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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7851
T July 26, 1994
A To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Subject: ESTABLISHING CLOSER RELA-riONS BETWEEN THE HEALTH
1873 DEPARTMENTS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, since early 1992,
has been pursuing the development of' a program in public health which will primarily
serve north and west Texas. The decis.ion to pursue this plan for a program in public
health in our region is driven by a number of factors including: 1 ) an increased
emphasis on public health and disease prevention as tools to achieve healthier
populations; 2) major increases in the population of north Texas that are projected to
continue through the next two decades; and 3) the need to address major health issues
in our area such as AIDS, teen pregnancy, violence, and substance abuse, using the
prevention model. The strategic plan for the development of the school of public
health program states in part, "Schools of public health should establish firm practice
links with state and/or local public health agencies. . .and train students in such
practice situations."
The current Public Health Center, located at 1800 University Drive, was constructed
in 1957 and is now very overcrowded. This facility was initially constructed using
50% federal, 25% City of Fort Worth and 25% Tarrant County funds. The City and
County Health Departments estimate that they require -32,000 additional square feet
of space to adequately provide their growing mix of services through the next decade.
This necessitates an increase over the current space available at 1 80b University, plus
the construction of an adequate parking-structure.--To-ad-dress this need f or additional
space for public health services, local government could use either of two options:
1 An all new facility could be constructed on a new site; or
2) A third wing could be added to the existing structure at 1800
Currently no funding source has been identified for either option. The most likely
source of funding either project would be general obligation bonds.
A third option has recently been presented. At the invitation of the University of North
Texas Health Science Center's Vice President for Health Affairs, Alecia Hathaway,
Assistant Director for Health Services, and Nick Curry, Director of Public Health, met
with Vice President Cohen and President Richards on June 29th, The purpose of the
meeting wasto explore mutually beneficial relations between the health science center
and the health department.
As the health science center moves forward with plans for creation of the new program
in public health, two major issues were placed on the table for this discussion:
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7$51
RTE R�.o
July 26, 1994
FO To the Mayor end Members of the City Council page 2 of 2
Pww r�xps Subject: ESTABLISHING CLOSER RELATIONS BETWEEN THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
1) The potential for moving forward with plans for a unified health department or
public health district; and
2) The potential for collocating a new health department central office on the
campus of the UNT Health Science Center along with the new public health
program.
Discussions are in their very early phases and President Richards has indicated that any
plan would have to be a "win-win" situation for both the university and local
government. He has advised those at the meeting to move forward with site visits to
Emory University in Atlanta and the University of Washington in Seattle where such
relationships exist so that more can be learned about the development of these
relationships and their financial and legal aspects.
You are being informed so.that you will be aware of these discussions and may make
your views known on these issues.
ATerr I
City Manager
t BT:g
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER - FORT WORTH,TEXAS