DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jennifer Herriott, MPH
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 children enrolled in the Head Start program for a term ending July 31, 2020.
The agreement with PCI from April 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020 allows Metro Health to provide oral health assessments and preventive dental care for children enrolled in PCI’s Head Start program for a budgeted amount of up to $48,960.00. The City will provide in-kind services in an amount of $9,792 for the period of this agreement.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Head Start program is a federally-funded program that provides education, child development, nutrition, social services, health and disability assessments, and parent involvement, on a full-time basis. These programs are designed to serve children ages 3 to 5 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. Evaluations are required by federal guidelines for such child development service programs and evaluations are necessary to ensure that the children assessed are channeled into an appropriate health care resource to resolve any health complications found in the evaluation.
With the addition of the proposed agreement, Metro Health’s Oral Health program will be contracted to provide dental services for up to 5,187 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 and up to two fluoride varnish applications 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 the local Head Start program. 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 evaluations, on-site preventive dental care and case management support for children enrolled in the Head Start Program with PCI. Additionally, these organizations would need to identify an alternate entity to provide these health evaluations and case management services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Metro Health is requesting City Council authorization for the agreement with Parent/Child Incorporated (PCI) for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to provide oral health services for children enrolled in the Head Start program in amount up to $48,960.00 for a term ending July 31, 2020. Metro Health will be providing an in-kind match of up to $9,792.00, this is already included in the FY 2019 Adopted Budget. There will be no impact on the City's General Fund.
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 Head Start Program for a term ending July 31, 2020.