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: Contract - Amendment
Project ID (if applicable): FY27_HIV_PREVE
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Choose an item.
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 of an amendment to an agreement with the Texas Department of State Health Services for additional grant funds in the amount of $375,000, with no required match, for the FY 2026 HIV Clinical HIV/STI Prevention at Local Health Departments Grant and extend four (4) associated positions to August 31, 2027.
end
Background and Discussion:
This grant is funded through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Harris County Public Health (HCPH) currently implements HIV prevention and linkage-to-care services through the HIV Clinical and HIV/STI Prevention at Local Level grant. The most recent amendment for this grant was approved for FY26, supporting HCPH’s ability to expand routine HIV and syphilis testing, enhance community outreach, and link individuals newly diagnosed with HIV, as well as those previously diagnosed but out of care, to appropriate medical services.
For FY27, this amendment builds on the previously approved FY26 scope of work and continues funding essential public health activities for Harris County residents. HCPH will maintain no-cost HIV and syphilis testing services and strengthen linkage-to-care processes to improve early treatment engagement. Program staff will continue participating in state and local HIV planning and evaluation activities, ensuring alignment with current epidemiological trends and state-mandated program objectives.
This FY27 amendment supports the continuation and advancement of evidence-based HIV prevention practices originally supported under the FY26 amendment approval and ensures uninterrupted provision of these critical services.
Expected Impact:
Improving HIV prevention services for residents of Harris County remains critical to reducing new infections and advancing the goals of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative. Harris County continues to experience the highest number of HIV diagnoses in Texas, underscoring the urgent need for accessible, evidence-based prevention strategies.
Continued funding in FY27 will ensure uninterrupted delivery of HIV testing, early diagnosis, linkage to care, and community-based prevention efforts. Expanding and strengthening these services supports measurable improvements in public health outcomes, including earlier detection, increased engagement in HIV medical care, and reduced community viral load. By sustaining prevention activities, HCPH can continue offering multiple effective strategies to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV, including routine testing, condom distribution, risk-reduction counseling, and connecting eligible residents to biomedical prevention options such as PrEP and PEP.
Combining these prevention approaches-tailored to the needs of high-priority populations-has been shown to significantly decrease HIV transmission. The approval of FY27 funds will support the continued implementation of these strategies, enhance community outreach and education, and help drive progress toward lowering new HIV infections in Harris County. Ensuring ongoing support for these services contributes directly to a healthier community and strengthens the county’s long-term capacity to respond to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Alternative Options:
Due to the results of HIV infections to vulnerable populations in Harris County, resources are limited
as alternative options.
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 |
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8/7/2025 |
246 |
Grant Amendment 1 |
|
12/10/2024 |
277 |
Award Approval |
Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Communicable Disease Prevention |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Total Funding Sources |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
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1 |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
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$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$351,048 |
$23,952 |
$375,000 |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Additional Positions Request |
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Total Personnel |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
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Anticipated Court Date: 7/9/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 9/1/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Ericka Brown, MD, MBA, FACHE; Division Director, Community
Health and Wellness; Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): Amendment, 3441 Forms, Budget