Focus Area: Quality of Life
Staff Contact: Mike Sirna and Emily Diehl
Subject: Consideration of the 2025 Human Service Fund Allocation Recommendations.
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title:
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Consideration of the 2025 Human Service Fund Allocation Recommendations.
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Summary:
United Community Services (UCS) of Johnson County acts as an advisor to the City of Olathe and other local governments on the expenditure of Human Service Funds. Human Service Funds support non-profit agencies that operate human service safety net programs. The human service safety net cares for and protects the vulnerable and provides pathways and opportunities for building a health community where every resident is empowered to reach their full potential. Providing this support helps defer or reduce costs which would otherwise be incurred by city and county governments.
2025 Funding Priorities:
Health and human service programs funded by the Human Service Fund must:
1) promote self-sufficiency, well-being and/or personal safety of Johnson County residents and fit within safety net investment components of basic needs, education/training, work, and income supports, or health.
2) offer county-wide services or fill a gap which results in county-wide benefit.
3) offer equal access to all clients and prospective clients who could benefit from the program.
4) deliver measurable outcomes which benefit county residents and, in the long-term, benefit local governments by avoiding, deferring, or preventing costs that otherwise might be incurred by local government.
Priority is given to programs that:
1) address emergency aid and shelter, adequate housing, child/adult abuse, child welfare, health and mental health, work support services such as transportation, childcare and early childhood development, and job training.
2) serve individuals and/or families with income below or near the federal poverty level.
3) demonstrate innovation and/or collaboration in program delivery.
4) are consistent with an evidence-based program, best practices, or promising practices, or replicate a successful model.
5) build the capacity of neighborhoods and local jurisdictions to support equity in the social determinants of health.
Johnson County government and fourteen (14) cities within the county have contributed funds totaling $473,140 to assist local families. The City of Olathe’s contribution for 2025 is $77,000.
In 2025, the United Community Services Board is recommending funding of twenty non-profit agencies at outlined in the 2025 Human Service Funding Recommendation Report (attachment A). Included in the twenty programs are two new programs being funded through the new Small Grants Program, which provides grants of less than $5,000 for new, growing, and grassroots organizations working to build their footprint and grant capacity.
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Financial Impact:
Funds contributed from the City of Olathe in the amount of $77,000 are leveraged with funds from other cities and Johnson County totaling $473,140. This funding is included in the 2025 budget.
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Action Needed:
Approval of the 2025 Human Service Fund Allocation Recommendations.
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Attachment(s):
A: 2025 HSF Recommendation Report