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To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and Richmond Behavioral Health Foundation for the purpose of funding a trauma healing response network.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, be and is hereby authorized to execute a Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and Richmond Behavioral Health Foundation for the purpose of funding a trauma healing response network. The Grant Contract shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney and shall be substantially in the form of the document attached to this ordinance.
§ 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
City of Richmond
Intracity Correspondence
O&R Transmittal
DATE: December 22, 2025
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Tanikia Jackson, DCAO for Finance and Administration
THROUGH: Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance
THROUGH: Meghan Brown, Director of Budget and Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Amy Popovich, DCAO for Human Services
FROM: Dominic Barrett, Senior Policy Advisor
RE: To execute a Grant Contract with Richmond Behavioral Health Foundation for the purpose of funding the Trauma Healing Response Network.
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ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and Richmond Behavioral Health Foundation for the purpose of funding the Trauma Healing Response Network.
BACKGROUND: Created in 2021 through a partnership with Richmond City Council, the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD), and the Richmond Behavioral Health Foundation (RBHF), the Trauma Healing Response Network (THRN) engages impacted families in the aftermath of a firearm injury or death through an evidence-based, trauma-informed, and healing-centered approach. The program convenes dozens of community partners providing resources in housing, food access, mental health support, and education to mitigate violence across all community spaces, while providing direct connection to community partners, short-term case management, and long-term resource referrals. RHHD serves as the operating agent for THRN, while RBHF serves as the network’s financial administrator.
In the last quarter of FY25, the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services identified $80,000 to direct toward this partnership. These funds will help bring the City’s total investment during FY26 closer to the FY25 appropriation to the program. The $80,000 of funds that will be used for this grant agreement were encumbered and currently exist in the FY26 DNCS budget for this purpose.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: N/A
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: Resolution No. 2021-R029 declared gun violence as a public health crisis in the city of Richmond. Among many other things, the resolution called for the establishment of “an evidence-based public health response to address the underlying social, economic, and systemic factors that promote gun violence.”
FISCAL IMPACT: This will reduce the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services FY26 General Fund budget by $80,000.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: May 11, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: May 26, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent agenda
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Education and Human Services
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Budget and Strategic Planning, Finance, Neighborhood and Community Services
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: Resolution No. 2021-R029
ATTACHMENTS: AATF Grant Agreement for Richmond Behavioral Health Foundation
STAFF: Dominic Barrett, Senior Policy Advisor, 804-659-4455, Dominic.Barrett@rva.gov