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A resolution amending Resolution RS2022-1560 to include Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition’s revised scope of services.
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WHEREAS, RS2022-1560 approved the appropriation of $1,820,585.00 from the Covid-19 American Rescue Plan Fund #30216 to the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (“TIRRC”), a statewide, immigrant and refugee-led collaboration, for a two-year pilot program to provide essential services to keep families united and increase access to opportunities; scale TIRRC’s staff and program capacity; promote community education and legal services; and invest in the Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (“the TNJFON”) staff and program capacity; and,
WHEREAS, TIRRC’s staff has determined that the scope of services originally envisioned need to be scaled back, in order to provide intensive legal services to fewer clients eligible for naturalization throughout the life of a case, as further described in the attached Exhibit A-1, Expanding Critical Immigration Legal Services in Davidson County; and,
WHEREAS, it is to the benefit of the citizens of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County that this resolution be approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. The Metropolitan Council accepts this resolution as a recommendation of the COVID-19 Financial Oversight Committee.
Section 2. That Resolution RS2022-1560 is hereby amended by adding Exhibit A-1, Expanding Critical Immigration Legal Services in Davidson County. Exhibit A to Resolution RS2022-1560 shall remain in effect to the extent that it does not conflict with Exhibit A-1.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of the public requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This resolution amends Resolution No. RS2022-1560, which appropriated $1,820,585 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funds to expand critical immigration legal services in Davidson County. Funds were given to the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (“TIRRC”) and Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (“TNJFON”).
TIRRC staff has determined that the scope of services originally envisioned needs to be scaled back in order to provide intensive legal services to fewer clients eligible for naturalization throughout the life of a case.
The number of clients to be served through consultations and screenings would be reduced from 1200 to 600. The approach to training and engaging volunteers would be amended from assisting six to ten volunteers to apply for and receive DOJ accreditation to two to three volunteers. The original plan included training 10-20 volunteers monthly in year two and hosting a 40-hour COIL training in years 1 and 2. Instead, TIRRC will not seek to train volunteers monthly and will forgo the COIL training in year 2. Finally, TIRRC initial estimated that it would host 30 “Know Your Rights” sessions per year, for a total of 60 sessions. Under the revised plan, TIRRC estimates it will host a total of 30 total “Know Your Rights” sessions over the grant year.