DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an Agreement with Parent/Child Incorporated
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes an agreement with Parent/Child Incorporated (PCI) for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) to provide oral health services for infants and children enrolled in Early Head Start programs for a term ending September 30, 2019 with the option to renew for one additional one-year term.
The agreement with PCI from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019 allows Metro Health to provide oral health assessments and preventive dental care for children enrolled in PCI’s Early Head Start and Early Head Start Expansion and Childcare Partnership programs for a budgeted amount up to $12,000.00. Metro Health will not seek reimbursement for these services. Metro Health will provide the agency with documentation of the in-kind value of dental care provided through this initiative.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Early Head Start program is a federally-funded program that provides child care, education, child development, nutrition and social services, health and disability assessment and parent involvement, on a full-time basis. These programs are designed to serve children ages 0 to 3 years whose parents' income meets Administration for Child, Youth and Families Guidelines. Families utilizing the programs and services do not have the financial resources to obtain such health evaluation services through the private medical community. Screenings are required by federal guidelines for such day care and child development service programs and assessments are necessary to ensure that the children evaluated are channeled into an appropriate health care resource to resolve any health complications found in the assessment.
Metro Health’s Oral Health program is currently contracted to provide dental services for 4,852 children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start Programs. In these programs, each enrollee is provided with an on-site limited oral health evaluation performed by a Metro Health dentist. In addition, Metro Health dental staff provides case management services and support for all children identified with “urgent” or unmet dental needs who are uninsured or underinsured for required dental care. Through this initiative, Metro Health dental staff also connects these children with comprehensive dental care through the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Dentistry, Department of Developmental Dentistry clinics.
ISSUE:
Metro Health requests City Council authorize the agreement with PCI for Metro Health’s dental staff to provide oral health services for children enrolled in local Early Head Start programs. This agreement will allow for early diagnosis and access to timely primary and preventive interventions that improve the oral health outcomes for children at high risk for decay.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this Ordinance is not authorized, Metro Health will be unable to provide oral health assessments, on-site preventive dental care and case management support for children enrolled in Early Head Start Programs with PCI. Additionally, these organizations would need to identify an alternate entity to provide these health evaluations and case management services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for the agreement and provision of services is provided through the General Fund. Metro Health will not seek reimbursement for these services. Metro Health will provide PCI with documentation of the value of dental care provided through this initiative. The total budgeted amount for the in-kind services provided through this agreement will not exceed $12,000.00.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Ordinance authorizing an agreement with Parent/Child Incorporated (PCI) allowing the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to provide oral health services for children enrolled in the Early Head Start Programs for a term ending September 30, 2019 with an option to renew for one additional one-year term.