The Houston Health Department (HHD) requests City Council approval of an ordinance authorizing a grant contract from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for its Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program. The period of performance for this grant contract is from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2025. The FY 2021 funding amount is $10,859,774.00.
No City matching funds are required. HHD also requests City Council authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements, amendments and documents with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant contract and to authorize the Director or his designee to act as the City's representative with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds if and as awarded, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards during the renewal periods not to exceed 5 years and does not require cash matching funds.
Under this grant, HHD will administer the special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children which provides free supplemental food benefits, nutrition education, and counseling to improve the health of low income pregnant and post-partum women, infants and children identified at nutritional risk.
Funding will be used to continue special projects approved by the grant including breastfeeding peer counseling, nutrition education, obesity prevention, lactation services, clinical lactation practicum, dietetic services, and other goods and services allowed by the grant.
This grant will allow HHD to serve approximately 65,000 WIC participants per month. Additionally, immunization screenings are provided to all WIC clients in 16 WIC locations.
Fiscal Note
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
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Stephen L. Williams, M.Ed., M.P.A.
Director, Houston Health Department