DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dawn Emerick, EdD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
An ordinance authorizing the acceptance of funds from Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH) for participation in the DASH Mentorship Program in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funds from the DASH Mentorship Program in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 for a term starting February 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 to design or implement initiatives based on shared multi-sector data that support community goals.
The funds will be used to support staffs’ participation in the mentorship program activities, including travel to in-person program meetings and conferences. The DASH Mentorship Program pairs former mentees with current mentees to serve as peer mentors and help accelerate the mentee organization’s local multi-sector data initiative. Metro Health’s participation in the Mentorship Program will support the recently established City of San Antonio (CoSA) inter-departmental Data Collaborative’s goal to create a seamless platform for citywide data sharing and a coordinated approach to data-informed problem solving for matters affecting the community.
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents and a grant contract to effectuate the acceptance of the referenced grant funds, 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 awarded to the grant; f) reimbursement increases of administrative funds for each participant served; g) amendments funding one time equipment purchases or defined program services; and h) changes in regulations mandated by the funding agency.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
San Antonio is often referred to as “the most economically segregated city in the nation.” With rising economic inequality and population growth, issues such as poverty, homelessness, and segregation are becoming more apparent. The City has thus initiated an interdepartmental collaborative to facilitate data and knowledge sharing with the purpose of more concretely addressing inequity. The first project focuses on identifying neighborhoods and communities where the risk of displacement is greatest, so that the City can implement more targeted action to protect and preserve these communities and promote equitable growth. The problem of displacement is multi-factorial. Therefore, the collaborative will begin by bringing together data, methodology, and leaders from five (5) City departments: Metro Health, Neighborhood and Housing Services, Economic Development, Development Services, and Information Technology.
Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH) accepted Metro Health’s application to participate in the DASH Mentorship Program. The mentors and community peers will work to accelerate their local multi-sector data sharing efforts. Each mentee organization will receive $5,000.00 to support staffs’ participation in the program activities, including travel to in-person meetings of the cohort during the program. The funding is expected to start February 1, 2020 and will end December 31, 2020.
ISSUE:
Metro Health requests City Council authorize the acceptance of funds upon award in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 from DASH. The funds will be used to support staffs’ participation in the program activities, including travel to in-person meetings of the cohort during the program.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should City Council not approve this ordinance, Metro Health will forego the opportunity to participate in the DASH Mentorship Program and will not be able to accept the funding awarded to the department to support staffs’ participation in the program activities, including travel to in-person meetings of the cohort during the program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funds from DASH in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 for participation in the DASH Mentorship Program for a term beginning February 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Funds will be used to support staffs’ participation in the program activities, including travel to in-person meetings of the cohort during the program. There is no impact on the General Fund in the form of a cash match.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council approve an ordinance authorizing the acceptance of grant funds upon award in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 from DASH for a term beginning February 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020 for the DASH Mentorship Program.