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_CMHG
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): 10%
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 an amendment to an agreement with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for carryover funds in the amount of $500,000, with no required match, for the Community Mental Health Grant.
end
Background and Discussion:
On February 27, 2024, the Court approved a request from Public Health Services to apply to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Community Mental Health grant. The application sought $1 million for the ACCESS Harris County program to provide behavioral health and supportive services to participants in the five ACCESS cohorts. HHSC issued an Intent to Award on July 16, 2024, informing Harris County that we were tentatively granted the award. On May 8, 2025, the Court approved acceptance of these grant funds, enabling ACCESS to provide mental health care treatment and services to individuals experiencing mental illness.
Expected Impact:
With these funds, ACCESS Harris County will expand behavioral health services for cohort members, who are among the county’s most vulnerable residents. The goal is to improve their health, well-being, sustained recovery, and self-sufficiency. The funding will enhance critical support services through strengthened community partnerships, which are essential for recruiting clients, ensuring program retention, and keeping participants engaged in their care. By addressing and removing common barriers to care, such as access to childcare, transportation, housing, and employment and education resources, the program will ensure that individuals have access to services and maintain consistent participation in their mental health care. This expanded support will ultimately help participants overcome obstacles and achieve better long-term outcomes.
Alternative Options:
The court could not accept this grant award, which would impact ACCESS Harris’ ability to expand the mental health services for program participants.
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):
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):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
02/27/2024 |
238 |
Request to submit application approved |
|
05/08/2025 |
244 |
Request to accept grant funds with an in-kind match approved |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Community Mental Health Grant |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Grant |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (To be filled out by Grants staff only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Grant |
$ |
$ |
$ |
1 |
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$286,862 |
$213,138 |
$500,000 |
|
|
Personnel(Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: October 16, 2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): October 16, 2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Jamie Hughes, Director, Health Prevention and Coordinated Care, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): Carry-over Approval from Grantor