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File #: 25-2414    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Grant Status: Passed
File created: 4/4/2025 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 4/16/2025 Final action: 4/16/2025
Title: Request by Harris County Resources for Children & Adults for approval to accept from the Department of Health and Human Services/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) carry-over grant funds in the amount of $299,770, with no required match, for the FY25 AWARE Harris Project.

Primary Department: Harris County Resources for Children and Adults

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Joel Levine, 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): AWARE_GY25

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):) Department of Health and Human Services

 

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): 4.25%

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 Harris County Resources for Children & Adults for approval to accept from the Department of Health and Human Services/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) carry-over grant funds in the amount of $299,770, with no required match, for the FY25 AWARE Harris Project.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) funding was initially created as a response to Sandy Hook school shooting as part of Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative. Initially, funding was designed for educational agencies, but in 2021 funders confirmed the need for social services involvement and opened it up to all social service agencies.  This project is a collaboration among HCRCA, Texas Education Agency, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Region 4 Educational Service Center, the Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD (local mental health authority), Channelview ISD, Sheldon ISD, Spring ISD (local education agencies). The purpose is to develop a sustainable infrastructure for school-based mental health programs and services for school-aged youth in grades K-12 in Harris County, Texas.  Community Youth Services, a program of Harris County Resources for Children & Adults is proposing the development of a tiered prevention, intervention and treatment program, which includes universal prevention and mental health promotion, brief intervention services as well as tertiary intervention and behavioral health treatment, based on the needs of school aged children and youth. The implementation of such a program would further enhance the work of Community Youth Services in the designated districts.

 

Expected Impact:

As a result of this funding opportunity and the many collaborative affiliations that will be developed, we will to able to develop a sustainable infrastructure for these school districts where all students have adequate access to behavioral and mental health resources.  With this support, it is expected that there will be an increase in mental health awareness and literacy, trauma informed and culturally inclusive evidence-based practices, school based, coordinated and accessible mental and behavioral health services which will ultimately lead to increased attendance and school engagement, and decreased disciplinary referrals and actions.

 

Alternative Options:

There are currently no alternatives to this funding source.

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  4. Improve physical and mental health outcomes across all communities.

County Strategic Plan Objective: P: Improve children’s health outcomes.

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):  B3: Increase school-based juvenile justice diversion and other interventions.

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):  N/A

Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A

Health Initiative (Goal 4): N4: Reduce the usage of tobacco and vape products.

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A

Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

1/23/2025

25-0655-114

Approved to submit a renewal application for FY26

 

Location:

Address (if applicable): Channelview ISD - 828 Sheldon Rd, Channelview, TX 77530

                                          Sheldon ISD - 11411 C E King Pkwy, Houston, TX 77044

                                          Spring ISD - 16717 Ella Blvd, Houston, TX 77090

 

Precinct(s): Countywide

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

AWARE Harris Project

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

Grant

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Existing Budget

$

$

$1,800,000.00

$1,800,000.00

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Additional Budget Request

$

$

$

$

Total Funding Sources

$755,578

$1,344,192

$2,099,770

$2,099,770.00

Grants - Proposed Budget (To be filled out by Grants staff only)

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

No. of Grant Years

Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item.

$

$

$

1

Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

$

$

$299,770

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

Anticipated Court Date: 4/16/2025

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 10/1/2024

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Gulsah Langan, Youth Services Division Deputy Director, HCRCA

 

Attachments (if applicable): Notice of award