City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: KATE GARVEY, DIRECTOR,
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Acceptance of the Virginia General Assembly funding through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to the Alexandria Community Services Board (ACSB) in the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) for the use of on-going dollars for staff attraction, training and development and for the creation of a Peer Support Specialist position for the Marcus Alert program.
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ISSUE: City Council’s acceptance of the Virginia General Assembly funding award from DBHDS to DCHS to use funds for ACSB staff for staff attraction, training and development and to expand the ongoing operation of the Marcus Alert Program.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Authorize the acceptance of funding to ACSB in the amount of $213,060.33 for the duration of this current fiscal year (FY 2025) with no match required, to provide staff training and development. The funding will be used to support the following activities in the department: provide stipends to pay for student interns, support educational trainings for current staff, and funding one-time referral incentives for staff referring peers to current vacancies. These dollars will be on-going, base budgeted dollars from the State’s general fund.
2. Authorize the acceptance of funding to ACSB in the amount of $121,715 for the Marcus Alert program, to support one full-time Peer Support Specialist position.
3. Approve the addition of one full-time Peer Support Specialist position that will be fully supported by the award from DBHDS, to include benefits costs; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The General Assembly has allocated $7.5 million dollars to be distributed to the 40 Community Services Boards (CSB) for staff attraction, training and development. The amount allocated to the Alexandria CSB as on-going, State budgeted dollars is $ 213,060.33.
The budget language indicates that the funding can be used as follows:
“to support paid internships and scholarship opportunities for students or staff earning behavioral health or other relevant certifications and degrees at two- and four-year colleges and universities and other educational career development settings, to cover clinical supervision hours, for reimbursement for the costs of obtaining licenses, certification, and exams necessary for employment in relevant careers, to provide loan repayment, and other initiatives that may assist in growing the CSB workforce.”
DBHDS awarded the ACSB a partial amount of funding in FY 2024 to begin the Marcus Alert programming. City Council approved the initial funding of $478,285 in April 2024. DBHDS is adding the remaining allocation of $121,715 to ACSB to complete their funding allocation of $600,000 per CSB beginning July 1, 2024.
Both the funding for staff development ($213,060.33) and the Marcus Alert additional funding ($121,715) are on-going funding added to the ACSB’s base budget funded by State general funds.
DISCUSSION: The funding for staff development from the General Assembly is an acknowledgement of the difficulty to attract, hire, and retain staff throughout the CSBs. These State funded dollars will augment the previously allocated City general funds to address vacancies in the ACSB within DCHS.
The funding for the Marcus Alert program completes DBHDS’ commitment to ACSB when they asked Alexandria to begin the Marcus Alert program during fiscal year 2024.
DCHS staff will continue to work with DBHDS to advocate for additional state funding. DCHS staff have a proven track record of working with DBHDS to implement quality services for Alexandrians in a fiscally prudent manner.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total budget for these awards is $ 334,775.33. The award period is July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with no required matching funds. Current DCHS staff will provide the general administrative supports to receive these funds. These costs include financial reporting oversight provided by DCHS, the administering agency. Current staff will absorb these functions.
ATTACHMENT(S): None
STAFF:
Alethea Predeoux, Deputy City Manager
Kate Garvey, Director, Department of Community and Human Services
Phil Caldwell, Director, Center for Adult Services/Executive Director of the Alexandria CSB, DCHS
Morgan Routt, Director, Office of Management and Budget