Commissioners Court Meeting

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Meeting Date:	08/14/2023
Texas (Trafficking) Emergency Network Diversion (TEND) Court Program - Grant a 90-day payroll extension for personnel working under this grant.
Submitted for:	Rosa Cavazos	Submitted By:	Rosa Cavazos
Department:	County Judge

Subject:

Discussion and possible action to continue paying grant-funded personnel under OOG Grant No. 4325002, Texas (Trafficking) Emergency Network Diversion (TEND) Court Program, Ninety (90) days, until notification about grant continuation award from the Criminal Justice Division by the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office. All personnel costs will be reimbursed with grant funds. [Requested by Judge Selina L. Mireles, TEND Court Program; Account #2747-1150-001-410000 (Payroll)]

Issue: Current grant funding expires on September 30, 2023. The Texas (Trafficking) Emergency Network Diversion (TEND) Court Program has not received notice of award for the new grant. Unless this item is approved, personnel working under this said grant will not be paid after September 30, 2023.

Solution: Grant a 90-day payroll extension effective October 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, for personnel working under this grant.

Result: The Texas (Trafficking) Emergency Network Diversion (TEND) Court Program in Laredo/Webb County will continue to identify and provide services to youth ages 10 to 17 and, who are at risk of sexual exploitation in the 4^th Administrative Judicial Regions Child Protection Court.

Background:

The program aims to identify minors in CPS foster care, who have a high propensity of becoming victims or have been identified as being exploited including the commercial sexual exploitation of children. TEND's efforts are to steer them away from that way of life. The program will provide various modes of therapy, by collaborating with local community partnerships, to include awareness and prevention methods as a means of intervention and redirection.

Previous Court Action:

Previous Court Action:
On January 24, 2022, Commissioner’s Court approved the submission of a grant application to the Office of the Governor Public Safety Office Criminal Justice Division for a County Innovations Grant estimated at $250,000 over the term of the contract. The Webb County Trafficking Emergency Network Diversion Program will utilize this funding opportunity to prevent, investigate, and/or prosecute the commercial sexual exploitation of foster youth in Webb County. This formal request shall authorize the County Judge to act as the County's Executive Officer and Authorized Representative in all matters pertaining to the County's participation in this grant. There is no match requirement for this grant. All grant documents were sent for review through the Economic Development Department and the solicitation is compliant with the Webb County Single Point of Contact (SPOC) procedures. Contract Term: October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023.

Fiscal Impact

Budget Account Number:	2747
Funding Source:	OOG Grant
Balance:	N/A
Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact on the general fund, as it is funded 100% by grant funds.