The Director of the Houston Health Department (HHD) requests that City Council authorize and approve an ordinance for HHD to accept a three-year grant award from RISE Collaborative Inc. (RISE) a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the District of Columbia that allows RISE to work with older people who have experienced or are at risk for elder abuse or self-neglect. The grant performance period from the City Controller countersignature date through August 31, 2027 - for a total award amount of $473,205.00. There is a match requirement for the grant application with RISE. Texas Adult Protective Services (APS) will contribute non-federal in-kind match contributions, on behalf of HHD totaling $192,901.00.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION
The RISE grant was awarded to support replicating and evaluating the RISE-APS model which aims to expand the evidence base for the RISE model, which addresses elder abuse and self-neglect through restorative justice, motivational interviewing, and supportive decision-making. Key outreach activities relating to elder abuse prevention and response include building partnerships, community awareness, training programs, and stakeholder engagement to navigate the needs of the impacted individuals using trained counselors and developing person-centered goals in an action/care plan. A multidisciplinary core group will consult on each case to ensure the availability of resources by combining two or more funding sources to support this program; the program will create a long-term intervention that mitigates or eliminates the risk or experience of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect.
This grant will cover training, travel, supplies, and equipment expenses. For the FY25, FY26, and FY27 budgets, HHD plans to allocate the funds as follows: 3% for travel, 21% for fringe benefits, 38% for salaries, 1% for supplies and 37% for other expenses.
HHD will enter into a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with APS to provide the services under this grant. Under the MOU APS will contribute a non-federal in-kind match consisting of one full-time APS Investigation Specialist, a part-time APS Research Specialist, office space and fringe benefits, totaling $192,901.00
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 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 (5) years.
GRANT SOURCE:
The funding for this project is from a federal government grant from the RISE Collaborative.
FISCAL NOTE:
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
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Stephen L. Williams, M.Ed., MPA
Director – Houston Health Department