TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Application to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Fiscal Year 2025 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Implementation Projects in the Amount of $68,000, and Authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to Execute all Funding Documents After Legal Review, Should the Grant be Awarded to the City.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Approve the Application to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Fiscal Year 2025 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Implementation Projects in the Amount of $68,000, and Authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to Execute all Funding Documents After Legal Review, Should the Grant be Awarded to the City, allowing for the project to proceed on schedule should the City be awarded the Grant.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Approve the Application to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Fiscal Year 2025 LEMHWA Implementation Projects in the amount of $68,000, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents fter legal review, should the Grant be awarded to the City, allowing for the project to proceed on schedule should the City be awarded the Grant.
• Pros: This Agreement will allow for North Port Police Department (NPPD) to better support law enforcement Officers and their families in accessing culturally competent mental health care during critical times of need which is instrumental in providing a safe community for the citizens.
• Cons: There are no foreseeable cons to approving this Agreement.
Option 2: Deny the Application to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Fiscal Year 2025 LEMHWA Implementation Projects in the amount of $68,000, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents fter legal review, should the Grant be awarded to the City, allowing for the project to proceed on schedule should the City be awarded the Grant.
• Pros: There are no foreseeable pros to denying this Agreement.
• Cons: The NPPD would not be able to fund this project, which could limit support services for law enforcement Officers and their families during critical times of need.
Background Information
LEMHWA funds are used to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement Officers through the implementation of peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other promising practices of wellness programs.
To be effective in keeping our community safe from crime and violence, good mental and psychological health is just as essential as good physical health for law enforcement Officers. The LEMHWA Program supports efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of law enforcement officers and deputies. Unfortunately, the stress of officers’ work and the stigma often associated with seeking assistance for emotional and mental health issues have led to negative consequences such as divorce, alcoholism, injury, and even an increase in suicides among officers across the country. The LEMHWA Implementation Projects aim to support state, local, tribal, or territorial law enforcement agencies seeking to implement new or to enhance existing programs that offer training and services on Officer emotional and mental health, peer mentoring, suicide prevention, stress reduction, and support services for officers and their families.
This project includes the purchase of a mobile mental health and wellness application that provides access to comprehensive resources that utilize best practices to support the overall mental and physical health of NPPD Officers. The mobile application will engage Officers, provide access to culturally competent mental health providers local to our area, and allow for continuous education to better equip them emotionally and physically.Grant funding will be used to purchase a mobile wellness application for use by officers and their family members, to cover recurring training for program administrators, and to provide continuous education to better equip the NPPD using a holistic approach.
Notification of award is expected in the fall of 2025. Matching funds are not required. This is a reimbursable grant, meaning the City will spend first and then request reimbursement from the granting agency.
If awarded, the Interim City Attorney will review the Grant Contract to ensure it is legally correct as to form.
Strategic Plan Pillar
Safe Community
Financial Impact
Potential award of $68,000 to be utilized to fund North Port Police Wellness and Resiliency Program associated activities as specified above and in the grant application.
If awarded, the wellness application will require an ongoing financial commitment after the grant period ends. The annual cost is estimated to be $26,000 and will be budgeted in account number 001-2100-521.54-00.
Revenue Account
001-0000-331.20-00 - Federal Grants / Federal - Public Safety
Expenditure Accounts
001-2100-521.40-00 - Travel and Per Diem
001-2100-521.55-00 - Training and Education
001-2100-521.54-00 - Subscriptions
Procurement
The City’s Procurement Code, policies and procedures will be followed.
Attachments:
1. Grant Application
Prepared by: Jennifer Sadonis, Grants Coordinator
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager