Item:
Title
Approval of Amendment to increase Contract with Durham Children’s Initiative by a total of $61,500 using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding to Administer the DCo Thrives Guaranteed Income Pilot Program
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: December 9, 2024
Request for Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested to approve the amendment to the contract between the County and Durham Children’s Initiative (DCI) for DCI to act as the implementation partner for the DCo Thrives guaranteed income pilot program to provide an additional $61,500 in ARPA funding towards the contract. With this amendment, the contract amount will total $1,652,500 with a period of performance ending September 30, 2025, or 6 months after the final guaranteed income payment, whichever comes later, not to exceed June 30, 2026.
The overall budget approved for DCo Thrives by the Board is $1,690,000 from the County’s ARPA allocation. This overall budgeted amount included a contract with a third-party program administrator, as well as a reserve for additional funding needs related to the DCo Thrives program. Throughout the planning of the pilot program, staff have worked with DCI and other project partners to refine and finalize the scope of needs, and have determined the best use of the funds is to allocate the remaining reserved funds, totaling $61,500, to the program administration contract with DCI in order to carry out the DCo Thrives pilot program successfully and ensure that all ARPA funds budgeted for the program are encumbered by the December 31, 2024 compliance deadline.
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) originally approved the contract for DCI to serve as the program administrator for DCo Thrives on Monday, April 29th, 2024. The pilot program will target low-income families with at least one child under the age of 18 and will distribute $750 per month to 125 families for one year in order to determine the effectiveness of guaranteed income in improving well-being for children and families in Durham.
Accordingly, it is now recommended that the Board approve the amendment to the contract with Durham Children’s Initiative.
Alignment with Strategic Plan: This item aligns with Goal 1, Safe and Resilient Communities, - Objective 1 (Increase equitable opportunities for youth to succeed in Durham), and Healthy and Inclusive Community Objective 2 (Increase equitable outcomes through County operations and services).
Resource Persons: Shannon Trapp, Chief of Staff; Samantha Smith, Special Projects Coordinator; John Keefer, County Grants Administrator
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board approve the amendment to the contract with Durham Children’s Initiative to increase their contract amount to administer the DCo Thrives guaranteed income pilot program, and to authorize the County Manager to execute all documents required to complete the contract amendment.
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________