Resolution 080139

..Title Authorizing the Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings to investigate the City funding and operational changes of Philadelphia Safe and Sound and its impact on the delivery of social services in Philadelphia. ..Body WHEREAS, Philadelphia Safe and Sound ("PSS") is a non-profit organization that promotes the health, safety, and well-being of children and youth through research, technology, program management, and advocacy and has a vision to create healthy, supportive, safe, and vibrant communities where all children have equal access to opportunities to experiment, learn, grown, and succeed; and WHEREAS, And to support this mission and vision, the City's no-bid contract with PSS has increased from $34 million in FY'06 to $53 million in FY'07; and WHEREAS, The prior Mayoral Administration requested City Council to approve a $20 million increase to the PSS contract for FY'08, which was not included in the City's five year plan and yet the City issued this now $75 million, no-bid contract to PSS in July 2007 without funding authorization from Council; and WHEREAS, And under the assumption that the $20 million increase would be approved, PSS increased operational expenses and made grant awards to various social service providers in the areas of truancy and afterschool and parenting programs; and WHEREAS, On February 1, 2008, PSS issued letters to various social service providers stating that they had "just received confirmation" from the City that the $20 million increase was never officially appropriated and that the affected providers would have their funding eliminated or significantly reduced as of March 1, 2008; and WHEREAS, And as Philadelphia's principal oversight body, City Council has a duty to investigate the total scope and nature of this issue and review how PSS, one of the City's largest no-bid contractors and a major financial provider of numerous social service programs that impact thousands of children in Philadelphia, has determined how funding to providers will be reduced or eliminated and what operational changes have been proposed; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Public Health and Human Services is authorized to hold hearings to investigate the City funding and operational changes of Philadelphia Safe and Sound and its impact on the delivery of social services in Philadelphia. FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Committee on Public Health and Human Services is authorized to issue subpoenas as may be necessary to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under Section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter. ..End