Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health or the Assistant Director of Health to sign a Renewal and Amendment No. 1 with MEarth for the provision of School Day field trips addressing healthy foods, healthy food choices, hands-on organic garden experience, and food preparation for students, extending the agreement for an additional one (1) year, for a revised full term of January 27, 2019, through September 30, 2023, and adding $16,000 to increase the maximum contract liability to $64,393.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health or the Assistant Director of Health to sign a Renewal and Amendment No. 1 with MEarth for the provision of School Day field trips addressing healthy foods, healthy food choices, hands-on organic garden experience, and food preparation for students, extending the agreement for an additional one (1) year, for a revised full term of January 27, 2019, through September 30, 2023, and adding $16,000 to increase the maximum contract liability to $64,393.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) program provides Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program- Education (SNAP-Ed) to eligible low-income community members through education and obesity prevention activities and interventions. CFHL works to address high obesity rates in Monterey County among children, adolescents, and adults. The SNAP-Ed County Profile Dashboard for Monterey County indicates that in 2018 70% of adults in Monterey County had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or higher and are considered overweight/obese. The state percentage is 63. Among the SNAP-Ed eligible adult population, the percentage of Monterey County residents with a BMI of 25 or higher is 74%. The state percentage is 67. The percentage of children/teens (age 2-17) consuming fast food in Monterey County 1 or more times per week is 75%. The state percentage is 73%.
CFHL promotes healthy eating habits and a physically active lifestyle to all community members. CFHL equips our community members with nutrition information and opportunities as early as possible to improve their health throughout life. CFHL achieves these goals through engagement with SNAP eligible community members and by collaboratively working with local agencies and partners to incorporate physical activity education and healthy food and beverage education with students, adults, and seniors in a variety of settings.
To achieve our community change goals, enhance nutrition education, and increase the consumption of healthy foods, a subcontract with MEarth was executed in 2020. MEarth provides hands-on food prep and harvesting in the garden to community members who otherwise would not benefit from these experiences. Participating CFHL students in the 4th grade attend a field trip to MEarth. This field trip is part of the Impact Outcome Evaluation completed each year by CFHL staff. This evaluation has a pre/post survey, 7 nutrition lessons, and the field trip to MEarth. Students take what they have learned in the class and put it into practice- making healthy food, harvesting items from the garden, and then eating together. MEarth provides hands-on experiences with an organic garden and kitchen space. This agreement is late in being brought forward due to staffing shortages and prioritization of other agreements related to COVID-19 response.
This work supports the Monterey County Health Department 2018-2022 Strategic Plan Goals: 1. Empower the community to improve health; and 2. Enhance community health and safety through prevention. It also supports two of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 3. Communicate effectively to inform and educate people about health, factors that influence it, and how to improve it; and 4. Strengthen, support and mobilize communities and partnerships to improve health.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved this Agreement as to legal form. Auditor-Controller has reviewed and approved this Agreement as to fiscal provisions.
FINANCING:
This Agreement is anticipated to be funded 100% with the CalFresh Healthy Living Grant. Appropriations for FY 2022-23 are included in the Health Department's (HEA003-8124) FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
☐Economic Development:
• Through collaboration, strengthen economic development to ensure a diversified and healthy economy.
☐Administration:
• Promote an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management and is recognized for responsiveness, strong customer orientation, accountability and transparency.
☒Health & Human Services:
• Improve health and quality of life through County supported policies, programs, and services; promoting access to equitable opportunities for healthy choices and healthy environments in collaboration with communities.
☐Infrastructure:
• Plan and develop a sustainable, physical infrastructure that improves the quality of life for County residents and supports economic development results.
☐Public Safety:
• Create a safe environment for people to achieve their potential, leading businesses and communities to thrive and grow by reducing violent crimes as well as crimes in general.
Prepared by: Patricia Velarde, Management Analyst I, 796-1377
Approved by:
______________________________Date:_________
Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health, 755-4526
Attachments:
Board Report
Renewal and Amendment
Fully Executed Agreement