The Houston Health Department (HHD) recommends City Council approve an ordinance authorizing and approving a grant agreement between the City of Houston (COH) and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), for the Texas Abstinence Education Services under Sexual Risk Avoidance Grant Program under Contract No. HHS001395700011. The grant performance period is from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2029, with an anticipated award amount of $1,000,000.00, which equals $200,000.00 per year.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
HHD will partner with community organizations to provide abstinence-based sexual risk avoidance education to youths. The current budget period is October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, with an award amount of $200,000.00. The Grantor may extend the agreement for up to four additional years for a maximum of five years. The total grant performance period is from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2029, with an anticipated award amount of $1,000,000.00. The utilization of anticipated funds is: 73% for personnel and fringe benefits, 4% for travel and conferences, 4% for equipment and supplies, and 19% for contract services.
The grant will enable HHD to continue its capacity to provide abstinence-based sexual risk avoidance education to youth to decrease the teen pregnancy rate and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among youths ages 10 through 19. “Sexual Risk Avoidance Education” is a science-based approach in public health to empower youth to avoid health risks associated with sexual activity.
The program will target various populations including youths ages 10 to 19, parenting youth, minority teens, youth in alternative schools and the LGBTQ community. It will strengthen existing local sexual risk avoidance education strategies by creating a network of community members, organizations and agencies that advance equity by learning together, aligning and integrating their actions to achieve population and systems level changes.
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 application and 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 5 years.
Grant Source:
The funding for this project is from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
Fiscal Note:
No fiscal note is required on grant items.
______________________________
Stephen L. Williams, M.Ed., MPA
Director - Houston Health Department