RESOLUTION NO. 529
AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF INDIGENT LEGAL SERVICES REGARDING THE SECOND UPSTATE FAMILY DEFENSE (CHILD WELFARE) QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND CASELOAD REDUCTION GRANT
Introduced: 12/5/22
By Social Services Committee:
WHEREAS, Pursuant Article 18-B of County Law, and operating under the direction and policies established by the New York State Indigent Legal Services Board, the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services (ILS) assists county governments in the exercise of their responsibility to provide effective and meaningful representation of persons who are legally entitled to counsel but cannot afford to hire an attorney, and
WHEREAS, The assistance provided by ILS and the ILS Board includes distributing state funds and targeting grants to counties in support of innovative and cost-effective solutions to enhance the quality of indigent legal services, and
WHEREAS, By Resolution No. 371 for 2022, this Honorable Body authorized the submission of a grant application to the ILS regarding the Second Upstate Family Defense (Child Welfare) Quality Improvement and Caseload Reduction Grant in an amount of $750,000 over a three-year period, and
WHEREAS, The Albany County Executive has requested authorization to enter into an agreement with the ILS regarding the Second Upstate Family Defense (Child Welfare) Quality Improvement and Caseload Reduction Grant in the amount of $750,000 for a term commencing February 1, 2023 and ending January 31, 2026, and
WHEREAS, The County Executive has indicated that the grant funding at $250,000 per year for the three-year term, will be utilized to hire an attorney for the Public Defender’s Office, a Social Worker for the Conflict Defender’s Office, and to assist Assigned Counsel’s ability to expand pivotal services to those in need as well as reduce the influx in cases received from Family Court, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature that the County Executive is authorized to enter into an agreement with the ILS regarding the Second Upstate Family Defense (Child Welfare) Quality Improvement and Caseload Reduction Grant in the amount of $750,000 for a term commencing February 1, 2023 and ending January 31, 2026, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the County Attorney is authorized to approve said agreements as to form and content, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the County Legislature is directed to forward certified copies of this resolution to the appropriate County Officials.