The Houston Health Department (HHD) requests City Council approval of an ordinance approving and authorizing a grant application (CDC-RFA-PS22-2201) to the U S Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to conduct the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS). The five-year performance period begins January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2026, for a total amount of $2,771,435. The initial budget period is January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022, for a total budget amount of $975,461.
HHD also request 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 application 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 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, without any further City Council action, if extended by CDC during the project period and does not require cash matching funds.
The funding opportunity is designed to provide a behavioral context for trends seen in HIV data. NHBS will describe populations at increased risk for HIV infection. Through systematic case analysis in groups at high risk for HIV infection, NHBS is critical for monitoring the impact of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, that focuses on decreasing HIV incidence, improving linkage to care, and reducing disparities among the high-risk, hard-to-reach populations.
The goals of these activities are to produce high-quality locally and nationally representative data on the behavioral and clinical characteristics of high-risk, hard-to-reach populations; develop a strong data management and dissemination plan targeted to potential local and national users; enhance collaborations among federal, state, and local partners and stakeholders in Houston MSA responsible for HIV case monitoring, prevention, and treatment; increase the proportion of persons who are aware of and linked to HIV care; and decrease the number of new HIV infections, HIV associated morbidity, and disparities in health outcomes during the performance period.
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