Department: Public Health Services
Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton ─ Interim Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): U.S. Food and Drug Administration
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Public Health Services for approval to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Food and Drug Administration) for grant funds in the amount of $173,164, with no required match, for the FDA Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
The FDA Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings funding opportunity supports the planning and execution of conferences aimed at advancing public health priorities aligned with the FDA’s mission. Harris County Public Health is seeking the court’s permission to apply for funds to host an Environmental Public Health Summit. HCPH’s Environmental Public Health (EPH) Division hosted an annual Food Safety Summit from 2015 until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic led to the event’s discontinuation. During its tenure, the Food Safety Summit significantly improved relationships between the restaurant industry and public health professionals, leading to more frequent consultations with restaurant owners and staff on safe food handling practices and enhancing consumer safety. The FDA support for Conferences and Scientific meetings grant opportunity stands to enable EPH to relaunch this important initiative through the Environmental Public Health Summit, scheduled for July 2025.
Expected Impact:
The Environmental Public Health Summit will focus on improving food and water safety in Harris County by bringing together regulatory officials, industry experts, and public health professionals to foster collaboration and drive public health outcomes. Hosting the summit supports HCPH’s Health Promotion Strategic Priority, specifically Objectives 3.1.2 and 3.3.3, by positioning HCPH as a trusted source of health information and further strengthening community trust. The Environmental Public Health Summit can aid in transitioning regulatory requirements into daily operational practices to ensure safe food and water distribution to Harris County consumers. Relationships built during the summit will allow EPH better to understand barriers and challenges in the food service industry, helping the division’s educational efforts on sustainable implementation methods to reduce food and waterborne illnesses in Harris County.
Alternative Options:
HCPH sees no drawbacks in applying for the FDA Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings Program given there is no required match.
Alignment with Goal(s):
_ Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
X Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
N/A |
|
|
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Public Health Services |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Grant |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
|
$96,164 |
$77,000 |
$173,164 |
$ |
|
. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$96,164 |
$77,000 |
$173,164 |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$96,164 |
$77,000 |
$173,164 |
$ |
|
Personnel(Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
0 |
- |
0 |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: October 08, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): October 08, 2024
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): Grant NOFO, Grant Opportunity Synopsis