MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDINGR C S 4 **
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RCS Food Sank 503 South Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. ! Clearwater, FL 33756
RCS Grace House (727) 584-3528 • Fax (727) 587-7747
RCS Thrift Store www.RCSpinellas.org
The Haven of RCS C(DPY
Memorandum of Understanding
WHEREAS, The Haven of RCS, R'Club Child Care, Inc., Clearwater Police Department,
Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless, Hispanic Outreach Center, and Gulfconst
Legal Services have come together to collaborate and to make an application for the OVW
Recovery Act Transitional Housing Assistance Grant for Victims of Domestic Violence,
Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault; and
WHEREAS, the partners listed below have agreed to enter into a collaborative agreement in
which The Haven of RCS will be the lead agency and named applicant and the other agencies
will be partners in this application; and
WHEREAS, the partners herein desire to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding setting
forth the services to be provided by the collaborative; and
WHEREAS, the application prepared and approved by the collaborative through its partners is to
be submitted to the Office on Violence Against Women on or before April 8, 2009;
P Description of Partner Agencies and History of Relationship
4• R'Club Child Care, Inc, operates in Pinellas County and provides quality early learning
and development programs that strengthen children, families and communities, with a
focus on Respect, Responsibility, Resourcefulness and Responsiveness. W Club was
established in 1976. Partnership has been fostered through joint involvement with the
Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County. R'Club has consulted with the Haven of RCS
in planning the Child Development Center.
d• Clearwater Police Department assists The Haven of RCS with safety and security
issues. Officers will drive by frequently if there has been a reported problem as well as
general patrolling. CPD has had a strong partnership with The Haven of RCS since the
organization's inception in 1981.
? Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless became a partner with The Haven of RCS
by coordinating the Pinellas County services for the homeless and by providing bus
tokens and bus passes to assist participants with transportation. As the lead agency of the
Pinellas County Continuum of Care the coalition also assists The Haven of RCS with its
HUD application. The joint partnership has existed since the inception of PCCH in 1984.
Memorandum of Understanding, RCS Child Development Center Page 1 of 5
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HILDRItE N
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:• Hispanic Outreach Center was created in 2001 and since that time the Hispanic
Outreach Center's Victim Advocates have provided bilingual services for victims in
Clearwater. HOC has worked closely with the staff of The Haven of RCS and other
programs to help Spanish-speaking victims of domestic violence obtain the services they
need. The collaboration has grown from making referrals to what it is now. The Haven
of RCS provides training for HOC staff in domestic violence. Last spring, HOC staff put
on a very successful 8 week parenting class for more than 12 women in the support group
at The Haven of RCS.
? Gulfcoast Legal Services has worked closely with The Haven of RCS to assist
participants with issues concerning divorce, custody, injunctions for protection and filing
for self petition for immigrant women. GLS can provide referrals to the Child
Development Center for age appropriate children while the parents are receiving legal
assistance.
II) Development of Application
This application was developed with the mutual understanding that accessible and affordable
childcare is a significant barrier to victims of domestic violence reaching self-sufficiency. Lack
of childcare hampers the ability of a victim of domestic violence to seek and maintain
employment. Additionally, lack of affordable childcare causes financial strain on a victim that
prevents them from having the income to afford independent family housing, provide enough
food for their family, or reaching goals such as completing high school or obtaining a college
degree.
1. R'Club Child Care, Inc. has provided advice and consultation regarding childcare
regulations, costs, and opportunities for funding.
2. Clearwater Police Department continues to provide safety and services for victims of
domestic violence and their services are vital to the establishment of a safe and secure Child
Development Center.
3. Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless has assisted in identifying the need for adequate
and affordable childcare and continues to be a champion of wraparound services for homeless
persons including victims of domestic violence.
4. Hispanic Outreach. Center has identified the need for adequate, safe, and affordable
childcare for Spanish speaking survivors of domestic violence.
5. Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc. has assisted in identification of the need for childcare services
while mothers are filing self petitions, divorce, child custody and injunctions for protection.
Memorandum of Understanding, RCS Child Development Center Page 2 of 5
III) Roles and Responsibilities
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed by and between the partners as follows:
Goals and Obiectives:
The overall goals of The Haven of RCS Transitional Living Program are:
1) Residential stability 2) Increased skills or income 3) Greater self-determination.
The goals of the proposed Child Development Center project are:
1) To remove barriers to seeking and securing housing for those fleeing domestic violence by
providing child care services and
2) To create sustainable economic opportunity to those fleeing domestic violence by providing
childcare worker job training resulting in state recognized certification
Resources Contributed by Partners:
The resources each partner will contribute to the project, either through time, in-kind
contributions, or grant funds are:
1. R'Club Child Care Inc. will provide advice and consultation regarding childcare including
assisting the program in meeting quality childcare standards that meet or exceed State
regulations. R'Club is the proposed independent contractor providing various staffing services
funded through this application.
2. Clearwater Police Department will provide security either through responding to calls or
patrolling the area. CPD will continue to escort victims fleeing domestic violence to The Haven
of RCS.
3. Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless will foster collaboration between homeless
service providers in Pinellas County including providers of services to victims of domestic
violence.
4. Hispanic Outreach Center will provide language assistance to Spanish speaking victims as
well as refer appropriate persons for assistance from The Haven of RCS.
5. Gulfcoast Legal Services, Inc. will provide legal assistance in filing self petitions, divorce,
child custody and injunctions for protection and appropriate referrals to the Child Development
Center when victims need such assistance.
Il) Timeline
Memorandum of Understanding, RCS Child Development Center Page 3 of 5
The roles and responsibilities described above are contingent on The Haven of RCS receiving
funds requested for the project described in the OVW grant application. Responsibilities under
this Memorandum of Understanding would coincide with the grant period, anticipated to be
07/01/2009 through 09/30/2012.
P) Terms of the Agreement
This Memorandum of Understanding will remain in effect until all parties agree in writing to
rescind it. If any party is in disagreement after the agreement is adopted, said parry shall notify
The Haven of RCS as lead agency in writing. If the disagreement cannot be resolved the party
may give thirty (30) day notice of their desire to terminate their participation in the agreement.
This agreement will be reviewed at least annually and updated, as needed.
VI) Commitment to Partnership
1) The collaboration service area includes Northern Pinellas County from Ulmerton Road
north to the county line.
2) The partners agree to collaborate in support of the RCS Child Development Center so that
persons fleeing domestic violence will have accessible and affordable child care so they may
have greater opportunity of obtaining various economic opportunities.
3) Compensation for non-lead partners' contribution to this project will be provided as outlined
in the attached OVW budget detail worksheet.
4) We, the undersigned have read and agree with this MOU. Further, we have reviewed the
proposed project and approve it.
Memorandum of Understanding, RCS Child Development Center Page 4 of 5
VII) Signatures:
M. Duggan Cooley, President/CEO
Re' 'ous C unity Services, Inc.
Art O'Hara, Exec ve Director
'Club Child Care, Inc.
V..1
wey Wil S, Deputy Chief of Police
Clearw r Police Department
Sarah nyder, Ex cutive Director
Pi el as County Ca 't7 for the Homeless
Sandra Lyth, Director
Hispanic Outreach Cen er
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Jo* ,#. Cunningham, Esq., Execu 'v Director
Gul coast Legal Services, Inc.
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