Travis County Commssioners Court
July 1, 2003
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Item 29
29 is to consider and take appropriate action on request from sickle cell anemia foundation for one-year extension or renewal of contract with Travis County. Steven.
>> good morning.
>> good morning, steven.
>> [inaudible] we had a contract with this agency as well as the city of Austin to really engage in sickle cell outreach education and screening efforts. That contract was only funded for a year. Because we did not have available resources during last fiscal year, we did not continue to contract. Since then we have had a contractor that we're no longer doing business with, so therefore that freed up about $34,000 in our social services contract line item. What we're proposing here is that we renew the sickle cell contract to continue the efforts that were started in 2001. Shannon jones, the assistant director for Austin-Travis County health and human services, is working closely with the agency in doing outreach education and also the screening and he can speak more specifically to their activities.
>> tell us what the city has done. We kind of started this with the city a year and a half ago, I guess.
>> and where they are.
>> yes. Thanks very much, judge and Commissioners, for the opportunity to join you here today. The city is renewings its effort but it's $50,000 for next year. And with regards to outreach efforts and initiatives, we are very happy with the initiative for the last year in terms of making sure that we're doing outreach in terms of the community. Sickle cell anemia is one of our serious chronic diseases that we're doing significant outreach in all communities. The mark [inaudible] chapter is working with a variety of venues to address those issues. They are also clab railght with several -- collaborating in terms of some of our neighborhood centers and target areas where we identify the cases of sickle cell in this community not only within the city but also within the county areas as well. So we're very happy with the initiative. We would like to do more, but given the initiative we have, we feel there's a lot more is that we can do, but with these resources will help us continue what we have started this past year.
>> to me this was always like a gap and we were trying to figure out how can we fill this gap. Since seco is now out of the picture, it seems like we have a slot that has opened up. And I’m just wondering if this is a place that we can -- I don't want to use the word "permanent" because the word "permanent" doesn't exist in county budgeting, but can we land this particular contract and we don't have to go through this every year of how can we find the money from someplace, a they can go ahead and land there and some sort of sense they are in a process?
>> yes that is correct is the suggestion -- yes, that is the suggestion. Particularly encouraged because of the close working relationship that they have with the health department because I think that with that link it could [inaudible].
>> steven --
>> really I’m just making sure this all gets coordinated with purchasing and yada-yada.
>> we're coming to seek the court's permission.
>> I had hoped it would be on consent.
>> well, we need to actually do a contract and go through the process.
>> steven, we've chatted many times since the first of the year, they did have city money so they've been continue to go operate, but it was kind of cloudy but exactly what the source of funding would be. And then when seco kind of went out of business, that did generate other funds, but we weren't sure what was on the horizon.
>> I would like to go ahead and institutionalize this and just getting them locked in but working with the folks in purchase to go get the contract drawn up and brought back to us.
>> under the outreach effort, i've spoken to people that have been dealing with sickle cell, and one concern that was brought up during that time was on the outreach phase, the education phase and how they could expand their efforts to ensure that education and outreach is maximized. And I guess my question is to the city, how are you guys going to be looking at that and also the county as far as outreach? Because of course funding has been a problem for this particular organization, and much course continued funding is something I think that is paramount. So the question is, as far as outreach is concerned, how that's being done and how we're going to try to maximize that, because that was a key question that was asked of me from one of the persons that actually had sickle cell.
>> I thank you, Commissioner Davis. One of the things we would like to do, one is presently at the offices out north of highland mall, they are actually doing counseling one on one in terms of outreach. But they are also part of numerous health fairs. Last year they did over 500 outreach initiatives in communities targeting various locations t program tends to be more [inaudible] based for those who have sickle cell as opposed to going out and doing a lot of advertising given the limited resources. However, this year as expansion of our mobile outreach efforts, it's our intention through the use of our two mobile vans that we anticipate having this year to actually provide fliers to involve them in terms of counseling uks provide them doing some testing out in the community both within the city and rural areas of the county to make sure that activity is available to all residents. And to end referrals in terms of places you feel persons -- we would be more than happy to share that and make sure they are participating.
>> if a person wants to contact you that has a chance to look at this presentation, how could they do that? Do you have a telephone number?
>> they could contact us and we will put them in contact with the contractor. Our number they can call us at 972-5410 and refer information about the sickle cell program, we'll be more than happy to put in contact with the chapter.
>> move we except an appropriate contract with identified funding.
>> second.
>> that we get the county attorney and purchase to go work with health and human services to get this done as expeditiously as possible. Any more discussion in all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Thank you all very much.
Last Modified: Wednesday, July 1, 2003 5:52 AM