The Houston Health Department (HHD) requests City Council approval of an amendment to extend the term of an agreement with Easter Seals of Greater Houston, Inc. (Easter Seals) through August 31, 2017 and to increase the maximum contract amount from $539,000.00 to $618,776.00.
Easter Seals provides HHD’s Harris County Area Agency on Aging/Aging and Disability Resource Center (HCAAA/ADRC) with respite vouchers that relieve caregivers, on a short term basis, of the responsibility for caring for a person with an intellectual, cognitive, developmental physical disability and/or chronic health condition.
The additional funding will be used to continue the availability of respite services in the ADRC’s geographical region for caregivers caring for individuals of any age with any chronic health condition(s) and/or disability, who are not eligible for respite services through other public or private programs. The geographical region covered by this contract includes Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller and Wharton counties.
Easter Seals issues vouchers in an amount of up to $800 to qualifying caregivers. Caregivers select from pre-certified respite vendors who must pass background checks conducted by Easter Seals.