Title
Receive an updated written response to Board Referral No. 2022.06 seeking an increase in funding allocated to the Virus Integrated Distribution of Aid (VIDA) to maintain operations through December 31, 2022.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Receive an updated written response to Board Referral No. 2022.06 seeking an increase in funding allocated to the Virus Integrated Distribution of Aid (VIDA) to maintain operations through December 31, 2022.
SUMMARY:
This staff summary is an update to Board Referral No 2022.06, VIDA Project Extension, seeking an increase in funding allocated to the Virus Integrated Distribution of Aid (VIDA) Project to maintain operations through December 31, 2022. The VIDA Project, formerly known as the Community Outreach and Education Pilot Project ("Pilot Project") is a partnership between the County of Monterey and the Community Foundation for Monterey County focused on addressing the disparate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in low-income and Communities of Color. Using the community health worker (CHW) model, the VIDA Project is implemented in collaboration between Monterey County, the Community Foundation for Monterey County and with community-based organizations (CBO's) focused on specific census tracts of the lowest quartile of the Healthy Places Index (HPI Census Tracts). The purpose of the VIDA Project is to raise community awareness and education and provide system navigation to help community members access resources for adequate isolation and quarantine, and COVID-19 testing and vaccines. The VIDA project began in December 2021 through a funding allocation of $4,989,651 from General Fund Reserve, and Cannabis Tax fund accounts by the Board of Supervisors to the County Administrative Office and the project has continued through several phases and additional funding in response to community needs during the pandemic. The effort currently employs 58 part and full time CHWs or 44 Ful...
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