Restoring Our Own Through Transformation) in support of the organization’s holistic, community-oriented Perinatal Support Doula care.
R.O.O.T.T. is a non-profit organization in Columbus, Ohio that was established in 2017 dedicated to collectively restoring the well-being of families. R.O.O.T.T.’s integrated perinatal support model focuses on innovative interventions designed to improve perinatal conditions and birth outcomes for mothers and families. Since 2017, R.O.O.T.T. has served over 500 families and has produced a 0% maternal and infant mortality rate.
R.O.O.T.T.’s Doulas provide a variety of integrated, holistic care including:
• Nutritional evaluation and support;
• Evaluation of psychosocial needs and connections to wraparound services;
• Advocacy and support for family empowerment;
• Clinical assessments and documentation to identify early signs, symptoms, and risk factors in maternal health;
• Direct lines of communication with primary care providers; and
• Consultation as Certified Lactation Consultants.
Care provided by R.O.O.T.T. Doulas is supplementary to and in conjunction with the additional care a mother receives through her primary care provider, OB-GYN, and/or midwife.
Emergency action is necessary to ensure the continued provision of care to families through R.O.O.T.T. programming.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance will allow the expenditure of up to $425,000.00 from the General Fund.
Title
To authorize and direct the Office of CelebrateOne to enter into a grant agreement with Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (R.O.O.T.T.) to support community-oriented Perinatal Support Doula care; to authorize expenditure within the General Fund of $425,000.00; and to declare an emergency. ($425,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (R.O.O.T.T.) provides integrated perinatal support and innovative interventions of families in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the infant mortality rate in Franklin County is significantly higher the national average, and
WHEREAS, R.O.O.T.T. has eradicated the infant and maternal mortality rate among their clients and seeks to expand perinatal doula care to more of the Columbus community; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of CelebrateOne in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Board to enter into a grant agreement with R.O.O.T.T. to provide funding to allow it to continue to provide its integrated perinatal support model that focuses on innovative interventions designed to improve perinatal conditions and birth outcomes for mothers and families in the Columbus community uninterrupted, 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 Office of CelebrateOne is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (R.O.O.T.T.), a non-profit corporation, to support community-oriented Perinatal Support Doula care for a twelve-month period that begins on July 28, 2025.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of up to $425,000.00 is authorized within Fund 1000 per the accounting codes in the attachment to his ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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.