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Committee approves amendment to recovery-network MOA to fund two embedded social workers
Summary
The committee approved a second amendment to an existing memorandum of agreement with Recovery Network Program/Grama Inc to continue funding two full-time social workers embedded with Norwalk Police.
The Norwalk City Public Safety and Governance Committee unanimously approved a second amendment to the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Recovery Network Program/Grama Inc. The amendment, as read from the agenda, covers the period beginning Oct. 19, 2024 through June 30, 2025 and lists the amount as "$209,000.958," to be paid from the account noted in the packet.
Staff said the MOA supports the city—s behavioral health network and funds embedded social workers who respond with police on certain calls and manage noncriminal social-service cases. Deborah (staff) told the committee the city had increased embedded staffing in 2022-23 from one full-time and one part-time social worker to two full-time social workers; the current amendment documents and funds that increase.
Deborah told the committee the social workers handle about 55 to 60 cases per month, conduct field responses and follow-ups, absorb referrals from officers and families, and refer people to state and local services. Committee members praised the program—s community impact and asked for a fuller update at a future meeting.
Committee members voted unanimously to approve the amendment. Staff said funding is already budgeted in the account and that the city will pursue a longer-term amendment to align the contract with the fiscal year so future renewals would be handled through routine budget processes.
