The Houston Health Department (HHD) requests City Council approval of an ordinance authorizing an interlocal grant agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County on behalf of Harris County Public Health (HCPH) to support substance abuse prevention activities. The total contract amount is $486,682.00. The term of the agreement is from June 09, 2021 to June 08, 2022.
HHD also requests City Council authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements 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 accept and expend all subsequent supplemental awards, if any, and to extend the term and/or budget and project period not to exceed five years, if extended by HCPH during the contract period and does not require cash matching funds.
Under this interlocal agreement, HHD will provide services that includes but is not limited to:
- Hiring a project coordinator to oversee project activities
- Providing wraparound services for persons overdosing and needing referral for care.
- Hiring 2 case managers to provide persons transported by Emergency Medical System (EMS) with referral for treatment and quarterly count follow-up.
- Working with the Houston Public Library to provide educational classes for both the public and people returning to the community from the criminal justice system.
- Hiring 2 health educators to teach a course on drug abuse prevention.
- Supporting 2 quarterly trainings on becoming MAT (medication assisted treatment) certified.
The work under this project will establish linkages to care for the recipients of services, empower individuals to make safer choices and increase public awareness about the risks of opioids.
The Overdose Data to Action grant is a cooperative agreement that began in September 2019 and focuses on the complex and changing nature of the drug overdose epidemic. This grant uses data to better understand the nature of the overdose problem by using data to monitor emerging trends and direct preventative activities, working with providers to reduce unsafe exposure to opioids and treat addiction.
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