Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of Amendment No. 4 to the agreement with Young Women’s Christian Association to provide mental health services for Asian and Pacific Islander and Latinx communities, to add one 12-month extension option beginning October 1, 2023 in an amount not to exceed $100,000, for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $400,000.
De
Lead Department
Austin Public Health.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $100,000 is included in the Austin Public Health Department Operating Budget. Funding for the remaining terms is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Prior Council Action:
September 2, 2021 - Council authorized negotiation and execution of Amendment No. 2 to the agreement with Young Women’s Christian Association to add funding to the 12-month term of October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 and one 12-month extension option, each in an amount not to exceed $100,000, for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $300,000, on a 10-0 vote with Council Member Alter absent.
For More Information:
Adrienne Sturrup, Director, 512-972-5010; Laura LaFuente, Assistant Director, 512-972-5077; Akeshia Johnson Smothers, Social Services Agreements Administration Manager, 512-972-5567; Juanita Jackson, Business Process Consultant, 512-972-6163.
Additional Backup Information:
Approval of this item will authorize Austin Public Health to negotiate and execute Amendment No. 4 to the agreement with Young Women’s Christian Association to provide direct mental health services to the Asian-Pacific Islander (API) and Latinx communities for an additional 12-month extension through September 30, 2024 in an amount not to exceed $100,000, for a revised total agreement amount not to exceed $400,000.
This agreement was awarded from the Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) 004 Asian Pacific Islander Mental Health Services. There were two applicants and two awarded agencies: Northwest Austin Universal Health Clinic for $100,000 and Young Women’s Christian Association (also known as YWCA) for $50,000.
On April 20, 2020, Austin Public Health published the RFGA and received applications from qualified social service providers (also known as the Applicants) with demonstrated experience providing services to individuals who identify as API and their community (also known as the API population). Interventions must be designed with the priority population’s needs at the outset, with the goal of increasing access to mental health resources for the API community.
The Asian American Quality of Life Commission requested funding during the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget adoption process to support mental health access for Asian American and Pacific Islanders. On May 21, 2019, the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission described the issues facing the API community and existing data as:
“High levels of mental distress and serious mental illness is prevalent in Austin’s API community. However, API persons experiencing these conditions are less likely to seek treatment due to social stigma, lack of awareness and language barriers.”
“Data from the City’s Asian American Quality of Life Initiative (Quantitative Study) showed higher levels of mental distress and serious mental illness across all of Austin’s largest Asian American ethnic groups when compared to the general U.S. population. In addition, these groups also exhibited low utilization levels of psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals (counselors, marriage therapists, social workers).”
On September 10, 2019, Council passed the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget, which included a budget item for Austin Public Health’s provision of mental health services to expand access to affirming mental health therapy for the API community.
All amendments are listed below:
Amendment No 3. exercised the second 12-month renewal option using ongoing funding from Fiscal Year 2023 funds for API and Latinx agreements.
Amendment No 2. exercised the first 12-month renewal option using ongoing funding from Fiscal Year 2022 and modified the program exhibits.
Amendment No 1. added $50,000 in one-time funds to the agreement to expand direct mental health services to the Latinx community and modified the program exhibits.