TITLE: Title
Follow-up Report on Human Services Funding
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is for the Board to have a follow-up discussion regarding Human Services funding priorities.
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DEPARTMENT: Economic and Community Development
CONTACT INFORMATION: Annette Lafferty, AICP Economic and Community Development Director
INFORMATION: In September of 2016, the Board discussed in a work session issues related to human services needs assessment. The discussion centered around two major subjects that included the application process itself and identifying service gaps and funding priorities. This agenda item is a follow-up to that discussion and an opportunity to communicate guidance to the Human Services Advisory Board as they are now in the process of reviewing applications and will make recommendations to the Board in May.
The human service application (aka Outside Agency Funding) is a joint application process between Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County. Several recommendations from the Board of Aldermen were included in the final application including adding a non-discrimination clause, clarifying the role of fiscal sponsors, and streamlining the process by reducing the number of copies required from the applicant. The non-profits have reported a high satisfaction with the application process itself.
The Board also discussed funding priorities and what types of service needs should the Town focus. In the application, under Section 3 Program Information, there is a funding priority matrix (Attachment 1) that is based on a 2014 study from the UNC School of Government of human service needs, and although the study focused on Chapel Hill, many of the same needs and human service providers serve both Towns. Chapel Hill will be contracting with a consultant to update this study for the 2017 - 18 funding cycle and Carrboro staff is discussing collaboration on that study and will return to the Board with future updates on that effort.
One of the questions during the work session is whether or not funding is limited to direct services only. The charge for the Human Services Advisory Board reads as follows;
(a) The principal function of the commission shall be to study all funding applications received by the town from non- departmental agencies and to make recommendations to the Board of Aldermen on these funding requests. The Board of Aldermen may establish a specific budget amount and direct that the sum total of all the commission's funding recommendations not exceed this budgeted amount.
(b) The commission shall perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of Aldermen.”
There is no other direction for funding priorities from the Board other than this charge. Attached is a resolution for the Board’s consideration that would provide additional direction to the Human Services Advisory Commission about funding priorities. The resolution provides two possible options if the Board chooses to amend the charge.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: There is no additional fiscal impact due to this discussion.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends the Board provide direction to staff and the Human Services Advisory Board.