Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton, Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Interlocal Agreement
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Harris Collaborative (Harris County Hospital District dba Harris Health System - lead, Houston Health Department, The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, Community Health Choice, and Harris County Public Health)
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 of a collaborative agreement with Harris County Hospital District dba Harris Health System, the Houston Health Department, The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, and Community Health Choice related to the terms of participation in the Harris Collaborative.
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Background and Discussion:
Harris County Public Health (HCPH), Harris Health, the Houston Health Department, the Harris Center, and Community Health Choice have been strategically collaborating for over a year to improve health outcomes for Harris County populations with complex needs. This group, called the Harris Collaborative, aims to enhance internal coordination and data-driven care across partner organizations for three high-risk subpopulations: (1) patients with frequent encounters in the emergency department, (2) those recently released from incarceration, and (3) patients in the LBJ catchment areas living with unmanaged or high-risk chronic illnesses.
The Harris Collaborative’s near-term goal is to move partner organizations with complementary programs toward shared ownership of outcomes by using cross-agency data to identify shared populations, coordinate navigation and services, and track results. The group meets regularly to develop the infrastructure, processes, and tools needed to implement these multi-agency initiatives.
The first active initiative is the Integrated Care Cohort (ICC), a data-driven care coordination model that links partner data, identifies high-risk shared patients, connects them to appropriate clinical, behavioral health, and social supports, and monitors outcomes over time. PCIC / HealthConnect TX is the data and technology partner that enables data linkage and identifies high-risk patients shared across partners.
This agreement establishes a high-level framework for participation in the Harris Collaborative. Sections of this agreement address membership, governance, operations, and roles and responsibilities.
Expected Impact:
The Harris Collaborative will improve health outcomes for Harris County populations with complex needs by reducing preventable health crises, avoidable healthcare and EMS utilization, criminal justice system exposure, and associated costs. This agreement establishes the terms and infrastructure for the collaborative partnership that will lead to these improved outcomes.
Alternative Options:
This agreement is required for participation in the Harris Collaborative.
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): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): O1: Coordinate health organizations to improve access and care.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: N/A
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Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: 9/22/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 10/15/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Leah Barton, Executive Director, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): Member Agreement