Title
a. Approve the Director of Health Services or their designee to accept a grant from Central California Alliance for Health’s Medi-Cal Capacity Grant, Partners for Healthy Food Access Program to provide food insecurity screening and healthy food access to Medi-Cal members enrolled in Enhanced Care Management, for a total amount of $200,000; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or their designee to execute Grant Agreement number 0523-MCHD-PH for a total grant amount of $200,000 for the grant period from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2025.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve the Director of Health Services or their designee to accept a grant from Central California Alliance for Health’s Medi-Cal Capacity Grant, Partners for Healthy Food Access Program to provide food insecurity screening and healthy food access to Medi-Cal members enrolled in Enhanced Care Management, for a total amount of $200,000; and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health Services or their designee to execute Grant Agreement number 0523-MCHD-PH for a total grant amount of $200,000 for the grant period from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2025.
SUMMARY DISCUSSION:
The Health Department seeks the Board of Supervisors’ support to accept the awarded Medi-Cal Capacity Grant, Partners for Heathy Food Access 0523-MCHD-PH-FA (Artichoke Pizza) grant of $200,000. The grant will support 0.25 FTE Registered Dietician and 0.20 FTE Community Service Aide II to consult with the Department’s Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Nutrition Case Management programs. Artichoke Pizza project will provide clients with access to healthful meals and include a client-centered care plan to meet the individual’s nutritional need and support healthy living. After identifying clients as high-risk for food insecurity, this project will increase Medi-Cal members access to nutritious, medically supportive food and strengthen partnerships to support Medi-Cal members by incorporating nutritious food into their daily lives. More specifically, this project will provide vouchers, through a partnership with Everyone’s Harvest, for fresh produce at local farmers’ markets and educate individuals on Market Match, a program that provides a monetary incentive to customers who spend their CalFresh EBT card benefits at the farmers’ market. In addition, a Registered Dietician will customize healthy food boxes from Aggrigator, a vendor for unprocessed fruits and vegetables. Clients in South Monterey County who have chronic health conditions and face additional barriers to accessing healthy food will receive bi-monthly food box delivery. This project will also provide transportation support as needed, cooking classes, home visits by the Registered Dietician, and field trips to food distribution sites and supermarkets.
Food insecurity is a social determinant of health affecting a large proportion of Monterey County residents. Artichoke Pizza will address health disparities and inequalities related to food security for Medi-Cal clients. In addition to promoting healthy choices, this grant will support improving condition(s) in people’s environments such as access to nutritious foods and transportation to access nutritious foods.
This work supports the Monterey County Health Department 2018-2022 Strategic Plan Goals, specifically: 1. Empower the community to improve health; and 3. Ensure access to culturally and linguistically appropriate, customer-friendly, quality health services. It also supports three 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; 4. Strengthen, support and mobilize communities and partnerships to improve health; and 7. Assure an effective system that enables equitable access to the individual services and care needed to be healthy.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of the 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:
There will be no impact to the General Fund from acceptance of this grant. There are sufficient appropriations in the Health Department’s (001-4000-8124-HEA003) FY 2023-24 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 II, 796-1377
Approved by:
_____________________________Date:_________
Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health Services, 755-4526
Attachments:
Board Report
Grant Agreement
Award Letter
Intent to Apply Memo