DATE: December 14, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Evaluation Services for the Advancing Health Literacy Grant Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Make a finding that it is in the best interest of the County to suspend the competitive bidding process consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 for unusual or extraordinary circumstances as California State University, Fresno Foundation is a government agency with unique research and expertise for Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19 program evaluation services in the County;
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with California State University, Fresno Foundation for comprehensive evaluation services of the Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19 grant program, effective upon execution through June 30, 2023, total not to exceed $87,500.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the California State University (CSU), Fresno Foundation, through its Central Valley Health Policy Institute to establish evaluation mechanisms for the Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19 (AHL) grant program. The comprehensive evaluation services will measure progress and success of the AHL program while providing guidance and technical assistance to staff. Services will be funded with the Advancing Health Literacy Grant. This item pertains to Districts 1 and 4.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the Department of Public Health (Department) would be unable to disseminate resources for COVID-19 responses to have the program evaluated. If the evaluation services are not approved, the Department would be at risk of not completing all requirements per the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health / Office of Minority Health requirements. The evaluation is vital to determine if the program helps reduce disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations.
SUSPENSION OF COMPETITION/SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT:
The Department’s request to suspend the competitive bidding process is consistent with Administrative Policy No. 34 as CSU Fresno Foundation is uniquely qualified to provide the comprehensive evaluation services. The AHL grant was awarded to 73 jurisdictions nationwide, with only four (4) instances where both the City and County received the award. CSU Fresno Foundation, through its Central Valley Health Policy Institute (CVHPI) will provide a single evaluator contracted to work with both City and County AHL programs, concurrently. Using the same evaluator, will provide the advantage of comparing activities, successes, and challenges which should allow CVHPI to provide better technical assistance to both grantees. The Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division concurs with the Department’s request to suspend the competitive bidding process.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The total cost for the recommended agreement with CSU Fresno Foundation is $37,500 for FY 2021-22; $87,500 for the term. The services will be fully funded with the Advancing Health Literacy Grant. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
On July 1, 2021, FCDPH was awarded the Advancing Health Literacy Grant (opportunity number MP-CPI-21-006) from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health from the Department of Health and Human Services. Intervention activities include recruiting, training, and deploying community health workers to improve health literacy by providing outreach and education to residents on the west side of Fresno county regarding COVID-19 testing, vaccination, chronic conditions, communicable diseases, as well as other social determinants of health. The target population includes Latino/a residents living on the west side of Fresno County with some emphasis on those employed in the agricultural industry.
Implementation of the Advancing Health Literacy scope of work activities will enable Fresno County to achieve these four overarching goals:
1. Identify, modify, or create health education materials that are culturally relevant and at the appropriate reading level for the target population. Materials will be related to COVID-19, other chronic diseases and social determinants of health.
2. Identify trusted messengers to work in the target communities to deliver health messages and materials, and to refer members of the target population to appropriate services to remove barriers to health literacy.
3. Improve health literacy of residents of rural communities in west Fresno County.
4. Address risk factors for COVID-19 related health disparities.
The City of Fresno was also awarded this grant and is working with a collaborative of community partners to complete activities that target the west side of the City of Fresno. CVHPI will be the evaluation contractor for the City of Fresno. As an evaluation contractor for several other County programs, staff are familiar with the caliber and quality of the work that CVHPI offers. By using the same evaluator for both the City of Fresno and the County, CVHPI will be able to monitor and evaluate which intervention activities work best with each target population and they will be able to assist with modifying efforts as necessary based on data outcomes. Additionally, CVHPI will be able to assist with staff training for both projects to make sure that the work being performed is consistent.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #43, July 13, 2021
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Suspension of Competition Form E-PD-048
On file with Clerk - Agreement with CSU Fresno Foundation
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander