Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO APPROVE Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for provision of core medical and support; and planning and evaluation services to persons with HIV/AIDS in the amount of $16,654,320, for the March 1, 2019 through February 29, 2020 grant period; authorizing the County Administrator to take the necessary administrative and budgetary actions to execute and implement the grant upon receipt.

ACTION:  (T-1:46 PM)  Approved.
 
VOTE: 9-0.

Broward County Administrative Code, Section 20.31.b.3 requires Board approval prior to submission of any grant application that will become binding upon award by the granting entity.

Approval will enable Broward County to submit an application for federal funding to continue to provide health care, support, and outreach services to eligible Broward County residents living with HIV/AIDS.

None.

THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.

This action supports the Board’s Value of “[A]pproaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable,” and the Goal to “[E]ffectively advocate for and acquire municipal, state, and federal financial support to equitably address health and human services needs of the entire community through a truly coordinated system of care.” Securing federal grant funding will facilitate providing needed services to eligible residents living with HIV/AIDS.

Broward County has received Ryan White Part A grant funding from HRSA since 1991. The Ryan White Part A Program is authorized by the Public Health Act, Sections 2601-2610 (42 USC 300ff-11 - 300ff-20), as amended by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-87). The funds assist in developing or enhancing high quality, community-based care for low income individuals and families affected by HIV-related illnesses in Eligible Metropolitan Areas (EMA) that have been severely affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The Broward County HIV Health Services Planning Council (Planning Council), created through Resolution No. 1990-3469 on November 27, 1990, is legislatively mandated to establish core medical and support service priorities, and allocate Ryan White Part A Grant funds based on size, demographics, and needs of the local population living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS. These health and support services are procured using an open, competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, resulting in agreements with community agencies.

In the 2018-2019 grant period, Broward County was awarded $15,831,728 in Ryan White Part A funds to serve approximately 8500 unduplicated HIV-positive individuals. The most recent report from the Florida Department of Health HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report documented 20,041 people in Broward County are presumed to be living with HIV/AIDS. Broward County anticipates serving approximately 9,000 unduplicated persons living with HIV in the 2019-2020 grant period for a range of services determined by the Planning Council (Exhibit 1).

The 2019-2020 Grant Application and Compliance Assurances Form (Exhibit 2) must be submitted to HRSA by September 21, 2018. Broward County met all federally-mandated Conditions of Award, including ensuring that unexpended grant funds are below 5% of the total grant award.

Silvia Beebe, Acting Director, Community Partnerships Division, (954) 357-6396 
William E. Green, Human Services Administrator, Health Care Services, (954) 357-5398