City of Columbus - File #: 1669-2024

• File #: 1669-2024
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Consent
• File created: 6/4/2024
• In control: Public Safety & Criminal Justice Committee
• On agenda: 7/15/2024
• 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)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
7/1/2024	1	Columbus City Council	Read for the First Time

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 effecti...