Legislation Details

File #: 25-0118    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Grant Status: Passed
File created: 12/23/2024 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 1/9/2025 Final action: 1/9/2025
Title: Request by Public Health Services for approval to accept from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant funds in the amount of $1,993,405, with no required match, for the CDC Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, & Data Systems Grant.

Primary Department: Public Health Services

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton ─ Interim Executive Director

 

Secondary Department: Choose an item.

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Contract - Award

 

Project ID (if applicable): FY23_IWDS

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal:  Choose an item.

 

Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 21.05%

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 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant funds in the amount of $1,993,405, with no required match, for the CDC Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, & Data Systems Grant.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

On January 31, 2023, the Commissioners Court approved the acceptance of a $25,091,359 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on behalf of Harris County Public Health to support and enhance our public health workforce, systems, and infrastructure. These funds have been earmarked to fund 30 key positions across HCPH, support workforce development needs and trainings, upgrade our electronic health records system, and invest in community-based organizations that support the social determinants of health, among other priorities.  The CDC has granted Harris County Public Health an additional $1,993,405 for projects to further address foundational capabilities that will enhance our delivery of public health services. We are asking the court’s permission to formally accept the award.

 

Expected Impact:

HCPH intends to use these additional funds to enhance several essential public health services. A portion of the funds will cover the costs of a three-year contract with vendor VestedIn, LLC to provide technical assistance for HCPH's newly launched Capacity Strengthening Program, which aims to strengthen community-based organizations focused on social determinants of health. In addition, the funds will support the costs of a disease surveillance and outbreak management software system, helping HCPH detect and more rapidly respond to emerging infectious disease outbreaks. The award will also enable HCPH to provide gift card incentives to community members who participate in public health surveys and focus groups, improving our community assessments and providing invaluable feedback for public health policy and programming. Finally, the award will support the cost of grant writing services to expand HCPH's capacity to secure sustainable funding for essential programs. Together, these activities help advance HCPH's strategic goals surrounding health equity, health protection, health promotion, and operational excellence.

 

Alternative Options:

The court could choose not to accept the award, which would delay and/or prevent HCPH from pursuing disease surveillance, community partnership building, community assessments, and sustainability planning activities. This would in turn impact the quality of public health strategic planning and service delivery, which would affect the most vulnerable residents across Harris County.

 

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): 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):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

01/31/2023

230

Award Acceptance Approved

02/27/2024

242

FY23/24 Award Approved

 

Location:

Address (if applicable):

Precinct(s): Choose an item.

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

Office of Planning and Innovation

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

Grant

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Existing Budget

$

$

$

$

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

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: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

$

$1,993,405

$1,993,405

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

Anticipated Court Date: 1/9/2025

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 1/9/2025

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Brandon Maddox, Director, Office of Planning and Innovation, Public Health Services

 

Attachments (if applicable): Notice of Award