Background:
The Houston Health Department (HHD) requests City Council approval of a second amendment to a grant contract between the City and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for the City's Tobacco Prevention and Control program services. The contract term is from April 29, 2022 through April 28, 2023. Funding for the contract under the second amendment will be increased by $217,000.00 for FY2022 for a maximum contract amount of $454,000.00. City matching funds are not required.
The original grant agreement was processed and fully executed under Contract No. FC78763 NCA (No Council Action) on February 12, 2021, because the amount of the FY21 award was $217,000.00 and therefore did not require council approval. The first amendment award FY21 was an additional $20,000.00 and processed on June 18, 2021. The second amendment award for FY22 is $217,000.00. In accordance with AP 4-1 (updated on August 17, 2020) city council approval is now required for grants over $400,000.00.
HHD also request City Council authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements and documents with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant contract 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 if and 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 years, if extended by DSHS during the contract period and does not require cash matching funds.
The Tobacco Prevention and Control program aims to reduce the toll of tobacco on the health, safety, and well-being of Texas populations with the highest burden of tobacco-related health disparities. Texas has the second largest adult lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) population of any state. Under this program, HHD will collaborate with DSHS Chronic Disease Epidemiology on evaluation and qualitative data collection, engage decision makers and convene stakeholder meetings, hold two tobacco-free events, partner with public and multi-unit housing entities to support tobacco-free policies for all resident; and ensure that 10 percent of funding from this Contract will be allocated for evaluation activities (e.g., focus group, readiness assessment). HHD will identify events for the priority population to promote Texas Tobacco Quitline resources and recruit LGBT-community influencers who have quit using tobacco products to champion these efforts.
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