Posting Language
Title
Approve an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Austin Public Health Operating Budget Special Revenue Fund (Ordinance No. 20260812-007) to accept and appropriate $300,000 in grant funds from St. David’s Foundation for the Citywide Supporting Perinatal Access, Care, and Equity collaborative. Funding: $300,000 is available from St. David’s Foundation. A City funding match is not required. A fiscal note is attached.
De
Lead Department
Austin Public Health.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $300,000 is available from St. David’s Foundation. A City funding match is not required. A fiscal note is attached.
For More Information:
Adrienne Sturrup, Director, 512-972-5010; Desmar Walkes, Medical Director, Austin-Travis County Health Authority, 512-972-5097; Juanita Jackson, Business Process Consultant, 512-972-6361.
Additional Backup Information:
This budget amendment is needed to accept and appropriate newly-secured funds from St. David’s Foundation that will be used to convene healthcare providers, community members, birth workers, and other members of the maternal health workforce. The Citywide Supporting Perinatal Access, Care, and Equity (SPACE) collaborative work aligns with Austin Public Health’s (APH) goals and aims to improve birthing outcomes for mothers in Austin/Travis County through education, conversations, and a shared understanding of the landscape of perinatal health in the community.
Funds come directly from a grant award from St. David’s Foundation.
Without the amendment, APH would be unable to fully utilize the newly awarded grant funds to support Citywide SPACE. This would limit the City’s ability to expand programming, outreach, and capacity building efforts as intended.
Several planned initiatives that rely on the additional funds, such as program scaling, enhanced data sharing tools, and expanded collaborative activities would be delayed.
If the amendment is not approved, APH may be unable to access or draw down the grant award for the Citywide SPACE Collaborative activities within the required period. This could result in forfeiting all or part of the grant funding, limiting the collaborative’s ability to meet its intended goals and diminishing resources available to the community.
The collaborative relies on the added funds to support essential operational needs such as staff support, partner coordination, collaboration tools, and community engagement activities. Without the amendment, Citywide SPACE may lack the resources required to maintain planned service levels, build organizational capacity, and meet the operational goals set forth for the grant period.
The General Fund will not be required to contribute additional funds beyond those currently budgeted to this grant. When the grant funds expire, the department’s need for continuing funding will be evaluated and may be denied.