Explanation
BACKGROUND
The Association of Prosecuting Attorneys is a national 501(c)(3) established in 2009 as a professional association of elected and appointed prosecutors dedicated to leading nationwide training, technical assistance and private grant funded justice initiatives. In October of 2022, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA) selected the Columbus City Attorney’s Office to serve as a pilot site for their prosecutor-involved, low-level theft deflection program. APA is now investing $50,000.00 in private grant dollars to support the City Attorney’s Buckeye Diversion and Deflection programs.
Through these programs, non-violent misdemeanor offenders are eligible for criminal diversion. If individuals opt to participate, they work with prosecutors, defense counsel and Health Impact Ohio Community Health Workers to develop diversion case plans tailored to their unique needs. Health workers use a validated social determinants of health screen to identify challenge areas and develop plan conditions. These conditions are designed to address issues at the root cause of criminal behavior with the goal of addressing the current situation and preventing future justice involvement i.e. issues related to basic needs (lack of housing or food), physical health, mental health, substance use, lack of employment and/or childcare. Plans are signed by the participant, attorney/Public Defender and City Prosecutor. Once plans are signed by all parties, Community Health Workers provide guided case management services to support participants in achieving agreed upon conditions.
This legislation authorizes the City Attorney to accept and use APA award funding to modify/increase the existing contract with Health Impact Ohio from $46,209.20 to $96,209.20 and enter into a sole source contract with Health Impact Ohio for guided case management services. Health Impact Ohio utilizes the proprietary Central Ohio Pathways HUB allowing Community Health Workers to effective manage comprehensive case management plans within one system and bill Medicaid for eligible participants thereby reducing total program costs. There is no other vendor in Central Ohio offering access to the Pathways HUB, therefore it is in the City’s best interest to move forward with this contract modification. Contract funds cover case management services for criminal deflection and diversion participants who are not eligible for Medicaid. Services are billed at the Medicaid reimbursement rate and a schedule of reimbursements is available upon request. The City Attorney sought additional grant funds to modify/increase our current contract because the number of non-Medicaid eligible residents served through deflection and diversion is much higher than originally anticipated.
The City Attorney’s Office requests authorization to accept the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys $50,000.00 private grant award for criminal deflection and diversion services; to authorize appropriation of $50,000.00 within the private grant fund; to authorize the use of grant funds to modify/increase the office’s current contract with Access HealthColumbus d/b/a Health Impact Ohio from $46,209.20 to $96,209.20 for case management for deflection and diversion participants; to authorize a sole source contract with Health Impact Ohio's; and to authorize the expenditure of $50,000.00 from Private Grants Fund 2291.
Current vendor/contract information:
§ Vendor Name: AccessHealth Columbus doing business as Health Impact Ohio
§ Vendor Number: CC-008966 | EBO Exp 4/21/2025
§ Contract Amt: $46,209.20
§ Purchase Order: PO387014 & PO436939
FISCAL IMPACT:
None. No City cash match is required to accept this award.
Award period October 1, 2022 through March 31, 2025
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to accept a $50,000.00 private grant from the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys for criminal deflection and diversion services; to authorize appropriation of $50,000.00 within the private grant fund; to authorize the use of grant funds to modify/increase the office’s current contract with Access Health Columbus d/b/a Health Impact Ohio from $46,209.20 to $96,209.20 for guided case management for deflection and diversion participants; to authorize a source contract with the Health Impact Ohio; and to authorize the expenditure of $50,000.00 from Private Grants Fund 2291. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys has awarded the Columbus City Attorney's Office private grant funding in the amount of $50,000 to support criminal deflection and diversion services; and
WHEREAS, the term of the award is October 1st, 2022 through March 31st 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney desires to accept said grant award; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney seeks authorization to use the $50,000 to modify/increase the office’s current contract with Health Impact Ohio from $46,209.20 to $96,209.20 for guided case management for individuals participating in deflection and diversion programs; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney seeks authorization for $96,209.20 sole source contract with Access HealthColumbus d/b/a Health Impact Ohio as the single provider for case management services utilizing the proprietary Central Ohio Pathways HUB. Pathways HUB allows Community Health Workers to effective manage comprehensive case plans within one system and bill Medicaid for eligible participants thereby reducing total program costs; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney seeks authorization for a $50,000.00 expenditure from Private Grants Fund 2291.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney is authorized to accept the $50,000 private grant award from the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys for theft deflection and diversion services.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Private Grants Fund number 2291, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $50,000 is hereby appropriated to the Columbus City Attorney, Department 24 according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 3. That the City Attorney is authorized to use private award funds to modify/increase their current contract with Health Impact Ohio from $46,209.20 to $96,209.20 for guided case management services for individuals participating in deflection and diversion programs.
SECTION 4. That the City Attorney is authorized to enter into a $96,209.20 contract with Health Impact Ohio as the sole source provider for cases management services utilizing the proprietary Central Ohio Pathways HUB, and that City Council hereby approves said bid waiver.
SECTION 5: That the City Attorney is authorized to expend $50,000 from Private Grants Fund 2291 according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 6. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. That funds appropriated shall be paid upon order of the City Attorney and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 8.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 9. That at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances 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 9. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from the earliest period allowed by law.