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February 11, 2014 Discussion: • The services offered by the Portsmouth Department of Social Services (PDSS) are directed to those citizens who are in need. The recipients of the said services are: o families with an annual income at or below the poverty level o those who are eligible or receiving public assistance through PDSS o citizens who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness o minor children and their care givers that have been identified as being in need of linkage services such as foster care placement. • The PDSS provides a variety of services consistent with the grant's goal of promoting and maintaining safe and stable family units. These services include, but are not limited to: o Project Fatherhood Initiative -the program is designed to engage fathers with a comprehensive skill and esteem building philosophy as they are mentored and provided the tools to become responsible parents. They are provided instruction in assuming the responsibility for the growth, nurturing and development of their children. o The Child Protective Services Family Program will provide services to clients with active abuse and/or neglect complaints. The goal is to prevent out of the home placements and emergency removal for foster care placements. o Reunification -this is an effort to reunite children and families while pursuing permanency for children and youth placed in the foster care system. Financial Impact: • This grant requires local cash match in the amount of $16,622. The cash match is allocated in the Social Services Fund. • The appropriation of this grant will not increase the Social Services Fund. Recommended Action: • Adoption of the ordinance. Vision Principles: Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community, Quality of Life and Lifelong Learning Community. Next Steps Following Council Action: • Implementation and/or continue the programs that effectively support the safe and stable family imitative. • Secure the appropriate vendors that will supplement the department's work related to the grant funded service. Motion by Ms. Randall, and seconded by Mr. Edmonds, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: "ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,618 FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS IN THE FY 2013-14 GRANTS FUND FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES TO FAMILIES." Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Moody, Psimas, Randall, Wright Nays: None 14 - 45 -Adoption of an ordinance accepting 2014 Aid to Locality funds in the amount of $268,395 from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and appropriating said sum in the FY 2013-14 Grants Fund to support fire and emergency services in the City. Vision Principle: Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community. Background: • The Virginia Department of Fire Programs has been providing entitlement funds to localities for more than twenty years. • "Aid to Localities" provides Virginia cities, towns and counties with funds to pay for training, construction of training centers, firefighting equipment, and protective clothing. • The funds are derived from one-percent of fire-related insurance coverage and are allocated based on population.