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Commissioner Shehan - Financial and Management Services - Finance - To Accept and Appropriate State Grant Funds from the North Carolina Division for Women & Youth for the Cathy Mabry Cloninger Center's Domestic Violence Program (Domestic Violence Funds - $58,756.71 with a 20% County Match of $11,751.34; Divorce Filing Fees - $19,000; Marriage License Fees - $18,500)
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STAFF CONTACT
Kyle Sutherland - Financial & Management Services - Finance - 704-866-3130
BUDGET IMPACT
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General Fund:
Increase state grant revenues by $96,256.71.
Increase grant personnel expenses by $77,256.71 and grant operating expenses by $19,000.00.
The Domestic Violence Funds grant requires a 20% County match of $11,751.34. The required match will be provided through eligible retirement and health insurance fringe costs associated with the shelter's Social Worker III position.
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BACKGROUND
The North Carolina Division for Women & Youth (DFW&Y), an advocacy division within the North Carolina Department of Administration (DOA) is the state’s leading voice on key issues impacting women provides funding, consultation, and technical assistance to agencies across North Carolina that provide services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and family violence. DFW&Y administers state and federal funding that supports programs designed to provide crisis intervention, shelter, advocacy, and other essential services to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and related forms of violence.
DFW&Y provides grant funding to qualifying NC agencies that provide domestic violence, sexual assault, or family violence prevention and services through several funding sources, including the State Domestic Violence Center Fund, the State Sexual Assault and Rape Crisis Center Fund, and the federal Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA). Funding is intended to support essential services for victims and survivors, including crisis hotline services, transportation assistance, community education, daytime services, and after-hours call forwarding. The funding is used to support allowable program expenses and direct services that assist victims and survivors of domestic violence.to help ensure that individuals experiencing domestic violence have access to immediate assistance, safety planning, shelter, advocacy, and other supportive resources.
This award represents Year 2 of the biennium funding for the Domestic Violence Center grant, with a period of performance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The biennial funding provides continued financial support for eligible domestic violence services and allows Gaston County to maintain essential program operations and services throughout the grant period.
The State Domestic Violence Center Fund includes revenue generated through Marriage License Fees (MLF) and Divorce Filing Fees (DFF) collected through the North Carolina court system. These revenues are distributed quarterly to eligible recipients that receive funding through the Domestic Violence Center Fund. The funding is used to support allowable program expenses and direct services that assist victims and survivors of domestic violence.
DFW&Y has awarded Gaston County funding from the Domestic Violence Center Fund to support the operation of the County’s Cathy Mabry Cloninger Center domestic violence program and shelter. The funding provides support for personnel costs as well as direct client services and essential crisis response services.
The Domestic Violence funding will support approximately 84% of the shelter's Social Worker III salary. The Social Worker III provides direct services and support to shelter residents and assists clients with accessing resources and services necessary to address their immediate safety and longer-term needs.
Divorce Filing Fee (DFF) funding will be used to address direct client needs and provide services and assistance to individuals and families receiving services through the domestic violence program. Allowable expenditures include dental and vision needs, job placement assistance, prescription assistance, food for shelter meals, and emergency food assistance. These funds help address immediate barriers that may affect a client's ability to obtain safety, maintain stability, and transition from shelter to more permanent living arrangements.
Marriage License Fee (MLF) funding will support three part-time Shelter Relief Operators who provide coverage for the shelter's 24-hour, seven-day-a-week crisis line. Maintaining continuous crisis line coverage ensures that individuals experiencing a domestic violence crisis can access assistance, information, safety planning, and referrals to appropriate services at any time, including outside of regular business hours.
The grant funding will allow the Cathy Mabry Cloninger Center to continue providing these critical services to victims and survivors of domestic violence while supporting the ongoing operation and availability of the County's domestic violence shelter and crisis response program. As Year 2 of the biennium award, the funding provides continued support for these services and helps ensure continuity of essential resources for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
Budget Change Request (BCR), FY26-27 Budgets, FY26-27 Agreement