Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton - Executive Director
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Position
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval to update the funding source of seven positions effective June 13, 2026, to support the Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Emerging Diseases.
end
Background and Discussion:
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) is requesting to update the funding source of seven positions from the GY22 Harris Cares Embrace Hope grant (2601) to the General Funds (1000), to ensure the continuity of the wastewater surveillance program throughout the County for the remainder of the fiscal year 2026.
The Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Program enables early detection of emerging diseases to strengthen public health interventions. By combining wastewater data with other surveillance sources, such as clinical and hospital data, the program provides a comprehensive view of community health. The program, operates in partnership with wastewater treatment plants, currently monitors 28 active sites with plans to expand to 50. It tracks over 10 pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, Norovirus, and Measles, with ongoing efforts to broaden surveillance capacity.
Expected Impact:
Updating this position's funding source will allow our agency to work in collaboration to ensure samples are collected, dropped off to laboratory, all sites are visited on time, and potential new partners w...
Click here for full text