DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Thomas L. Schlenker
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Districts 1, 2, 6, and 9
SUBJECT:
Grant Submission to the March of Dimes Texas Chapter
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the submission of a grant application by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) to the March of Dimes Texas Chapter community grants program and authorizes the acceptance of grant funds upon award in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00 for a period commencing February 1, 2015 and ending January 31, 2016 for prematurity and infant mortality prevention activities.
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes a proposed program budget and authorizes the Director of Metro Health to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents and grant contracts to effectuate the application and acceptance of the referenced grant, and to execute contract amendments pertaining to this contract, to include: a) carry-over funds, when ascertained and approved by the funding agency through a revised notice of award; b) line item budget revisions authorized by the funding agency; c) modifications to the performance measures authorized by the funding agency and listed in the contract so long as the terms of the amendment stay within the general parameters of the intent of the grant; d) no cost extensions; e) amendments which will provide supplemental grant funds to the grant by the funding agency in an amount up to 20% of the total amount initially awarded to the grant; and f) amendments funding defined program services.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The March of Dimes Texas Chapter funds programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies to further its strategic goal of reducing disparities in birth outcomes. This includes providing financial support to research and education that will help moms before and during their pregnancies. It also includes working with local medical groups and organizations to improve prenatal care and newborn screening.
Through this grant, Metro Health's Healthy Start Program will provide the March of Dimes curriculum, "Becoming a Mom", in nine churches located in five targeted zip codes: 78202, 78203, 78220, 78213, and 78227. The project will utilize local university interns to recruit and support nine local congregations to deliver the curriculum and track the birth outcomes of each woman enrolled in the classes.
ISSUE:
From 2010 to 2012, the five targeted zip codes experienced a combined infant mortality of 9.6 infant deaths in 1,000 births and significantly higher than the 2010 U.S. national average of 6.17/1,000. Authorization of this ordinance will enable Metro Health to equip faith-based congregations located in the targeted zip codes with the training and educational curriculum to increase knowledge, behavior, and improve birth outcomes for pregnant women residing in their neighborhoods. This sustainable approach provides for these church organizations to continue classes for at least two years beyond the start-up funds provided through this funding opportunity.
ALTERNATIVES:
If submission of the grant application is not authorized, the funds will be redistributed to other community programs in the state. As a result, Metro Health would forgo funding without the capacity to introduce neighborhood based interventions in these high risk zip codes.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Metro Health is requesting authorization to submit a grant application and authorization to accept grant funds upon award in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00 from the March of Dimes Texas Chapter for a period beginning February 1, 2015 and ending January 31, 2016 which may be renewed for up to two, additional one-year periods by the grantor. There are no cost sharing or matching funds required for this grant and there will be no impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance authorizing the submission of a grant application to the March of Dimes Texas Chapter and the acceptance of grant funds upon award in an amount up to $10,000.00 for a period beginning February 1, 2015 and ending January 31, 2016 for prematurity and infant mortality prevention activities.