Title
a. Authorize the Director of Health Services or their designee to accept the California Supporting Public Health Initiative (“CASPHI”) grant in the amount of $909,993 from California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”), to fund for five years a permanent County of Monterey Health Department (“MCHD”) Public Health Program Manager I position in the Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Unit, responsible for the performance of health equity work to reduce health disparities in the County of Monterey, for the term of December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2027; and
b. Ratify execution by the Director of Health Services of the County of Monterey’s acknowledgement of receipt of an Allocation Letter executed by CDPH, describing the terms and conditions under which the CASPHI grant is to be used.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the County of Monterey Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Director of Health Services or their designee to accept the California Supporting Public Health Initiative (“CASPHI”) grant in the amount of $909,993 from California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”), to fund for five years a permanent County of Monterey Health Department (“MCHD”) Public Health Program Manager I position in the Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Unit, responsible for the performance of health equity work to reduce health disparities in the County of Monterey, for the term of December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2027; and
b. Ratify execution by the Director of Health Services of the County of Monterey’s acknowledgement of receipt of an Allocation Letter executed by CDPH, describing the terms and conditions under which the CASPHI grant is to be used.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
There has been federal recognition that local and state departments need more capacity to respond during disasters, for federally and state-mandated work, and to develop innovative programs to reduce health inequities across communities. The Federal government therefore allocated funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for subsequent allocation to state health departments and, through them, to local health departments to support health equity programs. CDC identified the preference for health departments to use this funding to improve health equity efforts, in particular, to use it to fund staff positions to work specifically on health equity. On December 4, 2022, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) received a Notice of Award (NOA) from CDC for the California Strengthening Public Health Initiative (CASPHI). Subsequently, it established a process for allocating funds to qualifying local health departments with a formula-based method using three weighted inputs: Population (30%), Race/Ethnicity (35%), and Poverty (35%). Funds are allowed to supplement, rather than supplant, existing levels of services. As a condition of receiving this funding, all recipients must have a minimum of 1.0 FTE of staff capacity with roles and responsibilities dedicated to advancing health equity and/or eliminating health disparities. A wide range of staff roles can fulfill this requirement, including leadership roles, policy, program, data, and community engagement functions. An equity focus includes understanding and addressing health disparities affecting disproportionately impacted populations that are higher risk and underserved, including racial and ethnic groups, rural populations, those experiencing socioeconomic disparities and other underserved communities. Activities related to improving policies, systems, and environments to more effectively serve communities and address structural and social determinants of health would also address this requirement. Local health jurisdictions can determine the focus and position title based on local needs.
CDPH is allocating funds from this NOA to local health jurisdictions, per an allocation letter sent on February 23, 2023. County of Monterey Health Department’s (MCHD) specific allocation amount is for a full five years and is as follows:
Annual Award Amount $181,999
Full Award Amount (five years) $909,993
MCHD is seeking authorization from the Board of Supervisors to accept this grant. The funding period is from December 1, 2022, through November 30, 2027. The County of Monterey acknowledged the funding allocation in March 2023. Staffing redeployments during and following the Pajaro Flood response resulted in a delay in coming to the Board of Supervisors for approval to accept the funding. The funding, if approved, will be used to fund a permanent MCHD Public Health Program Manager I position in the Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Unit for the five years of funding. The duties will include managing specific MCHD health equity work both within the Health Department, other county Departments and agencies, and out with the community as well as facilitating health equity efforts with numerous partners. This will include all Health in All Policies projects, community civic engagement trainings and health equity trainings, and access to care projects. This new staff position was included in the FY 2024 budget for MCHD and is located in the Administration Bureau’s Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Unit. The position will soon be posted for recruitment by Human Resources, and once filled, MCHD will start invoicing CDPH for funds.
This work supports Monterey County Health Department 2018-2022 Strategic Plan Goals: 1. Empower the community to improve health; 2. Enhance community health and safety through prevention; 3. Ensure access to culturally and linguistically appropriate, customer-friendly, quality health services; and 4. Engage HD workforce and improve operational functions to meet current and developing population health needs. It also supports the following of the ten essential public health services, specifically: 1. Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems; 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 service and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable; and 9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller have reviewed and approved the Acknowledgement and Allocation Letter as to legal form and fiscal provisions, respectively.
FINANCING:
This Agreement is included in the Health Department’s (4000-HEA014-8438) FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget. There is no impact on the County General Fund.
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, Planning, Evaluation and Policy Manager, 755-4586
Approved by:
_______________________________ Date___________________________
Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health Services, 755-4526
Attachments:
Board Report
Allocation Funding Letter