Item:
Title
Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC078 Cooperative Extension to Recognize a $600,000 Grant Award from the North Carolina Division of Social Services (NCDSS) for the Welcome Baby Program for Family Support Program Services and Establish a .65 FTE position.
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: April 13, 2026
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC078 Cooperative Extension to Recognize a $600,000 Grant Award from the North Carolina Division of Social Services (NCDSS) for the Welcome Baby Program for Family Support Program Services and establish a .65 FTE Parent Educator position.
The grant will enable Welcome Baby to offer support services and enhance parenting skills for Durham families. The grant will be administered on a yearly basis at $150,000 per fiscal year for four years, totaling $600,000, beginning with FY 2026-2027 and ending with FY 2029-2030. The Grant begins on July 1, 2026, and ends on June 30, 2030.
As a result of the funds from NCDSS, Welcome Baby will offer Incredible Years School Age for families with children 6-12 years, and Circle of Parents Program for families with children up to 17 years through Cooperative Extension’s Welcome Baby program through June 2030. This will allow Welcome Baby to better support families who have come to Welcome Baby for their children ages 0-5 and have children of other ages, allowing the program to offer more comprehensive parenting support to the entire family. The grant award is intended “to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect by promoting protective factors that strengthen and support families.” The work will be supported by existing staff along with the creation of an additional .65 FTE Parent Educator position.
Welcome Baby Resource Program is an award-winning family support program with nearly 40 years of experience serving Durham Families with newborns through the age of five. Each year the program serves over 1500 families and over 3000 children. The grant offers an opportunity to grow services for families with children up to seventeen years old. The grant implementation includes providing Incredible Years School Age and Circle of Parents support groups in English and Spanish. IY School Age Basic strengthens parent-child interactions and attachment. Parents learn how to monitor children after school, set rules regarding screen time, partner with teachers to promote children’s academic, social and emotional skills. Circle of Parents® provides a friendly, supportive environment facilitated by trained facilitators, but led by parents and other caregivers Circle of Parents® provides a space where anyone in a parenting role can openly discuss the successes and challenges of raising children and where they can find and share support.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: The grant aligns with Durham County’s strategic focus areas of Empowered Community, Safe & Resilient Community, and Healthy & Inclusive community.
Resource Persons: Donna Rewalt, County Extension Director; Patience Mukelabai Welcome Baby Program Coordinator
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 26BCC078 Cooperative Extension to Recognize a $600,000 Grant Award from the North Carolina Division of Social Services (NCDSS) for the Welcome Baby Program for Family Support Program Services and establish a .65 FTE Parent Educator position.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________