Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to accept a grant in the amount of $50,000 from the Franklin County Office of Justice Policy and Programs, and to appropriate the total amount of the grant from the unappropriated balance of the general government grant fund to the Specialized Docket of the Franklin County Municipal Court. This grant is a continuation of services and will fund a Peer Support Specialist to be assigned to the Helping Achieve Recovery Together (h.a.r.t), the opiate specific specialized docket. The Specialized Dockets have increased their understanding of and value for that of a Peer Support Specialist, an individual with lived experience and specific training to assist in the rehabilitation of participants. This Peer Support Specialist will be a mentor specifically to the participants of the h.a.r.t specialty docket.
Emergency Legislation is requested so that the grant funds can be used as close to the start date of October 1 as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT
$50,000.00 will be expended from the General Government Grant Fund.
Title
To authorize and direct the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to accept a grant award from the Franklin County Office of Justice Policy and Programs to provide peer mentors to Helping Achieve Recovery Together (h.a.r.t), the opiate specific specialized docket; to appropriate $50,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the general government grant fund to the Franklin County Municipal Court; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is in the city's best interest that the Franklin County Municipal Court receive support to provide peer mentorship to participants in the h.a.r.t. specialized docket. Helping Achieve Recovery Together, h.a.r.t., the opiate specific Specialized Docket at the Franklin County Municipal Court, does not have peer support for participants prior to ATP State fund enrollment. This grant will fill the gap between Specialized Docket referral and ATP. This is the critical time for engagement in recovery and linkage to community treatment. It fills the gap at the time participants are transitioning from jail to treatment, when due to their sobriety in jail and ensuing reduced tolerance they are the most vulnerable to relapse and lethal overdose. A peer mentor can support, link, and navigate this space with a high risk/high need participants; and
WHEREAS, grant monies from the Franklin County Office of Justice Policy and Programs, in the amount of $50,000 are available to provide for peer mentorship; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to approve the acceptance of this grant so that the grant funds can be used as close to the start date of October 1 as possible; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court be and is hereby authorized to accept a grant in the amount of $50,000 from the Franklin County Office of Justice Policy and Programs.
SECTION 2. Funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated. That from the unappropriated balance in the general government grant fund, fund 2220, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and appropriated for any other purpose during the months ending September 15, 2021 , the sum of $50,000 is appropriated to the Franklin County Municipal Court.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Administrative and Presiding Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court 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 4. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grant 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 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble herein, which are 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither vetoes nor approves the same.