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: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable): FY27_FP
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Health and Human Services Commission
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
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
Transmittal by Public Health Services of a Notice to Proceed from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for grant funds in the amount of $413,926, with no required match, for the FY27 Women’s Health Family Planning Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Women’s Health Family Planning Program continues to be a critical service for Harris County, particularly as shifting state policies and ongoing gaps in reproductive healthcare access place increased strain on local health systems. Building on the GY26 program structure and the County’s previous investments in reproductive healthcare access, GY27 expands efforts to address persistent disparities in preventative, preconception, and family planning services. During GY26, Harris County’s clinics experienced increased demand for contraception management, cancer screenings, and reproductive life planning, reflecting ongoing community need and the fallout from statewide limitations on reproductive services.
GY27 funding will allow Public Health Services to stabilize and strengthen service delivery by enhancing provider capacity, modernizing data systems, and expanding outreach strategies targeted to high need communities. The GY26 program identified challenges related to fragmented care delivery, limited care coordination, and resource constraints among community providers. GY27 seeks to address these issues by focusing on integrated care models, strengthening linkages to behavioral health, and implementing quality assurance initiatives that ensure consistent access across all clinics. These updates reflect Harris County’s broader commitment to health equity and align with ongoing maternal and reproductive health initiatives.
Expected Impact:
The GY27 award will enable Harris County to further expand and refine family planning and preventative health services, with an emphasis on equity, efficiency, and patient outcomes. Building on the gains made in GY26, such as reductions in wait times and improved outreach capacity, the new grant cycle prioritizes: -Increased access to screenings and contraceptive services through additional clinical staff and extended appointment options. -Improved coordination between reproductive health, behavioral health, and chronic disease programs, helping patients receive seamless care. -Expansion of culturally responsive community outreach aimed at communities experiencing high rates of maternal morbidity and limited access to care. -Upgrades to clinical reporting and data systems that will improve program performance tracking and allow more targeted interventions. -Continued alignment with the County’s Maternal Health Bill of Rights and health equity objectives by ensuring comprehensive, rights-based access to family planning services. Overall, GY27 funding will strengthen prevention, early intervention, and reproductive life planning services, contributing to improved community health outcomes and reduced long-term healthcare costs associated with underserved populations.
Alternative Options:
If full GY27 funding were not approved, alternative strategies based on GY26 experience and current operational needs could include: -Leveraging community partnerships to extend outreach and education using existing provider networks, similar to supplemental options noted in GY26. -Expanding telehealth family planning services to reduce access barriers for individuals in remote or underserved precincts. -Deploying mobile health and screening units that can provide contraception counseling, cancer screenings, and reproductive health education directly within neighborhoods experiencing resource shortages. - Increasing community-focused health education campaigns focused on preventative care, reproductive life planning, and available County services. -Strengthening referral pathways with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and safety net providers to ensure continuity of care even with limited County clinic capacity.
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): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
10/16/2025 |
271 |
5 Years Grant Award Contract (Approved) |
|
05/14/2026 |
196 |
Amendment 1 (Approved) |
|
08/25/2026 |
217 |
Notice to Proceed (Accepted) |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Community Health and Wellness |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items 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) |
$79,128 |
$3,657 |
$82,785 |
|
|
Personnel(Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
|
CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
Not Applicable |
CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: September 17, 2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Ericka Brown, MD, MBA, FACHE-Community Health & Wellness Division Director, Public Health Services.
Attachments (if applicable): Original 5-Year Agreement, Notice to Proceed, and approved workbook.