The Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department (HPD) recommends that City Council approve an ordinance authorizing a Subaward Agreement between HPD and the University of Texas Health Science Center (UT Health) for the FY18 Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program (COAP). HPD is the coordinating agency for the COAP grant and will collaborate with UT Health and the Houston Fire Department. The COAP grant will provide 100% of associated cost for overtime, travel, and a contract with UT Health. The project period is October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2020 for a total of 24 months.
The Subaward Agreement provides for UT Health to offer outreach and out-patient services to individuals that have recently overdosed. HPD will utilize $350,000 in COAP grant funds budgeted to UT Health. This partnership allows HPD to continue its efforts to reduce the illegal distribution of Opioid-based drugs by developing a community-wide strategic plan to address the regional opioid epidemic.
HPD also requests City Council to authorize the Chief of Police or his designee to act as the City’s representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and apply for, accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant for a five year period.
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Art Acevedo
Chief of Police