DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dawn Emerick, Ed. D
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Approving the acceptance of additional funds from the Texas Department of State Health Services’ funding opportunity for Healthy Texas Mothers and Babies.
SUMMARY:
Council previously approved an application to and acceptance of funds from the Texas Department of State Health Services in an amount up to $320,625.00 for the Healthy Texas Babies Program, Ordinance No. 2017-12-14-1007.
This ordinance approves the acceptance of additional funds from the Texas Department of State Health Services’ Healthy Mothers and Babies Program for the remaining two years of the 5 year project period in an amount not to exceed $235,000.00 starting September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2022.
The above referenced approves the submission of an annual projected budget and the continued funding of 1 full time position as previously authorized.
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents and a grant contract to effectuate the 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 awarded to the grant, inclusive of the funds awarded under this ordinance; 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:
Women should schedule a prenatal care visit as soon as they know or suspect that they are pregnant, ideally within the first trimester of pregnancy; however, close to 40% of Texas women, primarily African American and Hispanic women, receive either late or no prenatal care. No or inadequate prenatal care is more likely to lead to low birth weight babies and pregnancy-related complications.
Currently in Bexar County, more than 1 in 5 pregnant adolescents receive no prenatal care. As of 2015, 67% of all live births were from mothers who entered prenatal care in the first trimester, which indicates that one in three mothers do not access prenatal care in these crucial first three months of their pregnancy. The national Healthy People 2020 goal is that at least 77.9% of pregnant women access first trimester prenatal care. Barriers reported by mothers to obtaining prenatal care include lacking information about prenatal care and health insurance, having difficulty making appointments, not having enough time, transportation, and childcare, and not knowing they are pregnant.
In 2017, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) identified the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) as a participant for the Healthy Texas Babies program, subsequently renamed the Healthy Texas Mothers and Babies program, through a non-competitive selection process. Council approved an application to and acceptance of funds up to $320,625.00 for a 5 year project period, Ordinance No. 2017-12-14-1007 which included one full-time position. Metro Health has authority to administratively accept an additional 10% of supplemental funds per this Ordinance, for a total amount up to $352,688.
DSHS has subsequently awarded the Department more than originally anticipated for the first 3 years of the project period. To date, Metro Health has received $245,625.00 and anticipates receiving an additional $117,500.00 for each of the two remaining years of the project period. This would bring the total receipts to $480,625.00, thus requiring Council to approve the acceptance of additional funds.
Metro Health received notice on January 29, 2020 from DSHS of the increased amount and the need for a revised budget that was due February 7, 2020. At that time, Metro Health submitted a Special Category Grant Authorization form in order to be able to provide the requested documents to DSHS in the short time-frame.
These funds, made available to Metro Health, will be used to develop collaborations to support collective impact in improving birth outcomes, maternal, perinatal and infant health and to reduce disparities in infant mortality. The funds used will be provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration through The Department of State Health Services’ federal Title V award. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for the funds is 93.994.
ISSUE:
Metro Health requests City Council approve the acceptance of additional funds from the Texas Department of State Health Services’ funding opportunity for Healthy Texas Mothers and Babies upon award in the amount of $235,000.00 beginning September 1, 2020 and ending August 31, 2022 to support collaborations for improving birth outcomes, maternal, perinatal and infant health and to reduce disparities in infant mortality.
Metro Health submitted the grant documents including a face page and budget to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) prior to the City Council meeting date due to a short timeframe to respond imposed by DSHS.
ALTERNATIVES:
Without these funds, San Antonio will struggle to meet the Healthy People 2020 goal that 77.9% of pregnant women receive first trimester prenatal care.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance approves the acceptance of additional funds from the Texas Department of State Health Services for the Healthy Texas Mothers and Babies program grant in the amount of $235,000.00 for 24 months beginning September 1, 2020. This ordinance will continue to fund (1) full time position for the period beginning September 1, 2020 as previously authorized by Ordinance No. 2017-12-14-1007. There is no impact in the form of a cash match to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council approve the acceptance of additional funds upon award from the Texas Department of State Health Services for the Healthy Texas Mothers and Babies funding opportunity, and approval to execute the grant documents.