ORDINANCE approving and authorizing third amendment for Interlocal Agreement between City of Houston and HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM, and BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE for Case Management Services for Mayor’s Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence - $69,966.00 - Grant

In 2018, City Council approved an Interlocal Agreement with the Harris Health System and Baylor College of Medicine that funded via grant funds a hospital-based case manager to provide care coordination and ease access to medical and mental health referrals for victims of human trafficking. The hospital-based case manager works in tandem with 2 shelter-based case managers as part of the Mayor's Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence's public health approach to meet the need for comprehensive victim-centered services including emergency shelter and housing, case management, non-licensed counseling, and healthcare referrals.

City Council is now asked to approve a Third Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement to fund the hospital-based case manager for 3 additional years from 10/1/2023 to 9/30/2026, subject to the availability of grant funds. City Council previously amended the Interlocal first in 2019 and then again in 2021 to continue to fund the hospital-based case manager position for additional years through 9/30/2023.

Since the inception of our direct services program, the hospital-based case manager served over 340 victims of human trafficking identified throughout the hospital system, many of whom were psychologically unstable because of their trafficking victimization. Victims served were diverse across ethnicity, gender, and age, and many had prior trauma and intersecting vulnerabilities, such as being disabled or having experienced homelessness. Because of the work of our hospital-based case manager, victims were provided with healthcare referrals, shelter and housing resources, advocacy and accompaniment, emotional support and safety services such as crisis intervention, and information and additional referrals.

Funding provided by the City of Houston for the Third Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement is up to but not to exceed $69,966 annually out of the total annual cost of $73,173. Harris Health is responsible for the remaining difference of $3,207. The City of Houston will reimburse Harris Health for the case manager's salary expenses according to the below chart. Council previously allocated General Fund dollars to the program as part of the required cash match (Ordinance 2023-901 on October 25, 2023).

Fiscal Note:

• Funding for this item is included in the FY24 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
• No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

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Minal Patel Davis

Director, Mayor's Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence

$55,972.80 Grant Fund (5030) FED/LOCAL/STATE/STATE PASS

$13,993.20 Grant Matching Fund (1021) 

$69,966.00 Total

Minal Patel Davis, Director

Mayor's Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence

Phone: 832-393-0977 or 832-596-9965

E-Mail: minal.davis@houstontx.gov