Primary Department: Public Health Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton ─ Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Application
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Southern Integrated Pest Management Center
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): 10%
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 submit an application to the Southern Integrated Pest Management Center in the amount of $30,000, with no required match, for the FY26 Southern Integrated Pest Management Center Grant Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Southern Integrated Pest Management Center provides grant funds to enhance the development and implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Southern region of the United States. Harris County Public Health’s (HCPH) Mosquito and Vector Control Division is requesting Commissioners Court approval to apply for funding to expand its vector-borne disease surveillance program to address the growing threat of ticks and tick-borne illnesses within the county. With support from the Southern Integrated Pest Management Center, the division will launch a pilot project aimed at identifying high-risk tick habitats, conducting field surveillance, educating the public, and developing integrated tick management strategies.
Expected Impact:
This initiative aligns with HCPH’s strategic direction to protect health by identifying and mitigating potential vector-borne diseases within Harris County. It further supports the development of community-specific mitigation strategies to protect human and animal health. With these funds, HCPH aims to establish a baseline understanding of tick populations and distribution in Harris County, identify the presence of pathogens such as Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis, develop and pilot tick mitigation strategies in high-risk areas, enhance community education and outreach around tick bite prevention, and strengthen local capacity for future surveillance and emergency response.
Alternative Options:
Commissioners Court could decline HCPH’s request to apply for the grant funding, which would limit HCPH’s ability to proactively address emerging tick-borne disease threats and reduce opportunities for interagency and public health innovation.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 4. Improve physical and mental health outcomes across all communities.
County Strategic Plan Objective: N: Improve the health behaviors of community members.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):
Economy Initiative (Goal 3):
Health Initiative (Goal 4):
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5):
Housing Initiative (Goal 6):
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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N/A |
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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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
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: |
$ |
$30,000 |
$30,000 |
1 |
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$30,000 |
$30,000 |
|
|
Personnel(Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: October 30, 2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): November 21, 2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Dr. Courtney Standlee, Director, Mosquito and Vector Control Division, Public Health Services
Attachments (if applicable): RFA, grant synopsis, assurances form