REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7th, 2026, AT 2:30 P.M. CITY HALL, BOARD & COMMISSION ROOM, ROOM 1101 301 W. 2nd STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the [Commission Name] may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote remotely, contact Daniela Romero, participation by daniela.romero@austintexas.gov or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov. telephone. To to speak register CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS OR COMMISSIONERS: Natalie Poindexter, Chair Enrique Lin Shiao, Vice Chair Jawad Ali Chris Crookham Cara Dahlhausen Jacob Whitty Martha Lujan William Rice Larry Wallace, Jr. EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Adrienne Sturrup, Director, Austin Public Health Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin/Travis County Public Health Authority Ana Almaguel, Division Director, Travis County Health & Human Services Perla Cavazos, Deputy Administrator, Central Health AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Health Commission Regular Meeting on November 5th, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Receive updates from commissioners on assigned action items. Discuss revised Harm Reduction Outreach Expansion recommendation. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. Discuss and approve goals for the 2026 fiscal year. Discuss and approve the 2026 annual schedule of the Public Health Commission. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please contact Daniela Romero at Austin Public Health, at daniela.romero@austintexas.gov, or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Public Health Commission, please contact Daniela Romero at daniela.romero@austintexas.gov or Juanita Jackson at Juanita.jackson@austintexas.gov.
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION Running List of Topics Agenda Topics Sponsors Develop recommendation for budget submission Discussion on federal funding cuts and their effects on local public health initiatives *APH* Commission Consensus Commission Consensus Date Topic was Proposed 12/5/2024 6/4/2025 Cap and Stitch discussion and recommendation for resource allocation Receive a presentation from Austin or Travis County Jail System/APD to discuss behavioral health and Criminal Justice System. Crookham 6/4/2025 Commission Consensus - - Bring back Farmshare for presentation on Poindexter food access/insecurity Invite councilwoman Fuentez to provide input & guidance Rice 4/2/2025 Presentation by Austin Metro re: bus routes Lujan 12/5/2024 and access to care Last Updated: 1/5/2026 Proposed Agenda Date Confirmed - Sept. – specific from CH & DSHS - - - - - Cont. Cont. - - - - - Priority Order 1 2 Priority Items Individual Research: Commissioners will review independently and prepare to discuss further during set agenda days (if applicable) Independently review Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project Report March 2023 Look at Los Angeles, Boston and other Public Health Commissions forums and forms of public meetings Sponsors Date Completed Commission Consensus Commission Consensus Cont. Cont. Completed Agenda Topics Sponsors Receive briefing from agencies on their organizational structure. Budget, Contract, and funding mechanism Programs/services provided related to transgender healthcare Commission Consensus and gender affirming care Scope of services/program provided by Travis County and Austin Public Health including o mental health, o depression on chronic diseases o housing o healthcare, o respect to end-of-life care (hospice) Agenda Date Travis County - 7/12/2023 APH - 8/9/2023 CH – 10/4/2023 o equity/community violence and safety Program/services related to opioid crisis in Travis County Receive a presentation on the Sobering Center Central Health and Sendero long organizational structure - The CH presentation should include its whole organization (Community Care, community collaborative, MAP, committees, etc.) Presentation on the CHA/CHIP Briefing on Central Health 2022 Community Health Assessment (aka 2022 Demographic Report) Follow-up presentation on Opioid Settlement Funds coordinating presentation with Central Health, Travis County and APH - Discuss presentation on opioids given to the Travis County Commissioners Wallace 9/6/2023 Commission Consensus 10/4/2023 Commission Consensus Commission Consensus Commission Consensus 2/7/2024 1/3/2024 8/7/2024 2/7/2024 What is the relationship with other joint Commission? Equity Office to extend membership for PHC to join. - Joint …
AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION Wednesday, November 5th, 2025 AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, November 5th, 2025 The Austin Travis County Public Health Commission convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, November 5th, 2025, at 301 West 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Natalie Poindexter called the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission Meeting to order at 2:35 pm. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Natalie Poindexter, Chair Cara Dahlhausen Enrique Lin Shiao, Vice Chair William Rice Chris Crookham Martha Lujan Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: None Board Members/Commissioners Absent: Jacob Whitty Larry Wallace, Jr Ex-Officio and Staff in Attendance: Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin/Travis County Public Health Authority Ana Almaguel, Division Director, Travis County Health & Human Services Alicia Ramirez, Government Affairs Manager, Central Health Daniela Romero, Staff, Austin Public Health Juanita Jackson, Staff, Austin Public Health Ex-Officio and Staff in Attendance Remotely: Adrienne Sturrup Ex-Officio and Staff Absent: Megan Cermak Perla Cavazos PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission regular meeting on November 5th, 2025. The minutes for the regular meeting of October 1st, 2025, were approved on Commissioner William Rice’s motion, Commissioner Chris Crookham second on a 6-0 vote. (Absent: Commissioner Jacob Whitty & Commissioner Larry Wallace, Jr.) DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Introduction of Austin Travis County Community Health Assessment & Improvement Plan (CHA/CHIP) partners by Kodjo Dodo, Program Manager, with Austin Public Health. Presentation by Kelli Lovelace, Community Benefit Director with Ascension Seton, on their contribution to the Community Health & Needs Assessment Report. Presentation by Nichole Edmonds, MPH, Vice President of Community Service Department and Olivia Stelter, Central TX Coordinator, Community Investment with Baylor Scott & White Health on their contribution to the Community Health & Needs Assessment Report. Presentation by Jesse Simmons, MS, Senior Evaluation Officer with St. David’s Foundation on their contribution to the Community Health & Needs Assessment Report. Presentation by Beth Corbett, Vice President of Government Affairs, and Emily Foxman, Research Manager with Central Texas Food Bank on their contribution to the Community Health & Needs Assessment Report. Presentation by Shirley Aldana, Business Process Specialist with Austin Public Health on their contribution to the Community Health & Needs Assessment Report. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8. 9. 10. Prepare for working retreat in December 2025. Discuss harm reduction recommendation. Revisit community health worker recommendation. …
. . RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Austin Travis County Public Health Commission Recommendation Number: [YYYYMMDD-XXX] Harm Reduction Outreach Expansion: This recommendation seeks to prevent overdoses in the Austin, Travis County area through outreach programs and peer support specialists that provide life-saving services directly to high- risk populations using awarded opioid abatement funds. This recommendation directly addresses priorities identified by Travis County Health and Human Services and community members including outreach, peer support capacity, and reducing the stigma surrounding substance use disorders. NOTE: The “WHEREAS” should give the background and the “NOW, THEREFORE,” should state what the Board or Commission is requesting Council to do. WHEREAS Travis County declared opioid overdoses as a public health crisis in 2022 and extended the declaration in 2024 to stay in effect until October 1, 2026. WHEREAS The City of Austin has declared a need for increased efforts to address the opioid overdose crisis in RESOLUTION NO. 20220616-053. WHEREAS Travis County recorded more than 400 accidental drug-related deaths in 2023. In 2024, Austin-Travis County reported 1,058 EMS calls and dispatches and 831 emergency department visits due to drug overdoses, highlighting the current crisis. WHEREAS Travis County has received three opioid abatement fund disbursements over the course of the next 15 years aiming to prevent, treat, or reduce overdoses and opioid use. WHEREAS an increased capacity for community outreach was identified and presented as a priority in 2024, facilitated by Travis County Health and Human Services, in collaboration with Austin-Travis County community providers WHEREAS harm reduction outreach efforts focused on opioid overdose prevention help expand access to life-saving interventions such as naloxone distribution and training, connection to community services and peer support, especially among high-risk populations such as unhoused individuals, who may face significant barriers to care due to stigma, social determinants of health, and other challenges. WHEREAS peer recovery support services is the best practice associated with improved health outcomes, increased likelihood to engage in recovery services, and reduction in stigma around substance use. . NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Public Health Commission recommends that Travis County Health and Human Services: 1. Invest opioid abatement funds for organizations that provide Harm Reduction to expand outreach programs in Travis County. 2. Renew and increase existing opioid abatement–funded harm reduction contracts totaling $525,000 that expire September 30, 2026, and allocate additional funds to create new contracts so organizations can hire staff and expand …
