Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton ─ Interim Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Memorandum of Understanding
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
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 for approval of a memorandum of understanding with Texas Department of State Health Services to submit wastewater data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Data Collation and Integration for Public Health Event Responses (DCIPHER) system.
end
Background and Discussion:
Wastewater surveillance has become a key tool in public health for tracking the spread of infectious diseases, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Harris County Public Health (HCPH) launched its wastewater monitoring program in May 2023 with just four sites, expanding to 24 locations by July 2024. The program, funded through the CDC’s Embrace HOPE grant, focuses on detecting COVID-19 levels in wastewater across unincorporated Harris County and nearby cities. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) compiles wastewater data from across Texas and submits it to the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS). Right now, Harris County’s data is viewed and utilized internally, but this MOU will create an official process for our data to be included in national disease monitoring efforts. This will allow us to contribute to broader public health strategies and improve early detection of outbreaks. The agreement also aligns with ongoing efforts at the state and federal levels to expand wastewater-based epidemiology.
Expected Impact:
Approving this MOU will allow Harris County Public Health’s (HCPH) wastewater surveillance data to be integrated into the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), expanding the impact of our program beyond just local reporting. Right now, our data is used internally within HCPH, but by formalizing this partnership with DSHS, we ensure that our trends contribute to broader public health monitoring at the state and national levels. This could mean earlier detection of outbreaks, stronger public health responses, and better allocation of resources.
Alternative Options:
There are no alternative options.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: R: Enhance disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resiliency.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):
Economy Initiative (Goal 3):
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N1: Improve coordination of public health efforts and campaign delivery among local health agencies and nonprofits.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6):
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: March 27, 2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): March 27, 2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Jennifer Kiger, MPH, Director, Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Emerging Diseases, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): MOU, Signature Page