The Director of the Houston Health Department recommends City Council approve an Ordinance authorizing the Director to accept and expend the grant funds, as awarded, and to apply for and accept and expend all subsequent awards, to extend the budget and/or the project period from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the Houston Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (HCLPPP) in relation to the Childhood Lead Poisoning and Surveillance of Blood Lead in Children grant. This ordinance will cover the remaining three years of the project period. The current budget period is from September 30, 2023 to September 29, 2024 with an anticipated award amount is $437,645.00 and HHD will provide an in-kind match of $140,000.00. The project period is September 30, 2021 to September 29, 2026.
Specific Explanation:
Funding from this grant will assist HCLPPP with continued efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in the City of Houston. To accomplish this goal, the Bureau of Community and Children’s Environmental Health (BCCEH) activities will : 1) develop and enhance a surveillance system to monitor blood lead levels, case management, lead hazard reduction, and permit accurate data analysis Geo-coding mapping, cluster identification and reporting; 2) increase awareness and action among the community and affected professionals in relation to childhood lead poisoning; 3) ensure that children at-risk for exposure to lead are screened and receive case management, environmental investigation, and lead hazard reduction, if they qualify; and 4) expand primary prevention activities in high-risk areas.
HCLPPP works with the HHD Bureau Of Epidemiology (BOE), to utilize Maven software for tracking childhood lead, housing rehabilitation, enforcement of housing and health codes, engagement with health care systems, public and healthcare provider education campaigns related to lead contamination through other sources (e.g., imported items), this collaboration allows HHD to focus health and environmental resources, other public health activities and surveillance in areas most needed.
Grant Source:
The funding for this project is from a federal government grant through the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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