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: Grant - Award
Project ID (if applicable): FY26_FP
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Health and Human Services Commission
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): 5%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Rate is not 0% and is listed above.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Public Health Services for approval to accept from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission grant funds in the amount of $2,069,630, with no required match, for the Women’s Health Family Planning Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Women's Health Family Program builds on its efforts, seeking new grant funds to strengthen clinic capacity, enhance outreach, and provide essential services that were previously underfunded or disrupted. Past challenges-such as fragmented care delivery and insufficient resources for community-based providers-have underscored the need for sustained investment in comprehensive women’s health services. Approval of this item would reaffirm the County’s commitment to equity and public health in the face of shifting legal and policy landscapes.
Expected Impact:
Approval of new grant funds for the Women’s Health Family Program will allow Harris County to expand maternal and infant health services, particularly in underserved areas, by increasing staffing for case management, behavioral health, and care coordination. This staffing boost will improve service delivery efficiency, reduce wait times, and enhance outreach, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for mothers and babies. By investing in preventative care and early intervention, the County can reduce long-term healthcare costs associated with complications from inadequate prenatal and postpartum care. These efforts align with strategic goals around health equity and community resilience and directly address performance metrics such as reduced preterm births and improved access to reproductive health services. The program’s expansion also supports the County’s Maternal Health Bill of Rights, reinforcing its commitment to comprehensive, rights-based care.
Alternative Options:
Alternative strategies could include:
Strengthening Partnerships with Community Organizations: Collaborating with local non-profits, faith-based groups, and community health centers to leverage existing resources and expand outreach efforts without solely relying on new grant funding. Telehealth Expansion: Investing in telehealth infrastructure to increase access to reproductive and maternal health services, particularly for residents in remote or underserved areas.
Mobile Health Clinics: Deploying mobile clinics to deliver essential screenings, contraception, and prenatal care directly to communities with limited access to traditional healthcare facilities. Public Health Education Campaigns: Launching targeted education initiatives to raise awareness about available services, preventative care, and reproductive health rights, empowering individuals to make informed decisions.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 4. Improve physical and mental health outcomes across all communities.
County Strategic Plan Objective: O: Increase access to quality health care, including preventive and behavioral health.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): O1: Coordinate health organizations to improve access and care.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: N/A
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
12/10/24 |
275 |
Grant contract renewal and positions extension |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Clinical Health Services |
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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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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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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: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
5 |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$71,044 |
$11,741 |
$82,785 |
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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: 10/16/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 10/16/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Ericka Brown, MD, MBA, FACHE-Community Health & Wellness Division Director, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): Agreement, Signature Page & Court Order