Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity

09/09/2026

Harris County DEEO joined United Way of Greater Houston for the final Early REACH training session, “Island of Inquiry: Letting Children’s Curiosity Lead the Way.” Early REACH is a Harris County ARPA–funded initiative focused on strengthening child care quality and expanding tools for early learning providers across our region.

Since 2023, the program has supported more than 30 centers, with United Way staff completing 549 coaching sessions in just four months, reflecting a significant level of engagement and capacity-building for participating providers.

The event included remarks from United Way leadership and Harris County Administrator Erica Lee Carter, highlighting ongoing efforts to support early childhood development and the importance of strong child care systems for families and communities. Attendees also participated in an interactive session led by the Alley Theatre Play Makers focused on observational practices and creative movement.

To close the celebration, child care centers were recognized for their commitment to high-quality care, and Early REACH staff were acknowledged for their support and expertise throughout the program.

Congratulations to all partners and participants for their contributions to Early REACH over the past three years.

09/08/2026

Last week, our DBRA and Prevailing Wage teams joined the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for a refresher training to strengthen alignment with federal guidance and reinforce consistency in our procedures. Our staff came prepared with thoughtful questions and actively participated in discussions that deepened our shared understanding of DOL standards.

We continued the momentum with a collaboration meeting between DEEO leadership and DOL Houston representative Lucia Garcia. The conversation opened the door to broader partnership opportunities — not only for wage monitoring, but across the department.

Together, we explored ways to strengthen coordination with the Friendly Feds of Houston and identified opportunities for future trainings, seminars, and webinars for the County, small businesses, and community partners such as the Essential Workers Board.

We appreciate DOL’s partnership and look forward to continued collaboration that promotes clarity, supports compliance, and advances our mission of equitable economic opportunity for Harris County.

08/28/2026

At Harris County DEEO, our work is driven by a team that shows exceptional dedication, creativity, and commitment to serving residents and strengthening economic opportunity countywide. This month, we’re proud to highlight several team members whose efforts have made a meaningful impact across our programs.

From implementing new tools like Quickbase to strengthen our Worksite Safety Program, to supporting data analysis for contract negotiations, advancing compliance and reporting accuracy, and stepping in wherever needed our staff continues to raise the bar through collaboration, resilience, and a deep commitment to public service.

We are grateful for the teamwork displayed across the department, including those leading system improvements, refining quality control processes, and supporting partners with timely guidance. Your work helps make DEEO’s mission possible, and your contributions reflect the best of what it means to serve Harris County.

Thank you for your dedication, your initiative, and your willingness to go above and beyond.

DEEO’s impact is stronger because of you.

08/24/2026

Harris County remains committed to fostering a culture of safety, respect, and accountability across all worksites through continued outreach and collaboration.

Last week, DEEO met with the Houston Contractors Association to share updates on the Worksite Safety Program, discuss recent policy enhancements, and open dialogue around implementation and industry needs.

While the session also covered the Prompt Pay Act and Retainage Policy presented by the Harris County Office of County Administration, DEEO focused on clarifying program expectations and supporting partners as they navigate recent changes.

We appreciate Houston Contractors Association for the opportunity to engage directly with contractors and continue building a safer, more consistent construction environment across Harris County.

08/18/2026

Harris County DEEO is proud to highlight the continued advancement of Harris County’s Worksite Safety Program, strengthened through the annual review of the Harris County Worksite Safety Policy, approved by Commissioners Court earlier this month.

In the past few months, DEEO has worked closely with County partners to build a unified safety framework that aligns policy, procurement, project oversight, compliance, auditing and administration. This alignment ensures consistent expectations for contractors, workers, project teams and establishes a clear, countywide standard for how safety is embedded into construction work.

The revised policy included recommendations from the Worksite Safety Committee and external industry partners, as well as Harris County Court Offices and departments, whose expertise helped shape a stronger, more practical approach to implementation on job sites.

Together, this collective work underscores Harris County’s commitment to protecting workers, reinforcing contractor accountability, and ensuring safety remains fundamental to how the County plans, builds, and delivers construction projects.

08/05/2026

Congratulations to the graduates of the 2026 Interagency Mentor-Protégé Program (IMPP)! Your dedication and commitment over the past few weeks have prepared you to take the next step in growing your businesses and pursuing new opportunities.

A sincere thank you to our partners at the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity, Harris Health, Houston Community College (HCC), Houston ISD, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), and Port Houston for their continued collaboration, to our incredible facilitators for sharing their knowledge and expertise with our protégés and to our mentors for investing their time, sharing their experience and being a guide for these businesses. Your support plays a huge role in the success of this program.

We're excited to see what this year's graduating class accomplishes next, and we're proud to support you along the way.

Congratulations again on this well-earned achievement!

08/04/2026

Interns are on the move!

As a part of the Harris County Precinct 2 Set Up Internship Program, interns participate in activities that deepen their understanding of County operations. Recently, interns learned about the Harris County District Attorney's Office (HCDAO). HCDAO discussed their role within the and how the court is determined to provide every citizen truth and justice within their cases.

About the Harris County District Attorney's Office:
HCDAO may provide lawyers to people who are experiencing legal struggles, or determine court and civil cases, but above all, they serve and protect the people of the city. HCDAO also guarantees that every one of its prosecutors protect the public, provide a voice for victims and survivors, and answer any injustices with the truth.

07/31/2026

07/30/2026

“Everybody thinks healing ends when you leave, but healing actually starts when we leave. When you leave a domestic violence home, that’s when all the work really starts to get yourself better.” –Bibi Khan, President of An-Nisa Hope Center
According to the RAPID Survey Project, more than half of Harris County families with young children have difficulty meeting basic needs, such as housing, food, health care, and child care. This can lead to not only material hardship but high levels of emotional distress, which makes navigating complex systems of care even more challenging.

Through the RISE and Resiliency Fund programs, Harris County DEEO Early Childhood Initiatives is tackling some of our families’ most sensitive issues, from navigating children’s exceptional needs to providing therapeutic services to families experiencing domestic and intimate partner violence. These targeted services provide crucial support to families who need it most.

Watch the full video here, featuring interviews with Harris County organizations on the frontlines of mental health and inclusive services for families: https://youtu.be/SHA3sEoEuJ4

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, An-Nisa, University of Houston

07/29/2026