Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton ─ Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Position
Project ID (if applicable): 100001000001060
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Public Health Services for approval to transfer one position from the General Fund to the Harris Cares Embrace HOPE grant effective October 18, 2025.
end
Background and Discussion:
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) created and operationalized an integrated call center for HCPH services provided to the Harris County community. The call center enhanced the scalability of the Disease Information Helpline (DIHL) program to accommodate the addition of new HCPH-wide services while ensuring efficient operations including incorporating a digital chat function. The DIHL program allows for continuous collaboration with the HIV/STD clinic to provide scheduling support, call screening support for Immunization Program to begin, and continued scheduling support for CHW for Health and Wellness and Eligibility. The Disease Information Helpline strengthens the community’s ability to manage health challenges and promotes a proactive approach to public wellness. Disease Information Helpline agents responded to 19,395 calls providing critical support and information to the community from January to December 2024.
Expected Impact:
Funding in which the current position is funded is expected to expire on 09/30/2025 and will not be included on the new FY26 budget. This action will therefore leave a gap in funding to support the work and workforce duties this position provides. The Call Center Supervisor provides support to the call center for HCPH and directly to the Call Center team housed within the Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Emerging Diseases. The call center connects the community with multilingual disease guidance, vaccination and testing appointments (including for COVID-19 and other conditions), and clinic appointments for treatment. This position works closely with the Call Center Manager to oversee strategic direction of the call center while serving as a vital link between community members and essential health and social service resources. The Supervisor will ensure accurate and timely health education, updates and information is shared with call center agents so they are prepared/equipped for guiding individuals through public health and social service systems, ensuring timely access to necessary health resources, and supporting them in overcoming barriers to achieve coordinated care.
Alternative Options:
There is no alternative option.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: Choose an item.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):
Economy Initiative (Goal 3):
Health Initiative (Goal 4):
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5):
Housing Initiative (Goal 6):
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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N/A |
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Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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|
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (To be filled out by Grants staff only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Personnel(Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: October 16, 2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): October 18, 2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Jennifer Kiger, Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance, and Emerging Diseases Director, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): 3441 Form