TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE AND DEVELOP AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CARRIE MEEK FOUNDATION, INC., (�FOUNDATION�) FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT, AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDING TO BE USED FOR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION INITIATIVES, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $8,843,000.00, FOR A TERM ENDING NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 WITH TWO ONE-YEAR OPTIONS TO RENEW, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST; APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING DESIGNATED PURCHASE FOR THE AGREEMENT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2-8.1(B)(3) OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BY A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF BOARDS MEMBERS PRESENT; AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND CERTAIN AMENDMENTS THERETO AND EXERCISE ALL PROVISIONS CONTAINED THEREIN; ALLOCATING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000.00 TO THE COMMUNITY ACTION AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT; AND ALLOCATING THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $8,943,000.00 IN GENERAL REVENUE ADOPTED IN THE MIAMI-DADE RESCUE PLAN FY 2021-22 ADOPTED
BUDGET FOR THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED HEREIN

BODY
WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated by reference,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:

Section 1. Incorporates the above recital herein by reference and approves same.

Section 2. Directs and authorizes the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to negotiate and develop an agreement with the Carrie Meek Foundation, Inc., (the �Foundation�), in an amount not to exceed $8,843,000.00, inclusive of a $707,440.00 programmatic management fee, for a term ending no later than September 30, 2025. The purpose of the agreement is to strengthen the County�s infrastructure to respond to gun violence through a community centered approach, formally known as Community Violence Intervention. Among other terms, said agreement shall incorporate provisions providing:

(a) the amount of the agreement shall not exceed $8,843,000.00,

(b) that programmatic management fee shall not exceed $707,440.00 or 8 percent of the funds to be administered;

(c) the funds disbursed shall not exceed $8,135,560.00

(d) all funds shall be expended no later than September 30, 2025;

(e) two one-year options to renew the agreement, at no additional cost, to be exercised at the sole discretion of the County;

(f) competitive solicitations, in a total amount not to exceed $7,295,56.00, must be issued in the following areas:

(i) reentry services;

(ii) high-risk intervention work;

(iii) mental health, trauma and wellness services for victims, survivors, family members, and communities impacted by gun violence; and

(iv) capacity building and training and technical assistance; and

(g) grant award to The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention in an amount not to exceed $65,000.00;

(h) grant award to The Children�s Village, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $400,000.00;

(i) development and fiscal administration of the Peace & Prosperity Scholarship Program in an amount not to exceed $375,000.00; and

(j) the Foundation shall be responsible for the full management, administration, and disbursement of funds, and the direct oversight of the management, administration, compliance, and implementation of the programs, projects, and initiatives of organizations funded..

Section 3. Finds it is in the best interest of Miami-Dade County to approve designated purchase and authorize the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to execute the agreement described in section 2 above, in accordance with section 2-8.1(b)(3) of the Code of Miami-Dade County, by a two-thirds vote of Board members present.

Section 4. Authorizes the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to exercise all provisions contained in the agreement, including amendments, provided that such amendments are consistent with the purposes described in section 2 above, do not commit additional funding or extend the term beyond September 30, 2025, and following approval for legal form and sufficiency by the County Attorney�s Office.

Section 5. Allocates an amount not to exceed $100,000.00 to the Office of Neighborhood Safety, a division of the Community Action and Human Services Department to support violence prevention efforts and events throughout Miami-Dade County.

Section 6. Allocates $8,943,000.00 in general revenue as adopted in the Miami-Dade Rescue Plan and FY 2021-22 Adopted budget designated for Community Violence Intervention initiatives as described herein.

HEADER
Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Jose �Pepe� Diaz
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Daniella Levine Cava
Mayor
Subject: Resolution: (1) Directing and Authorizing the Negotiation and Development of an Agreement with the Carrie Meek Foundation, Inc.,
(�Foundation�) for the Administration, Management, and Disbursement of Funding in an Amount not to exceed $8,843,000, for a
term ending no later than September 30, 2025, and two one-year, no cost, options to renew; (2) Approving Designated Purchase
for and Authorizing the County Mayor or County Mayor�s Designee to Enter into the Agreement with the Foundation; (3) Authorizing
Certain Amendments of said Agreement and Enforcement of all Provisions Contained Therein; (4) Allocating an amount not to exceed
$100,000 to the Community Action and Human Services Department; and (5) Allocating the total $8,943,000 in General Revenue adopted
in the Miami-Dade Rescue Plan and FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Executive Summary
The FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget includes $8,943,000 in General Revenue for the Miami-Dade Rescue Plan, allocated to support initiatives designed to strengthen and scale the County�s ability to curtail gun violence through community violence intervention and prevention programs, formally referred to as Community Violence Intervention (�CVI�), which will be discussed more fully below. Additionally, Miami-Dade County is one of 16 jurisdictions across the nation participating in the White House Community Violence Intervention Collaborative that began on July 1, 2021.

To maximize the local impact of this national collaboration, my Administration recommends that this Board approve, by a two-thirds vote of Board members present and in accordance with section 2-8.1(b)(3) of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, designated purchase to contract with The Carrie Meek Foundation, Inc., (the �Foundation�) for the administration, management, and disbursement of funding to be used for CVI. Established in 2001, the Foundation sustains the work and passion of United States Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek through civic engagement, grantmaking, and community development, with a special focus in the areas of Education, Housing, Health, and Economic Development. Throughout her educational career and distinguished tenure in state and federal office, Carrie P. Meek advocated for equity and opportunity for people in marginalized and under-resourced communities. By connecting major community development resources with on-the-ground needs in socioeconomically stressed neighborhoods, the Foundation is uniquely positioned to unite government, nonprofits, and grassroots activists around culturally sensitive community-based solutions that work. Contracting with the Carrie Meek Foundation will allow the Administration to meet the urgent need to curb gun violence in our county.

Ninety percent of the funds, $7,295,560, designated to the Foundation will be competitively solicited and awarded to sub-recipients for community-based programming and initiatives. The Foundation will require time to develop a comprehensive Miami-Dade County approved Request for Proposal packet, complete the entire competitive process and contract with sub-recipients that will then provide services in communities. Therefore, competition is not practicable to identify an entity to serve as the project administrator due to the urgency to implement preventative and responsive services in communities impacted by gun violence. The agreement with the Foundation will require the County to disburse $8,843,000 to the Foundation in accordance with an agreed payment schedule, of which, the Foundation will receive a project management fee in an amount not to exceed $707,440.00, or 8 percent in total funding, for its services. The balance paid to the Foundation shall be disbursed by the Foundation to third-party not-for-profit organizations for CVI as provided below:

(a) $7,295,560 in our community, via competitive solicitations;

(b) $465,000 in direct funding to organizations engaging residents in violence prevention; and

(c) $375,000 to award 150 youth scholarships.

The Foundation will be responsible for the full management, administration, and disbursement of funds, and the direct oversight of the management, administration, compliance, and implementation of the programs, projects, and initiatives of organizations funded.

In addition, $100,000 is allocated to the Office of Neighborhood Safety (�ONS�), a division of the Community Action and Human Services Department (�CAHSD�), to support violence prevention efforts and events throughout the County.

This memorandum further illustrates the proposed manner in which the $8,943,000 will be managed, administered, and distributed in furtherance of the County�s commitment to community violence intervention and reducing the gun violence that continues to plague our county and nation.

Recommendation
It is recommended that this Board:

(a) Direct and authorize the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to negotiate and develop an agreement with the Foundation for the administration, management, and disbursement of funding to be used for CVI, provided that the agreement incorporates provisions requiring:

(1) the total amount of the agreement not to exceed $8,843,000;

(2) the project management fee not to exceed $707,440 or 8 percent of the funds to be administered;

(3) the total amount of funds disbursed not to exceed $8,135,560;

(4) all funds provided for therein shall be expended no later than September 30, 2025;

(5) up to two, one-year options to renew the agreement, to be exercised at the sole discretion of the County, and extend the term, at no additional cost;

(6) the issuance of competitive solicitations by the Foundation for a total amount of $7,295,560 for (i) community organizations and�grassroots�groups to lead efforts in�the�categories of reentry services, high-risk intervention work, mental health, trauma and wellness services for victims, survivors, family members and communities impacted by gun violence in an amount not to exceed $7,155,560, and (ii) an organization to provide capacity building and training and technical assistance to the community�organization and grassroots groups funded via the above-mentioned competitive solicitation in an amount not to exceed $140,000;

(7) award of grant funding to (i)�The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment (�The Melissa Institute�) in amount not to exceed $65,000 to provide trauma informed care training to credible messengers, natural helpers (people from the neighborhood that others naturally turn to for advice, assistance and support such as a minister or neighbor), high risk interventionists, and (ii) The Children�s Village, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $400,000 to hire natural helpers within communities impacted by gun violence to support youth and families, and for the overall coordination of the 130 organizations that make up the six neighborhood coalitions that are in the Together for Children network with a focus on capacity building, implementing preventative solutions to support youth and families, and further realizing the network�s collective impact model;

(8) development and fiscal administration of the Peace & Prosperity Scholarship Program to provide scholarships for 150 graduating youth in an amount not to exceed $375,000; and

(9) the Foundation to fully manage, disburse, and administer funds and provide direct oversight of the management, administration, compliance, and implementation of the programs, projects, and initiatives of organizations funded.

(b) Approve designated purchase for and authorize the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee, by a two-thirds vote of Board members present and in accordance with section 2-8.1(b)(3) of the Code of Miami-Dade, Florida, to enter into the agreement described in section (a) above with the Foundation.

(c) Authorize the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to execute amendments to such agreement and enforce all provisions contained therein and exercise the options to renew.

(d) Allocate $100,000 to ONS to support violence prevention efforts and events throughout the County.

(e) Allocate $8,943,000 in General Revenue for use during the contract period.

Scope
This item will have countywide impact.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The total fiscal impact from approving this item is $8,943,000 in General Revenue, as approved in the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget as allocated in the Miami-Dade Rescue Plan.

Delegation of Authority
The County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee is delegated the authority to:

(a) negotiate and develop an agreement with the Foundation for the administration, management, and disbursement of funding to be used for CVI, provided that the agreement incorporates provisions requiring:

(1) the amount of the agreement not to exceed $8,843,000;

(2) the project management fee not to exceed $707,440 or 8 percent of the funds to be administered;

(3) the total amount of funds disbursed shall not to exceed $8,135,560;

(4) all funds provided for therein shall be expended no later than September 30, 2025;

(5) up to two, one-year options to renew the agreement, to be exercised at the sole discretion of the County, and extend the term, at no additional cost;

(6) for the Foundation to issue competitive solicitations led by community organizations and�grassroots�groups in a total amount not to exceed $7,295,560 in the following areas:

(i) reentry services;

(ii) high-risk intervention work;

(iii) mental health, trauma and wellness services for victims, survivors, family members and communities impacted by gun violence; and

(iv) an organization to provide capacity building and training and technical assistance to recipients of the community�organization and grassroots groups funded;

(7) award of grant funding to:

(i)�The Melissa Institute in amount not to exceed $65,000 to provide trauma informed care training to credible messengers, natural helpers (people from the neighborhood that others naturally turn to for advice, assistance and support such as a minister or neighbor), high risk interventionists; and

(ii) The Children�s Village, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $400,000 to hire natural helpers within communities impacted by gun violence to support youth and families, and for the overall coordination of the 130 organizations that make up the six neighborhood coalitions that are in the Together for Children network with a focus on capacity building, implementing preventative solutions to support youth and families, and further realizing the network�s collective impact model;

(8) development and fiscal administration of the Peace & Prosperity Scholarship Program to provide scholarships for 150 graduating youth in an amount not to exceed $375,000; and

(9) the Foundation to fully manage, disburse, and administer funds, and provide direct oversight of the management, administration, compliance, and implementation of the programs, projects, and initiatives of organizations funded.

(b) enter into the agreement described above with the Foundation; and

(c) to execute amendments to such agreement and enforce all provisions contained therein and exercise the options to renew.

Track Record/Monitor
Daniel T. Wall, Assistant Director of the Office of Management and Budget., with subject-matter support from Annika S. Holder, Director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety.

Background
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (�CDC�), in 2020 more Americans died of gun-related injuries than in any other year on record, including 19,384 gun-related homicides (making up 79 percent of all homicides nationwide).1 Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens nationally, according to the CDC.2 Thus far, in 2022, the nation has experienced more than 246 mass shootings, further evidencing the need for varied and multidimensional solutions to gun violence.

In the summer of 2021, a collective strategy was implemented to address this crisis locally, the Peace & Prosperity Plan, Miami-Dade Police Department�s (�MDPD�) multi-jurisdictional Operation Community Shield (formerly Operation Summer Heat) effort, and other proven initiatives were key components thereof. Countless lives have been impacted by said efforts set in motion last summer, including our youth program participants, as well as their families and communities.

The County experienced 19 percent fewer gun-related homicides in calendar year 2021 than in the previous year, meaning 45 fewer people died as a result of a gunshot wound last year than in 2020. While the decrease underscores the impact of a multi-pronged strategy, we know that one life lost, scarred, or traumatized by gun violence is one life too many.

In the FY 2021-22 Budget, the Board allocated $8,943,000 in General Revenue to address gun violence through a community centered and led approach, CVI. Everytown for Gun Safety, a national gun violence prevention organization, defines CVI as community-based localized approach to gun violence prevention by identifying those who are at the highest risk and working to reduce violence through targeted intervention strategies.

My Administration is proposing a funding strategy that is competitive, intentional, and casts a wide net to reach all communities in need. The proposed strategy will be administered and managed by the Foundation, which will receive 8 percent or $707,440 of the total $8,843,000 in funding. The Foundation will disburse $7,295,560 in funding through a competitive process and $840,000 in funding through direct allocation and programming. The Foundation will be responsible for the full management, administration, and disbursement of funds, and the direct oversight of the management, administration, compliance, and implementation of the programs, projects, and initiatives of all funded organizations.

Specifically, $7,295,560 will be used to build and strengthen Miami-Dade County�s CVI infrastructure by requesting proposals from community organizations and grassroots groups to lead efforts in the following areas (1) reentry services, (2) high-risk intervention work, (3) mental health, trauma, and wellness, and (4) capacity building and training and technical assistance through a competitive process, as provided below:

* Provide individuals returning to Miami-Dade County from correctional institutions with reentry services such as workforce development, training, and employment services, housing, family reunification, substance abuse treatment, rights restoration, and restorative justice in an amount not to exceed $1,675,000;

* Enhance Miami-Dade County�s community violence intervention infrastructure by funding organizations in an amount not to exceed $1,675,000 to hire, embed and deploy adult credible messengers (mentors who have been previously involved in the criminal justice system), and high-risk interventionists throughout the communities experiencing the highest rate of gun violence and gun-related homicides to help prevent shootings, and intervene and disrupt retaliatory actions by identifying and mediating conflicts;

* Fund mental health and victim outreach services, in an amount not to exceed $1,605,560, to address the widening gap in the current level of service provided to victims and survivors of gun violence and individuals impacted with services that are culturally sensitive, located within their community, administered by individuals and entities with established credibility and community trust, and establishes linkages to wraparound assistance;

* Fund grassroots groups and small neighborhood-based organizations to develop and/or expand programs and initiatives that positively impact the community and its residents, including, but not limited to, efforts addressing food insecurity, urban gardens and education, youth engagement initiatives during nontraditional evening hours, youth experiential opportunities, youth STEM-focused activities, bridging the digital divide, youth sports, health & wellness, youth internship & employment, college and post-secondary prep and guidance, entrepreneurial workshops, and anti-violence programming, in an amount not to exceed $2,200,000; and

* Further invest in the County�s community centered organizations and groups by funding at least one entity, in an amount not to exceed $140,000, to provide capacity-building and training and technical assistance to funded community�organizations and grassroots groups that will position them to seek and be awarded non-County funding including state, federal and philanthropic dollars.

In addition, an allocation in an amount not to exceed $65,000 is proposed to The Melissa Institute to provide trauma informed care training to the credible messengers, natural helpers, high-risk interventions and youth sports coaches and volunteers working in our communities of greatest need and with those individuals involved in incidents of gun violence. The Melissa Institute was established in 1996, one year after the murder of Melissa Aptman, a Miami native, who was murdered in St. Louis. The Melissa Institute honors her memory by working to prevent violence and assist victims through education, community service and research support.

An allocation is also proposed to The Children�s Village, Inc., a member organization of the Together for Children network, in an amount not to exceed $400,000, of which $200,000 will be utilized to hire six natural helpers to support youth and families engaged in programs offered by the organizations that make up the neighborhood coalitions and to organize the groups with a focus on collective impact. The remaining $200,000 will focus on coalition building and the overall administration and coordination of 130 organizations across the Together for Children network to further advance its collective impact model. Together for Children is a neighborhood-driven community coalition of governmental, public, private, and not-for profit entities that organizes through a preventative approach to break the cycle of youth violence in Miami-Dade County.

Furthermore, an investment of $375,000 is proposed to launch the Peace & Prosperity Scholarship Program in which 150 scholarships (75 each year) in the amount of $2,500 will be awarded through a competitive process to youth who are graduating from high school and accepted or enrolled in college or a post-secondary education program. ONS will programmatically manage this initiative while the Foundation will provide fiscal support through the disbursement of the scholarship awards.

Finally, the remaining $100,000 of the total $8,943,000 allocated in the FY 2021-2022 Budget is proposed for ONS to support violence prevention efforts and events throughout the County. These funds will not be managed by the Foundation.

About The Carrie Meek Foundation
The Carrie Meek Foundation, Inc. is a private foundation whose mission is to advance Carrie P. Meek�s vision for civically engaged, well-resourced and resilient communities. The Foundation helps improve the lives of residents in Miami-Dade County and the larger South Florida community through Education, Housing, Health, and Economic Development. Throughout her educational career and her distinguished tenure in state and federal office, Carrie P. Meek faithfully advocated for equity and opportunity for people in marginalized and underserved communities. Committed to taking bold, transformative steps, Congresswoman Meek worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life and create opportunities for all, especially the young, minorities, and the disadvantaged.

__________________________________
Morris Copeland
Chief Community Services Officer