The Houston Health Department (HHD) requests City Council approval of an ordinance to accept a three-year grant award in the amount of $1,600,000.00 from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the continued administration of the City of Houston's Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program. The current budget and project amount is $1,600,000.00 for the period of 10/01/2023 to 09/30/2026.
HHD also requests City Council authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements, amendments and documents with the approval as to form of the City Attorney in connection with the grant program and to authorize the Director or his designee to act as the City's representative with the authority to accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and to apply for, 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 DOJ during the project period, and which does not require cash matching funds.
Funding from this grant is cost reimbursement for meeting program objectives of comprehensive response to address substance use and misuse by: 1) provide targeted substance use awareness activities in partnership with law enforcement for K-12 students and curriculum based education with justice involved individuals; 2) integrate data from the current opioid surveillance system to improve community awareness, program messaging, and mobilization of stakeholder response; 3) deliver evidence-based substance use treatment and recovery support services.
Funding will allow HHD to continue to provide services that include response to contextual changes in the opioid epidemic through multi-sector collaboration and strategic, evidence-based interventions for individuals, groups, and communities with higher vulnerability.
Grant Source
The funding for this project is from a federal government grant through the Department of Justice.
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