Posting Language
Title
Approve an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Austin Public Health Department Operating Budget Special Revenue Fund (Ordinance No. 20220817-004) to accept and appropriate $2,000,420 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for the Austin Travis County Substance Use and Misuse Expanded Programming for Increased Community Awareness and Capacity to Prevent Substance Use Disorder Morbidity and Mortality grant.
De
Lead Department
Austin Public Health.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $2,000,420 is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for the program period of September 30, 2023 to September 29, 2024. A City funding match is not required. A fiscal note is attached.
Prior Council Action:
June 16, 2022 - Council approved Resolution No. 20220616-53 declaring a public health crisis in the City related to drug overdoses and directing the City Manager to address the drug overdose crisis by investing in harm reduction strategies utilizing opioid settlement payments and coordinating with the Public Health Commission, Council, and Travis County Commissioners Court, on an 11-0 vote.
For More Information:
Adrienne Sturrup, Director, 512-972-5010; Cassandra DeLeon, Assistant Director, Disease Prevention Health Promotion Division 512-972-6760; Stephanie Helfman, Manager, Chronic Disease & Injury Prevention Program, 512-972-5222; Juanita Jackson, Business Process Consultant, 512-972-6163.
Additional Backup Information:
Austin Public Health has been awarded funding for a Congressional Directive Spending Project entitled “Austin Travis County Substance Use and Misuse Expanded Programming for Increased Community Awareness and Capacity to Prevent Substance Use Disorder Morbidity and Mortality.” This project will support implementation of a public health prevention and education strategy to reduce deaths from opioid overdose. The strategy uses data to educate the community on a multicomponent system, including: 1) substance use/misuse and the associated risk of drug use; 2) high-risk populations within the community; 3) substance use prevention programs at partner agencies that will support educational outreach, provide case coordination and the assessment for at-risk populations; 4) linkage of clients with appropriate prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery programs; 5) expansion of Narcan Risk Reduction education and training of first responders (EMS, Fire, Police, public health), health care professionals, Community Health Workers, people who use drugs, city and transit employees, and other community members; 6) public education campaign; and 7) and healthcare provider education.
Goals for the project include:
• Increase community capacity to utilize peer recovery coaches for community intervention and outreach;
• Increase capacity of local city/county EMS to provide Harm Reduction Services, including distribution of naloxone;
• Build capacity through increased public awareness and education through campaigns for the public focused on prevention, risks, and available resources;
• Build capacity for health care providers to have focused up-to-date and safe prescribing practices for treatment of pain and pain management;
• Build capacity for community driven response by educating first responders (EMS, fire, police, public health), health care professionals, people who use drugs, and other community members on identification of substance use disorders, opioid overdose signs, and appropriate interventions; and
• Build capacity for equitable service delivery by increasing investments in peer recovery counseling and treatment services.
The General Fund will not be required to contribute additional funds beyond those currently budgeted to this grant. When the grant funds expire, the Austin Public Health Department’s need for continued funding will be evaluated and may be denied.