DATE: August 22, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Revenue Agreement with California Department of Public Health
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a revenue Agreement and related Contractor Certification Clauses and Certification Regarding Lobbying with the California Department of Public Health Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Branch Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education, for the CalFresh Healthy Living program, effective October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026, total not to exceed $7,149,527.
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action to accept the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (NEOP) Branch Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) program grant award. The award will allow the Department of Public Health (Department) to continue providing nutrition education and obesity prevention activities and interventions to low-income County residents. The revenue agreement will also fund additional activities through contract partnerships which will be brought before your Board at a later date. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions the Department would be unable to provide critical evidenced based interventions and activities related to improving healthy eating and active living behavior and environments for low-income County residents.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum compensation for the recommended revenue agreement is $7,149,527. The services will be fully funded with the CDPH NEOP SNAP-Ed grant. Funds will cover contractual costs, staffing, services, and supplies in support of program activities and interventions. Distribution of funds will use the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) funding cycle (October 1 through September 30) at $2,383,176 each year of the three-year agreement. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2023-24 Recommended Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests for the term.
DISCUSSION:
The Department has received CDPH NEOP SNAP-Ed grant funds since 2013 to provide nutrition education and obesity prevention activities and interventions for low-income County residents. In California, the CDPH CFHL program targets low-income families and individuals with a comprehensive public health approach to promote and establish healthy eating habits and a physically active lifestyle for prevention of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
The recommended revenue agreement will fund the CFHL program for a three-year grant period from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2026, to provide nutrition education and obesity prevention activities and interventions for low-income residents. Requirements of the grant award are to provide evidenced based interventions and activities related to improving healthy eating and active living behavior and environments for the primary prevention of chronic disease, with a focus on creating equitable conditions that allow for community members to achieve their most optimal health. Local Health Departments are expected to serve populations with low-income and those who are disproportionately impacted by obesity and chronic diseases related to diet and physical activity. In addition to individual and/or group nutrition education, requirements of the funding include policy, systems and environmental (PSE) change work.
New FFY 2024 - 2026 CDPH guidance states the overarching programmatic priorities are advancing health literacy; healthy beverage consumption and purchases; supporting PSE change at the community level and in priority PSE settings and reaching and impacting youth.
To fulfill the grant objectives, the Department has proposed to work in school wellness program settings; retail stores and farmers markets; public housing and community recreation centers; and bicycle and walking paths. This funding will allow the Department to continue to provide nutrition and physical activity education that address:
1. Increased access and appeal to healthy food beverage options.
2. Increased food waste prevention, recovery, and distribution efforts.
3. Improved access and utilization at existing farmers markets.
4. Improved school-based wellness policies and programs.
5. Increased community-driven PSE change projects within active transportation and bike and walking trails.
The goal is to empower low-income families and individuals to select healthy foods and beverages and increase physical activity through education, social marketing, and environmental supports with the emphasis on communities with the greatest health disparities.
The total budget authority for this grant includes an additional 20 percent above the FFY 2024-2026 funding allocation projections. The maximum amount of this grant does not guarantee that the Grantee will receive this full amount. Funds awarded above the base funding allocation projection amount are contingent upon available funds.
HR-Risk reviewed the agreement for insurance purposes and found the agreement deviates from the County’s standard indemnification language in that it requires the County to provide one-way indemnification to the State in the performance of the Agreement. This language is typically present in State grants; however, the Department has determined its acceptance of the indemnification language is advantageous to the County, as the State grant is a funding source for the County’s NEOP activities and interventions, without which the continued provision of these services would be negatively impacted.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #33, September 20, 2022
BAI #43, September 24, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Revenue Agreement with CDPH
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander