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: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Interlocal Agreement
Project ID (if applicable): FY26_OD2A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
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):
title
Request by Public Health Services that the County Judge execute an interlocal agreement with The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD in an amount not to exceed $602,652.75 to support activities focused on reducing overdose deaths for the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) Local Grant project.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD operates The Substance Use Disorder Outreach Program (SUDOP) which allows Community Health Workers to provide intake assessments and make referrals to detox and/or outpatient services for individuals in the community. SUDOP operates as a community outreach program that responds to individuals experiencing substance use disorders and/or mental health disorders who desire change and need assistance in building a foundation for their recovery.
The SUDOP team is a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN), Master-Level Clinicians, Care Coordinators, Psychiatric Technicians, and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors (LCDC). SUDOP services are available for adolescents and adults ages 14 years or older. The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (originally Harris County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center - MHMRC) has provided behavioral health and substance use services to the community of Harris County since 1965.
The Harris Center’s SUDOP strategy includes several key components. For linkage to care, SUDOP offers voluntary services throughout Harris County, involving intake assessments for substance use and mental health treatment. Consumers sign release forms for information sharing, and Care Coordinators schedule appointments with SUDOP’s Nurse and Psychiatrist. If necessary, medication maintenance is provided, followed by a comprehensive Plan of Care (POC) review to determine appropriate treatment, including IOP or residential options. SUDOP maintains consistent follow-up with consumers in treatment, providing necessary items and support to ensure retention in recovery. Re-referrals are restricted within the fiscal year period.
Harm reduction activities involve outreach conducted in pairs to distribute kits at various locations, including homeless shelters and health clinics. Kits include opioid reversal (Naloxone), harm reduction supplies, safe sex items, wound care materials, hygiene products, and snacks/water. SUDOP is forming Harm Reduction Drug Free Coalitions (HRDFC) to address local substance use issues through community involvement and education. Community Naloxone training and distribution include bi-annual training covering substance use disorders, Narcan use, and related topics. SUDOP has distributed over 7,200 Narcan kits and incorporates Narcan education into peer support campaigns. Outreach programs and collaborations with clinicians and pharmacists are also prioritized.
Peer Recovery Support Services aim to reduce stigma through stakeholder engagement, media campaigns, and collaboration with overdose prevention coalitions. For clinician and health systems best practices, SUDOP works to enhance clinical pain management, improve care coordination, distribute Narcan, and provide training on MAT and peer support.
Expected Impact:
Strengthening linkages to care, harm reduction, and stigma reduction within Harris County are chief tasks of the Overdose Data to Action grant.
The approval of this subaward will allow HCPH to accomplish these tasks by providing funding to The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD - The Substance Use Disorder Outreach Program (SUDOP) to support and engage vulnerable communities in the targeted zip codes to reduce stigma, connect resources, and improve health outcomes
Alternative Options:
Court could choose not to accept the contract award which may interrupt overdose preventions and harm reduction services to the residents of Harris County and staffing to support grant activities.
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): O4: Increase community health care capacity.
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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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Mental and Behavioral Health |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Grant |
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$602,652.75 |
$602,652.75 |
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Total Existing Budget |
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$602,652.75 |
$602,652.75 |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
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Total Funding Sources |
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$602,652.75 |
$602,652.75 |
$ |
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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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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
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$ |
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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: 2/26/2026
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: Dr. Erika Brown, Community Health and Wellness Division Director, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): Subrecipient Agreement, Subrecipient Budget