Title
Receive an oral report from the County of Monterey Health Department regarding use of Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity funding and other California Department of Public Health grants to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presenters: Dr. Edward Moreno, Health Officer, Kristy Michie, Assistant Director of Public Health and Emilio Saavedra, Management Analyst
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health, Housing, and Human Services Committee of the Board of Supervisors:
Receive an oral report from the County of Monterey Health Department regarding use of Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity funding and other California Department of Public Health grants to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases Cooperative Agreement (ELC) provides financial support and technical assistance to the nation’s health departments to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging infectious diseases. ELC’s 64 recipients, which consist of state, large local, and U.S. territory and affiliate health departments, serve as the foundation for our national public health infrastructure and are integral to the nation’s ability to tackle infectious disease threats.
The purpose of ELC is to provide health departments flexible funding focused on preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, bolstering laboratory and epidemiologic capacity, maintaining and enhancing health information systems, and fostering cross-cutting solutions to address public health needs.
ELC relies on a unique structure of four robust public health programs including cross-cutting projects focusing on leadership, integration, flexibility, and sustainability, as well as a range of disease-specific projects. ELC also distributes supplemental funding on behalf of CDC for emergency response efforts, such as those for the 2009 influenza H1N1 pandemic, Zika and Ebola epidemics, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of COVID-19 ELC funding is to support health departments efforts to continue critical COVID-19 response activities while bolstering their capacity to address future infectious disease outbreaks.
COVID-19 ELC funding objectives include:
• Enable testing, viral gene sequencing, and case investigation and contact tracing,
• Enhance and expand laboratory and disease surveillance systems,
• Aid efforts to address health inequities,
• Increase data transparency,
• Improve infection prevention and control efforts, and
• Support the work of state, local, and territorial health departments.
County of Monterey Health Department receives ELC funding through allocations from the California Department of Public Health. During this oral report, County of Monterey Health Department will provide information on ELC and other COVID-19 related grant funding allocations, expenditures, and current and future use priorities.
This work supports the County of Monterey Health Department 2018-2024 Strategic Plan Goals: 1) Empower the community to improve health; 2) Enhance community health and safety; 3) Ensure access to culturally and linguistically appropriate, customer-friendly, quality health services, and 4) Engage Health Department workforce and improve operational functions to meet current and developing population health needs. It also supports seven of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 1) Assess and monitor population health status, factors that influence health, and community needs and assets; 2) Investigate, diagnose, and address health problems and hazards affecting the population; 3) Communicate effectively to inform and educate people about health, factors that influence it, and how to improve it; 7) Assure an effective system that enables equitable access to the individual services and care needed to be healthy; 8) Build and support a diverse and skilled public health workforce; 9) Improve and innovate public health functions through ongoing evaluation, research, and continuous quality improvement; and 10) Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Department of Public Health distributes and oversees the use of ELC funding to the County of Monterey Health Department.
FINANCING:
There is no effect to the County General Fund resulting from the receipt of this report. Total COVID-19 related grant funding for FY2020-2026 is $28,623,536.
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: Kristy Michie, Assistant Bureau Chief, 755-4053
Approved by:
______________________________ Date:___________
Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health Services, 755-4526
Attachment:
Staff Report
PowerPoint Presentation