COVID-19 Response

The City of San Antonio continues to manage an ongoing response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. ARPA funding was allocated to assist the City's response. Most of the funding is from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). SLFRF was approved by the City Council in 2021. In 2022, the City received additional ARPA funding to assist with the pandemic response. These additional ARPA funds were allocated for Health Disparities grants.

State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds - $50 Million

These funds support the City’s response to COVID-19 by providing services to the community.

Community Testing

Provides support for the operation of six COVID-19 testing locations in neighborhoods with high equity scores.

Contact Tracing

Provides assistance to UT Health School of Public Health Houston, San Antonio Campus (UTSPH Houston) with COVID-19 case investigations.

Vaccine Incentives

Provides a $100 gift card incentive to those vaccinated in neighborhoods with high equity scores.

Community COVID-19 Hotline

Provides support for a COVID-19 Hotline for residents to ask questions about the virus. The hotline is available in English and Spanish. Residents can call 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000 and select option 8.

Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH)

Provides support for personnel in the MIH Blue Team during peaks. This program uses patient-centered mobile resources in the out-of-hospital environment. The program supports the wellness and healthcare delivery to our citizens. MIH extends the San Antonio Fire Department’s reach out into the community.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

Provides support for City personnel at the EOC during peaks. The EOC is the focal point for:

• Information coordination
• Resource requests
• Decision-making during emergency response and recovery in Bexar County

Police & Fire Uniformed Backfill

Uniformed police and fire staff are unable to work when testing positive for COVID-19. This program provides funding to fill vital staffing shortages.

Personal Protective Equipment & HVAC Supplies

Support to ensure the City workforce has proper COVID-19 tools and protective equipment.

Employee Support

This program includes administrative components to manage, oversee, and report on ARPA grants. The program also provides:

• Personal Protective Equipment
• COVID-19 testing for City employees
• City employee COVID-19 vaccine incentives

Health Disparities - $26.6 Million

Communities with pre-existing health disparities face public health and economic challenges. The ARPA Health Disparities grant funds provide support to address these concerns. The San Antonio Metro Health District (SAMHD) manages these funds.

COVID-19 Response

For COVID-19 case investigations, the latest prevention and control recommendations, data analysis, and reporting.

Health Equity & Social Justice

The initiatives in this priority area are cross-cutting and are intended to strengthen the City's ecosystem. This is accomplished by addressing structural racism and other factors, such as the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) that impact the health and well-being of all.

Access to Care

The initiatives in this priority area will address systemic barriers to health care. Health care is important to physical, social, and mental health. This initiative prioritizes access to affordable, quality, patient-centered health care.

Violence Prevention

Violence is an urgent public health problem. From infants to the elderly, it affects people in all stages of life. Violence can lead to a lifetime of physical, emotional, and economic problems. SAMHD is committed to preventing violence so that everyone can be safe and healthy.

Mental Health & Community Resilience

Mental health challenges are an increasing problem in our communities. Mental health problems constitute a large part of the burden of disease in the City. Strengthening community assets is essential to ensuring emotional, psychological, and social well-being. As such, it is necessary to strengthen community assets to improve the coordination of mental health services in San Antonio.

Food Insecurity & Nutrition

Food systems are complex webs of activities. These activities include production, processing, transport, and consumption of food items. Understanding a food system's approach provides insight into how the food system functions. With this understanding, it can be recognized how actors within the system interact. This understanding helps identify intervention points to address food insecurity and nutritional needs. Food insecurity and inadequate nutrition lead to diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Increasing access to healthy foods can mitigate health disparities.

Data & Technology Infrastructure

Updating technology and infrastructure to:

• Ensure a strong foundational workforce
• Robust infrastructure
• Advanced technological services, software, and equipment

Operational Support

Streamlining operations to:

• Provide support to staff and stakeholders
• Enhance staff communication and engagement
• Expand opportunities for staff growth and development
• Planning for SAMHD to maintain accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)