DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Thomas L. Schlenker
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing Personnel Complement Changes for the DSHS WIC Program Grant
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the addition of two positions to the existing personnel complement of 97 positions for the FY 2015 Texas Department of State Health Services Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program grant and increases the proposed number of positions from 97 to 99 for FY 2016.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
As the public health authority for Bexar County, Metro Health actively addresses the public health functions of policy development, health assessment, and health assurance. To carry out these responsibilities, Metro Health operates evidenced based programs in various settings throughout the County. The department provides services to residents at public health settings and service locations located throughout the City and Bexar County. With state grant support, Metro Health provides preventive health services, community education, limited clinical services to prevent communicable disease, emergency preparedness, disease control, supplemental nutrition programs, and dental health services.
Metro Health receives approximately 72% of its total budget support through contract and grant awards from the State of Texas in both direct funding and federal pass-through funding. Final amounts will be determined by Federal and/or State Agencies and may result in higher or lower amounts.
Through this grant, the WIC Program provides nutritious food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding promotion and support to qualified pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and their infants and children less than five years of age.
The FY 2015 budget and personnel complement for this grant were approved by City Council on March 6, 2014 and the proposed budget and personnel complement for FY 2016 were approved on April 2, 2015. This action will authorize an increase of two positions for the WIC Program for the remainder of FY 2015 and FY 2016 for a total of 99 grant positions.
ISSUE:
Historically, the State of Texas has provided funding to the City of San Antonio for service delivery in health and disease prevention. Currently, this includes 17 program grants and contracts through the Texas Department of State Health Services and three through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Acceptance of annual support from the State of Texas continues the long-standing practice of utilizing State aid to support local public health programs of the City.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this ordinance not be approved, Metro Health will need to contract for janitorial services for its various WIC clinic locations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This program is fully funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services. This ordinance does not change the FY 2015 or FY 2016 budget amounts from previously-approved ordinances. There will be no net change in grant funding and no impact to the General Fund. Changes to the personnel complements as authorized by this ordinance will be absorbed into existing appropriations.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance authorizing the revised personnel complement and budgets for the FY 2015 and FY 2016 DSHS WIC Program grant.