Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Health or the Assistant Director of Health to execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement A-15566 between the County of Monterey and the Community Foundation of Monterey County, revising budget line items with no change to the total contract liability of $3,283,900 to meet grant deliverables of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Response to COVID-19 initiative (Award No. 1-CPIMP211281-01-00); and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health or the Assistant Director of Health to sign up to three (3) future amendments to this Agreement where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work.
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 execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement A-15566 between the County of Monterey and the Community Foundation of Monterey County, revising budget line items with no change to the total contract liability of $3,283,900 to meet grant deliverables of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Response to COVID-19 initiative (Award No. 1-CPIMP211281-01-00); and
b. Approve and authorize the Director of Health or the Assistant Director of Health to sign up to three (3) future amendments to this Agreement where the amendments do not significantly change the scope of work.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Monterey County Health Department (MCHD) has received a two-year, competitive grant award from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Secretary, as part of their Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Response to COVID-19 initiative. The grant is implemented in partnership with the Community Foundation for Monterey County and community-based organizations in the County’s Latinx and Black communities that have experienced higher COVID-19 case rates. The grant will allow MCHD to continue the County’s VIDA: Virus Integrated Distribution of Aid project and allow it to expand, develop, and implement COVID-19 health literacy strategies that target these subpopulations in under resourced neighborhoods, in alignment with evidence-based and culturally and linguistically responsive practices.
Monterey County’s Latinx and Black communities have borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of hospitalizations and deaths. By late 2020, Latinx residents accounted for more than half of all COVID-19 cases and deaths in Monterey County, with the majority of these cases and deaths concentrated in census tracts that corresponded with the Healthy Places Index lowest quartile of census tracts in the county. To respond to this need the county in late 2021 developed in partnership with community partners the VIDA: Virus Integrated Distribution of Aid project that incorporated Community Health Workers (CHW) to connect with the most impacted communities, provide culturally responsive education, and connect people to services that would support successful isolation and quarantine, including testing and vaccination strategies.
The VIDA project enabled the county to position itself as a successful applicant to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Secretary, as part of their Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Response to COVID-19 initiative. MCHD’s successful application has three main goals for the project: Goal 1) Support and expand local efforts to provide COVID-19 health and safety information that is accurate, accessible and culturally and linguistically appropriate, 2) Promote changes in the health care system that improve health information, communication, informed decision-making, and access to COVID-19 related health care services, and 3) Reduce the number (and/or disproportionality) of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and fatalities in the county. MCHD subcontracted $3,283,900.34 with Community Foundation for Monterey County from September 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023 to engage two organizations and their CHWs to implement the grant’s goals, objectives, and strategies and provide operating supports, such as printing and travel. After almost a year of operations, the initial proposed budget line item allocations require some modifications to more adequately support the various grant activities. This amended budget does not change the overall agreement amount for CFMC for the VIDA Health Literacy portion of the overall VIDA project, nor any of the activities or strategies. The original agreement allocations and the updated budget allocations are shown in Attachment A.
This work supports the Monterey County Health Department 2018-2022 Strategic Plan Goals: 1. Empower the community to improve health through programs, policies, and activities; 2. Enhance community health and safety by emphasizing prevention; and 3. Ensure access to culturally and linguistically appropriate, customer-friendly, quality health services. It also supports one or more of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 3. Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues; 4. Mobilize community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems; 7. Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The VIDA program involves the County Administrative Office and the Community Foundation for Monterey County as collaborative partners. The office of County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller have reviewed and approved the Award and Agreements as to form and fiscal provisions, respectively.
FINANCING:
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Health Department included this Agreement in its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Requested 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: Krista Hanni, Program Manager II, 755-4586
Approved by:
______________________________Date:_____________
Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health, 755-4526
Attachments:
Amendment No 1
Agreement
Notice of Award Letter
Attachment A