Title
Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year 2022 Council Approved Budget to Accept and Appropriate the 2022 Virginia Drug Treatment Court Grant Awarded by the Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary to continue the Hampton Drug Treatment Court Program for the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this resolution is to accept State grant funds to permit the continuance of the Hampton Drug Treatment Court Program for the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia.
Discussion:
Due to an overwhelming demand to provide an alternative to traditional court processing of felony, nonviolent, drug-addicted offenders, the Hampton Drug Treatment Court Program (the "Drug Court Program") was developed and implemented in February 2003 with the mission of reducing crime and recidivism by eliminating substance abuse. The Program's first participants were enrolled in June 2003 and has since been very successful, through community collaboration, and is widely accepted. The City of Hampton (the "City") contracts with the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board to provide substance abuse education, treatment, case management services and community supervision through the operation of the Drug Court Program. The mission of the Drug Court Program is to reduce crime and recidivism by eliminating substance abuse. The community benefits greatly from the provided services.
The program offers the following services: 1) substance abuse treatment services ranging from 4 - 20 hours per week; 2) life skills education; 3) case management; and 4) gender-specific treatment. Through collaborative partnerships participants receive: 1) mental health treatment and/or medication management; 2) free or reduced health care; 3) GED education or tuition payments for technical school or college; 4) employment placement; and 5) rental assistance for independent housing. Other benefits to the community include: the birth of drug-free babies and financial savings to jails, community corrections and courts as a result of reduced crime and recidivism.
The Drug Court Program is funded primarily through this annually-awarded grant from the Supreme Court of Virginia along with a specific appropriation from the City. The annual funding amount varies based on the yearly program census. The State grant award for FY22 is $160,000. The City provides in-kind support through building space at the City's Human Services building. In addition, $154,500 was approved as part of the FY22 Council Approved Budget with $94,500 of that amount specifically designated to support the Drug Court and $60,000 designated to support the Veterans Drug Court, a court which provides an alternative to jail time to address certain special needs of veterans.
The Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board provides funding for Drug Court Program needs that are not covered by this grant or other City funding. No federal funds are received.
Impact:
State grant funds total $160,000. The City's total local contribution of $154,500 ($94,500 for the Drug Court and $60,000 for the Veterans Drug Court) was approved as part of the FY22 Council Approved Budget and is disbursed according to the City's outside agency funding protocol.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve.
Body
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary has awarded the City of Hampton, Virginia (the "City") through the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, the 2022 Virginia Drug Treatment Court Grant in the amount of $160,000;
WHEREAS, the 2022 Virginia Drug Treatment Court Grant award is supplemented by a local cash contribution of $154,500 ($94,500 for the Drug Court and $60,000 for the Veterans Drug Court) and in-kind support of office space at the City's Human Services building;
WHEREAS, the combined funds of the 2022 Virginia Drug Treatment Court Grant award in the amount of $314,500 and the in-kind contribution of office space at the City's Human Services building will be used for the continued operation of the Hampton Drug Treatment Court Program for the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period of July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia hereby amends its Fiscal Year 2022 Council Approved Budget to accept and appropriate the 2022 Virginia Drug Treatment Court Grant award in the amount of $160,000, and any supplemental funding, from the Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary to the Grant Fund, in accordance with the grant agreement. The Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board will receive the City of Hampton, Virginia's FY22 Council Approved allocation (local cash contribution) in support of the Hampton Drug Court Program, in the amount of $154,500, through the City of Hampton, Virginia's outside agency funding protocol of quarterly disbursements.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council authorizes the City Manager, or her designee, to take any and all necessary actions to implement this grant award.