DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing Agreements with Parent/Child Incorporated related to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s Oral Health Program
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 August 31, 2021 with the option to renew for one additional, one-year term. This agreement 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 up to $48,960.00 for the initial term and a total amount up to $97,920.00, inclusive of renewals, in compensation to Metro Health.
This Ordinance also authorizes an agreement with PCI for Metro Health to provide oral health services for infants and children enrolled in Early Head Start programs for a term ending September 30, 2021 with the option to renew for two additional one-year terms. This agreement with PCI 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 an in-kind budgeted amount up to $14,000.00 and a total amount up to $42,000.00, inclusive of renewals. 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 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.
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 agreements with PCI for Metro Health’s dental staff to provide oral health services for children enrolled in local Head Start and Early Head Start programs. These agreements 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 Head Start and Early Head Start Programs with PCI. Additionally, this organization 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 two agreements with Parent/Child Incorporated (PCI) for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to provide oral health services for infants and children enrolled in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
Funding for the Head Start agreement and provision of services is provided through the Parent /Child Incorporated Head Start Grant. PCI will provide compensation in the amount up to $48,960.00 for the initial term of the agreement and a total amount up to $97,920.00, inclusive of the renewal. Metro Health will provide an in-kind match of up to $9,792.00 for the initial term of the agreement and a total amount up to $19,584.00, inclusive of the renewal.
Funding for the Early Head Start 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 $14,000.00 for the initial term of the agreement and a total amount of $42,000.00, inclusive of renewals.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Ordinance authorizing agreements with Parent/Child Incorporated (PCI) allowing the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to provide oral health services for infants and children enrolled in the Head Start and Early Head Start Programs for a term ending August 31, 2021 with the option to renew for one, one-year term and for a term ending September 30, 2021 with the option to renew for two additional one-year terms.