Community Health Contact:
Charlene Doria-Ortiz
Community Health
Program Manager
cdoria-ortiz@bexar.org
(210) 335-3581
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In October 2007 the Bexar County Commissioner’s Court authorized the formation of a Community Health Division within the Department of Community Investment. The division’s goal is to initiate, coordinate and administer programs that will improve the health of Bexar County’s citizens. Community Health will develop and maintain community partnerships in order to achieve its goal.
The initial programs being implemented by Community Health are:
|
|
|
Harm Reduction
|
|
Legislatively authorized by the State of Texas in Senate Bill 10, the Harm Reduction program was approved and funded by Commissioners Court in August of 2007 and is the first pilot program in the State. The program will emphasize public health by providing bilingual education and prevention materials as well as referrals to needed services, testing and needle exchange will also be available. This comprehensive approach will assist in combating the spread of Hepatitis, HIV and other infectious diseases in Bexar County.
|
|
|
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006
|
|
Bexar County serves as the administrative agency for the Ryan White funding for the provision of HIV and AIDS services for Bexar and surrounding counties with funding through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006 (RWHATMA). The purpose of the RWHATMA is to address the unmet care and treatment needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS by funding primary health care and support services that enhance access to and retention in care.
|
The San Antonio area, comprised of Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe and Wilson counties receives approximately $3.8 million in funding from the federal government. The Bexar County Judge serves as the Chief Elected Official for the funds and appoints members to the San Antonio Area HIV Health Services Planning Council. The Planning Council, established in 1994, determines the needs of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in the San Antonio area, prioritizes services and allocates funding to ensure 100% access and 0% disparity.
Bexar County also serves as the Administrative Agency for the Part B funds distributed under the RWHATMA. The federal government allocates Part B funds to the individual states, which then contract with local Administrative Agencies to distribute those funds to the community. The Part B funds are divided into four categories, State Services, Service Delivery, Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS and Administrative. Bexar County distributes these funds to the following three (3) Health Service Delivery Areas (HSDA):
San Antonio HSDA
Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe,
Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, Wilson
Uvalde HSDA
Dimmit, Edward, Kinney, LaSalle, Maverick, Real,
Uvalde, Val Verde, Zavala
Victoria HSDA
Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales,
Jackson, Lavaca, Victoria
Please contact Erin Grothues at (210) 335-7055
for more information on planning services in these areas.
|
|
|
