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: Purchase Order
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
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): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request for approval to purchase gift cards using grant funds in the amount of $10,000 to provide incentives for participants in the Healthy in Harris County project healthy grocery shopping sessions.
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Background and Discussion:
The Healthy in Harris County project addresses critical chronic disease challenges, as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease remain leading causes of death in Harris County. The project objectives include helping residents establish health routines, empowering them to take control of their health, building trusting relationships with their medical team, documenting health information, and increasing awareness of HCPH prevention programs. This purchase supports the supportive healthy grocery shopping sessions, a distinct program component conducted by an HCPH dietitian at partnering grocery store(s). At least 100 Harris County residents will learn practical tips on how to shop healthy utilizing the national dietary guidelines and/or guidelines provided by their physician based on their specific chronic disease. Participants will receive hands-on guidance navigating grocery store aisles, reading and understanding nutrition labels, identifying nutritious food options, and making budget-friendly healthy choices. The $100 gift card incentives will enable participants to purchase groceries from the partnering grocery store(s), allowing them to immediately apply the healthy shopping skills learned during the session. This component is separate from the healthy cooking demonstration sessions and provides residents with foundational grocery shopping knowledge essential for sustainable dietary changes.
Expected Impact:
The $100 gift card incentives will ensure meaningful participation from diverse Harris County residents in the healthy grocery shopping sessions while providing tangible resources for participants to purchase nutritious foods. By removing financial barriers to buying healthy groceries, HCPH enables residents to immediately implement the shopping strategies and dietary guidelines learned during their session with the dietitian. This hands-on approach addresses food insecurity challenges in Harris County, where lack of access to grocery stores remains a chronic problem, especially in low-income areas. Empowering 100+ residents with practical grocery shopping skills will contribute to decreasing chronic disease rates over the next 3-5 years by helping participants establish sustainable healthy shopping and eating routines. The healthy grocery shopping sessions directly advance Year 1 goals of providing supportive grocery shopping support with a dietitian for 100+ residents.
Alternative Options:
The County could opt not to provide grocery shopping incentives, which would likely result in lower participation rates and reduced ability for participants to practice healthy shopping skills learned during the dietitian-led sessions. Without financial support to purchase healthy groceries, residents may face barriers to implementing the dietary guidelines and shopping techniques, diminishing the program’s long-term impact on health outcomes. Alternative options include reducing incentive amounts or limiting the number of participants, though this would decrease the program’s reach and effectiveness in helping Harris County’s diverse communities establish sustainable healthy shopping habits that reduce chronic disease risk.
CountyStrategic Plan Goal: 4. Improve physical and mental health outcomes across all communities.
County Strategic Plan Objective: N: Improve the health behaviors of community members.
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):
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Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: June 11, 2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): August 01, 2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Dr. Kimberly Henderson, Deputy Chief of Staff, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): N/A