Title
a. Authorize the Executive Director of the Monterey County Workforce Development Board (WDB) to accept grant funds in the total amount not to exceed $886,260 from the Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance), to provide $183,040 to offset staffing costs for the two-year project; $650,000 to fund Community Health Worker cohort training tuition for 130 individuals employed by Alliance-contracted health care provider organizations; and up to $53,220 for training-related operational costs; and
b. Authorize the Executive Director to sign the services agreement to receive the grant from the Alliance effective retroactive to July 1, 2024, for the period from July 1, 2024, through September 30, 2026
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Executive Director of the Monterey County Workforce Development Board (WDB) to accept grant funds in the total amount not to exceed $886,260 from the Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance), to provide $183,040 to offset staffing costs for the two-year project; $650,000 to fund Community Health Worker cohort training tuition for 130 individuals employed by Alliance-contracted health care provider organizations; and up to $53,220 for training-related operational costs; and
b. Authorize the Executive Director to sign the services agreement to receive the grant from the Alliance effective retroactive to July 1, 2024, for the period from July 1, 2024, through September 30, 2026
SUMMARY:
Beginning July 1, 2022, the State of California’s Department of Health Care Services added a compensable Community Health Worker (CHW) Service Benefit to facilitate equitable access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. The Central California Alliance for Health (the Alliance), an award-winning regional non-profit health plan serving members in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Merced counties, has established the CHW Service Benefit with contracting, credentialling, and reimbursement pathways for services providers. Demand for CHW training is increasing based on the new Medi-Cal initiatives. The Alliance seeks to provide grant funding in the total amount of $886,260 for project staffing costs, tuition for four cohorts of CHW trainees, books, training team travel, and in-person operational costs for up to 130 employees of Alliance-contracted health care provider organizations.
DISCUSSION:
Background:
CHWs, based on their lived experience and training, build trusting relationships and serve as a liaison between health and social services, Medi-Cal members, and the greater community. Known by many titles including promotors, community service aides, and health navigators, CHWs can provide a variety of Medi-Cal covered services.
The Monterey County Workforce Development Board (MCWDB) developed a CHW certificate training program with Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) that is expected to meet the State’s Certificate Pathway requirements, with the possibility of being grandfathered in as an approved program. The MCWDB’s program was established as a local industry-recognized credential that meets the minimum standards for foundational CHW training, endorsed by the Monterey County Health Department, Doctors on Duty, Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, and Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas. The credentialling process is currently on hold at the state level.
The CHW curriculum was developed by national CHW thought leader Tim Berthold, founder of the CHW Training Group and author of a highly acclaimed CHW textbook. The CHW Training Group developed a trainer/mentor model, ensuring that students have engaging instructors active in the CHW field and a sense of community to support their academic and social needs. A key aspect of the training is that it is accessible and rigorous but does not rely on a multi-semester community college program, which may be prohibitive for some individuals interested in becoming CHWs.
The MCWDB CHW Certificate Training Program was successfully piloted with MPC as a hybrid online/in-person curriculum from October 2021 through March 2022, with funding from the Blue Shield of California Foundation in partnership with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The pilot program certified 27 CHWs. Based on demand, additional CHW cohorts were trained and certified in March and October 2023, with another 59 individuals receiving CHW certifications.
The Alliance’s Proposed Support:
The Alliance’s proposed support of the MCWDB’s CHW training program is an $886,260 investment in a proven, sustainable model well-received by students and employers, and positioned to align with forthcoming State requirements. If the MCWDB’s Executive Director is approved to accept the grant from the Alliance and sign the services agreement, funding will be provided for the following purposes:
Budget Expenses Award
Tuition for 130 CHW Trainees $650,000
Project Staffing $183,040
Food and Logistical Costs $ 34,000
Books $ 9,620
Training Team Travel $ 9,600
Total Award $886,260
The cost per person to train a CHW is $5,000. It is anticipated that a combination of the Alliance funding and State funding allocated from the MCWDB’s $1,150,000 Regional Equity and Recovery Partnerships (RERP) grant, provided in 2023 to increase enrollments in the region’s four community colleges - Cabrillo, Gavilan, Hartnell, and MPC - will be applied to fund the CHW training costs.
The MCWDB’s Executive Committee approved the Executive Director to accept the Alliance grant funding and sign the services agreement at its meeting of September 26, 2024.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The parties to the Agreement were involved in its development. County Counsel has approved the agreement.
FINANCING:
There is no financial impact to the General Fund resulting from approval of the Alliance grant and authorization to sign the services agreement.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Authorizing the Executive Director of the MCWDB to sign the grant agreement and accept funding from the Alliance will help the MCWDB to serve the Monterey County health care community more effectively by supporting the training and placement of qualified candidates and local economic development.
√ Administration - Promote an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management and is recognized for responsiveness, strong customer orientation, accountability and transparency.
√ Economic Development - Through collaboration, strengthen economic development to ensure a diversified and healthy economy.
√ Health and Human Services - Improve health and quality of life through County-supported policies, programs, and services, promoting access to equitable opportunities for healthy environments in collaboration with communities
Prepared by: Elizabeth Kaylor, Management Analyst III, 5385
Approved by: Christopher Donnelly, Executive Director, 6644
ATTACHMENTS:
Board Report
Agreement for Medi-Cal Capacity Grant