Education and Human Services Standing Committee
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor - City Hall
Agenda — 65 items
- 1 Committee and Other Council Members In Attendance
- 2 Call to Order
- 2 The Honorable Nicole Jones - Vice Chair The Honorable Andrew Breton - Member
- 3 Chamber Emergency Evacuation Plan Announcement and Public Speaker Guidelines
- 3 Absent
- 4 Public Comment Period
- 4 The Honorable Stephanie Lynch - Chair
- 5 Presentation(s)
- 5 Staff in Attendance
- 6 Shunda Giles, Director of the Department of Social Services, provided the committee with a presentation regarding customer service metrics.
- 6 Kiley Kesecker, Deputy City Clerk Kimberly Morris, Assistant City Clerk Will Perkins, Senior Council Legislative Services Manager Candice Reid, City Clerk Caitlin Weston, Assistant City Attorney
- 7 Department of Social Services Customer Service Metrics
- 8 Discussion Item(s)
- 8 Vice Chair Nicole Jones called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m., and presided.
- 9 Jason Kamras, RPS Superintendent, provided the committee with an update regarding Standards of Learning (SOL) results, reading improvements, multi-lingual reading improvements, and graduation data.
- 10 Amy Popovich, DCAO for Human Services, provided the committee with updates regarding new staff, the Mayo Island celebration, and the ribbon cutting ceremony for Lucks Field Community Center.
- 10 Upon the Chair's request, Assistant City Clerk Kimberly Morris provided information on the appropriate way to evacuate the Council Chamber in an emergency along with public speaker guidelines.
- 11 Paper(s) for Consideration
- 1. To approve of the City’s participation in the proposed settlement of opioid-related claims against Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma, Indivior, Mylan, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Zydus, and Sandoz, and their related corporate entities, and to direct the City Attorney to execute the documents necessary to effectuate the City’s participation in the settlements, including the required release of claims against the settling entities.
- 12 There were no public comment speakers.
- 2. To approve of the City’s participation in the proposed settlement of opioid-related claims against Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Parties, and their related corporate entities, and to direct the City Attorney to execute the documents necessary to effectuate the City’s participation in the settlements, including the required release of claims against the settling entities.
- 13 page break
- 3. To approve the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority’s performance contract for Fiscal Year 2026 and Fiscal Year 2027.
- 15 Board Vacancies
- 15 Customer Service Metrics
- 16 There were no board vacancies.
- 17 Approval of Minutes
- 18 July 10, 2025 - Education & Human Services Standing Committee Meeting Minutes
- 18 A copy of the material provided has been filed.
- 19 Staff Report
- 19 Vice Chair Nicole Jones asked how the Department of Social Services (DSS) Trauma Informed Community Team was positioned externally.
- 20 Ms. Giles stated leaders and staff work in partnership with the Greater Richmond Informed Care team to assist with processes and programs, including, license clinical social work programs, resilience rooms, showers and laundry facilities, meetings and virtual check-ins, grief counseling, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority partnerships and trauma training for staff.
- 20 September 11, 2025 - Education and Human Services Staff Report
- 22 Vice Chair Jones asked if DSS was working with the Richmond Public Schools (RPS) Center for Families in Transition (C-Fit) program.
- 23 Ms.Giles stated DSS was partnered with RPS as well as medical facilities.
- 24 Member Andrew Breton asked what the comparison was between the $900,000,000 and $16,000,000 ratio invested in families.
- 25 Ms. Giles stated it was the money that flows through the program, such as Medicaid and foster care, and each dollar that was tracked and spent by clients.
- 26 Member Breton asked what the city's portion of rent was for the Times Dispatch Building after subsidy, and if the ratio was ongoing.
- 27 Ms. Giles stated the annual rent is $3,200,000, and 84.5% is reimbursable by the Virginia Department of Social Services. She also stated they were intentional about choosing a location to rent versus a city-owned building.
- 28 Member Breton asked if Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) theft was still occurring.
- 29 Ms. Giles stated SNAP theft was still occurring, however, participants can now activate cards during usage and deactivate them when not in use.
- 31 Richmond Public Schools (RPS) Updates
- 33 Member Andrew Breton asked if there were any updates or plans for preparing students for job readiness.
- 34 Superintendent Kamras stated the feasibility plan would be available in October regarding cost and construction needs for the Southside Technical Center. He also stated initial concept plans were being explored.
- 35 Update from the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Human Services
- 38 The following resolutions were considered:
- 41 Anna Jones, Opioid Response Strategist for Neighborhood and Community Services, provided the committee with an introduction to RES. 2025-R036 and RES. 2025-R037.
- 42 Public Hearing
- 43 There were no public hearing speakers.
- 44 There were no comments or discussions and Member Andrew Breton moved to forward RES. 2025-R036 and RES. 2025-R037 to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 45 The following resolution was considered:
- 47 Christi Zedd, Chief Executive Officer of the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA), provided the committee with an overview of the RBHA annual performance contract between RBHA and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
- 48 Public Hearing
- 49 There were no public hearing speakers.
- 50 Member Andrew Breton asked if the RBHA contract is for two years, and if the $6,130,000.00 will remain the same annually.
- 51 Ms. Zedd stated that it was a two year contract, however, it was presented to Council annually. She also stated the $6,130,000.00 would remain the same.
- 52 Member Breton asked if RBHA only serves Richmond residents.
- 53 Ms. Zedd stated RBHA serves all Richmond residents, but provides some crisis services regionally.
- 54 Member Breton asked what oversight the city had over RBHA, and what would the relationship look like.
- 55 Ms. Zedd stated RBHA's board is appointed by City Council, and they work closely with City Administration as part of the Human Services portfolio.
- 56 There were no further comments or discussions and Member Andrew Breton moved to forward RES. 2025-R038 to Council with a recommendation to approve, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
- 60 There were no amendments or corrections to the meeting minutes of July 10, 2025, and the committee approved the minutes as presented.
- 63 Council staff provided the committee with the September Education and Human Services Standing Committee staff report.
- 64 Adjournment
- 65 There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:09 p.m.