Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Grant topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff asks county to support application for federal COSSUP grant to expand reentry services
Summary
The sheriff sked the board for a letter of support to apply for a three-year federal COSSUP grant that would fund peer-support staff, a data analyst and a leased facility for post-incarceration services; the board authorized staff to file the application and provide the support letter.
The Davidson County Sheriff sked commissioners on May 11 to authorize a county letter of support so the sheriff's office could apply for a federal COSSUP grant intended to expand reentry services for people released from jail.
Major Louie described the grant as a three-year, 50/50 opportunity that would fund peer-support staff, some support personnel, reporting requirements including a data analyst, and lease costs for a facility. Major Louie said the county's share would likely come from opioid-settlement funds rather than local general revenue. "What we're buying... is basically our part of the money would go towards some peer support staff, some other support staff," Major Louie told the board.
Commissioners moved and approved a motion to authorize staff to submit the application and to provide the necessary letter of support before the deadline; staff said the application must be filed immediately and that the grant start date is projected in staff materials as June 1 with award decisions possibly coming in August. Sharon Pope, who staff identified as the lead grant writer, was present and described prior grant work that the county has leveraged.
Why it matters: If funded, the program would add staff capacity for post-incarceration housing and support and could be paired with opioid-settlement funds to expand services; the county tested similar programs with earlier grant awards, county officials said.
Next steps: Staff will submit the application and provide the requested letter of support; the board did not adopt any budget commitment beyond using opioid-settlement funds as the likely matching source if the award is made.
