Primary Department: Purchasing
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Kimberly J. Williams, JD
Secondary Department: Harris County Resources for Children and Adults
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Joel Levine
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Interlocal Agreement
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): The 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: Exempt - Interlocal/Cooperative Agreement
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
Title
Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent that the County Judge execute an amendment to an interlocal agreement with The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD for temporary respite care services for youth aged 13 through 17 at the Youth Diversion Center for Resources for Children and Adults to extend the period of July 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026 with no increase in funding, Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Interlocal/Cooperative Agreement.
End
Background and Discussion:
The ARPA Steering Committee recommended the approval of Harris County general funds in Fiscal Year 2027 to support ongoing operations of the Youth Diversion Center. That recommendation will be voted on by Commissioner’s Court later in Fiscal Year 2026. The Harris Center is pursuing braided funding to continue operations from June 30 - September 30, 2026, including funding for Harris County Resources for Children and Adults to provide meals.
With a maximum census of twelve (12), the Youth Diversion Center’s structure will be consistent with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) crisis respite facility regulatory standards as operated by a Local Mental Health Authority. A legally authorized representative (LAR/guardian) will be required to consent for admission and all rendered services.
Individual and group skills training will be provided to aid in achieving person-centered crisis plan goals. Supervision will be provided 24-hours per day by trained professionals, and procedures will be in place to prescribe, obtain, and administer medications for individuals as needed. The Youth Diversion Center will not be designed to prevent truancy and prohibits the use of locks, mechanical restraints, or other mechanical mechanisms to inhibit youth from voluntarily leaving the facility.
The Harris Center has current policies specific to youth residential units which will be used to establish preliminary processes; however, specific admission, expulsion, discharge, and exclusionary criteria for the Youth Diversion Center will be developed within 90-days of the program approval in collaboration with local law enforcement, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD), and the district attorney’s office.
Expected Impact:
Crisis respite will create a normalized environment, provide a venue for biological, psychological, and social interventions targeted at the current crisis, while fostering community and family reintegration. Based on statistical analysis, approximately 85% served will identify as youth of color, and 83% will be classified as living at or below the federal poverty level.
This continuation of the operational agreement will allow the County and external partners to reassess intake processes and pursue additional funding opportunities for the program to continue beyond the ARPA-funded period.
Alternative Options:
There is no request for funding at this time.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: A: Reduce violent crime across the County.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): B3: Increase school-based juvenile justice diversion and other interventions.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
1/29/2026 |
332 |
Approval to allocate $558,126 in American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for temporary respite care services for youth aged 13 through 17 and $35,584.00 in FLEX Funds for the purpose of providing meals at the Youth Diversion Center. |
|
12/19/2024 |
8 |
Approval of an amendment to update Exhibit F to capture line items not contained in the previous budget. |
|
06/25/2024 |
17 |
Approval to decrease funds in the amount of $1,000,000 for the extended period through June 30, 2026. |
|
05/07/2024 |
10 |
Approval of de-obligation from active projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. |
|
12/05/2023 |
265 |
Approval to allocate $427,050 in American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for the purpose of providing meals at the Youth Diversion Center. |
|
12/05/2023 |
10 |
Approval to decrease funds by $427,050 for temporary respite care services for youth aged 13 through 17 at the Youth Diversion Center for Resources for Children and Adults for the period of January 31, 2023 - June 30, 2024. |
|
03/14/2023 |
428 |
Approval of a lease agreement with the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD to provide space for temporary respite care services for youth aged 13 through 17 at the Youth Diversion Center located at 6500 Chimney Rock Road, Houston, Texas. |
|
01/31/2023 |
447 |
Approval of Interlocal agreement with The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD in the amount of $9,038,691 for temporary respite care services for youth aged 13 through 17 at the Youth Diversion Center for Resources for Children and Adults for the period of January 31, 2023 - June 30, 2024. |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Youth Diversion Center |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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2651 - American Rescue Plan 2021 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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1040 - FLEX Fund |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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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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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 |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 6/11/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Matthew Broussard, Youth Services Director, Resources for Children and Adults; Xavier Perry, Justice & Safety Manager, ARPA PMO, Office of County Administration, William House, Buyer, Purchasing
Attachments (if applicable): Letter, Agreement