Commissioners Court Meeting

Issue viewing agenda items? Click here to switch to the old format.

Return to the Search Page Return to the Agenda

Meeting Date:	09/24/2018
Justice for Familes Grant Award Acceptance
Submitted for:	Martin Cuellar	Submitted By:	Anita Guerra
Department:	Sheriff

Subject:

Discussion and possible action to accept a FY 2018 Justice for Families grant award as coordinated, written, and submitted by the Webb County Sheriff’s Office to the Office on Violence Against Women in the amount of $550,000 for salaries, associated fringe benefits, training/travel, leasing, utilities, contractual services, equipment/supplies, and other needs to support the Webb County Sheriff’s Office Safe Haven and Casa Misericordia Domestic Violence Shelter, and designating the Webb County Judge as the authorized official in all matters pertaining to this grant; and any other matters incident thereto. This grant requires no cash and/or in-kind match. All required documents were sent to the Economic Development Department and were found in compliance with the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) policy. [Requested by Martin Cuellar, Webb County Sheriff]

Issue: During the last two (2) months of 2017, Sheriff Martin Cuellar, the Webb County Sheriff's Office and the rest of Webb County scrambled to find the necessary resources to support the Safe Haven Program and the families who have come to rely on its services. This continues to be a crucial need in the local community for families who have experienced contentious custody disputes, allegations of child abuse/neglect, a documented history of family/domestic violence, and other allegations of physical confrontations and/or severe familial discord.

Solution: Grant award to help secure additional funding for the Webb County Sheriff’s Office Safe Haven to help meet the needs of the program and its participants from thecommunity.

Result: The Webb County Sheriff’s Office will be better able to enhance services for the families and children of the Webb County/Laredo community. Serious familial violence can be deterred, mitigated, diminished and/or prevented through this program.

Background:

Sheriff Martin Cuellar and the Webb County Sheriff’s Office successfully sought extremely competitive grant funding under the FY 2018 Justice for Families Grant to fund the Webb County Sheriff’s Office Safe Haven Program for the supervised visitation and safe exchange of children and youth by and between parents in situations involving domestic violence, dating violence, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, and/or stalking.

Previous Court Action:

The Webb County Commissioners’ Court accepted a symbolic check from the Hon. Congressman Cuellar on Monday, September 10, 2018. The Webb County Sheriff’s Office received authorization from the Webb County Commissioners’ Court to submit this application on December 11, 2017.

Fiscal Impact

Budget Account Number:	To Be Determined
Funding Source:	Grant Revenue
Balance:	$550,000
Financial Impact:
$550,000 for the Webb County Sheriff's Office Safe Haven and Casa Misericorida Domestic Violence Shelter Thus, this agenda item will have no impact on the Webb County general fund.