TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and all necessary documents and any subsequent amendments, including amending the terms or changing the amount of the award, with Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC), to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $125,000 for the Strengthening the Implementation of Responsible Fatherhood Program, for a 15-month period, to begin June 1, 2021 through September 31, 2022, with the option to extend the agreement for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and
Increase appropriations in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $125,000, offset by grant revenues. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC) is a federal technical provider and performance management evaluator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Family Assistance (OFA). As part of the OFA process and study session, the MDRC selected ten OFA Fundamentals of Father Program (FFP) grantees to participate in a 15-month learning cycle called Strengthening the Implementation of Responsible Fatherhood (SIRF). The City of Long Beach (City) was selected as one of the ten national grantees to participate in the SIRF program study. The FFP strives to promote positive father-child interactions, improve parents’ relationship with each other and their capacity to parent as a team, and build fathers’ economic stability.
SIRF seeks to improve Responsible Fatherhood programming using a continuous cycle of evidence building, implementation, and adaptation that is attuned to the real-world needs of the people who provide the services and the fathers who use them. MDRC is allowing the City the flexibility to use the funds as best fits the program design. MDRC will provide $125,000 to support the hiring of staff, consultants, father incentives, and other items to participate in SIRF. The funding is meant to support the roles of a point person who will help facilitate and liaison with data collection and other learning cycle duties. The City will use these funds to hire an additional program life coach and also to support the current FFP Data Manager/Lead Life Coach, since his role aligns well with the duties required for the SIRF.
Learning cycles will begin in mid 2021. The SIRF study team envisions this work as a collaboration between researchers and FFP practitioners so that each grantee’s learning approach can be tailored to its unique context and service structure. Study findings will be disseminated to MDRC on an ongoing basis throughout the course of the project. SIRF seeks to build evidence to help responsible fatherhood programs deliver more effective services and set the stage for potential future studies that could measure the effects of the strengthened programs.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Taylor M. Anderson on April 5, 2021 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on April 22, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on May 11, 2021, to allow the Health and Human Services Department to begin the program as soon as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive funding in an amount not to exceed $125,000 for the 15-month period of June 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022. An appropriation increase of $125,000 is requested in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department, offset by grant revenues. The grant has no match of funds or in-kind service mandate. This recommendation has a staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. Grant revenues will offset the cost of one additional temporary full-time employee required to meet the scope of required services outlined by the grant.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER