O2019-0908 ORDINANCE approving and authorizing the Director of the City of Houston Fire Department to accept grant funds from the LAURA and JOHN ARNOLD FOUNDATION to provide funding for the Emergency Telehealth and Navigation Program (“ETHAN”) (the "GRANT"); declaring the City's eligibility for such Grant; authorizing the Director of the Houston Fire Department to expend the Grant Funds, as awarded, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the Grant - $500,000.00 - Grant Fund

The Fire Chief for the Houston Fire Department (“HFD”) recommends that City Council approve an ordinance authorizing a Grant Agreement with Laura and John Arnold Foundation for the Foundation to provide $500,000.00 to the City (“Grant”).

The Grant period is from the Countersignature Date of the Grant Agreement between the City and Foundation through June 30,2020. Within 30 days of the Countersignature Date, the Foundation will transfer or cause the transfer to the City of $500,000.00. With the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds, as awarded with the grant not to exceed five years.

The purpose of the Grant is to temporarily fund the HFD Emergency Medical Service’s mobile integrated healthcare program, known as the Emergency Telehealth and Navigation program (“ETHAN Program”), from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The Grant Agreement will support ETHAN Program while the City pursues sustainable funding for the ETHAN Program. The goals of the ETHAN Program are to allow clients to access the most appropriate healthcare services at the “right time and place,” decrease inappropriate use of local ambulances and hospital emergency departments and improve EMS efficiency. 

Fiscal Note:

No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

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Samuel Peña,

Chief, Houston Fire Department

$500,000.00 - Other Government- Grant Funded (5040)

David Persse     Phone: 832-394-6818

Richard Mann    Phone: 832-394-6712