DATE: October 6, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Joe Prado, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Retroactive Agreement with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools for the Fresno County Early Stars-Quality Early Learning and Care Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive revenue Agreement with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools for the Fresno County Early Stars-Quality Early Learning and Care program for training and technical assistance on health and safety standards at early childhood education sites, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, total not to exceed $300,000; and
2. Approve and authorize the Director of Public Health to execute the Tuberculosis Certification, Fingerprinting and Criminal Background Check Certification, and Mandated Reporter Training Certification.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the first recommended action will provide the Department of Public Health (Department) with one year of funding from Fresno County Superintendent of Schools (FCSS) to support the Fresno County Early Stars-Quality Early Learning and Care (Early Stars) program. The program provides training, consultation and technical assistance on health and safety standards to early childhood education sites enrolled in the Early Stars program. The funding will support salary and benefits for two Public Health Nurses (PHNs). Approval of the second recommended action will allow the Director of Public Health to execute the Tuberculosis (TB) Certification, Fingerprinting and Criminal Background Check Certification, and Mandated Reporter Training Certification, adhering to FCSS’s requirement of having the servicing staff be examined for TB, undergo a background check, and complete the Mandated Reporter Training pursuant to California Penal Code section 11165.7(a)(2), due to performing services and interacting with students. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the Department would be unable to fund the services provided to the Early Stars program and will not provide training, consultation, and training assistance to early childhood education sites.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended Agreement was received from FCSS on August 11, 2026, and is retroactive to July 1, 2026. It is being brought to your Board in accordance with the agenda item processing timelines.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The agreement will provide $300,000 for FY 2026-27 to cover salary and benefits for two PHNs and indirect cost. The salaries and benefits for the two PHNs at 0.74 full-time equivalent (FTE) totals to $297,500. The Department’s indirect cost for FY 2026-27 is 22.85% but was reduced to 0.84% ($2,500) to remain within the allocation. The recommended agreement will allow the County to use the funds as the local match to draw down Federal dollars under Title XIX as Federal Financial Participation (FFP) for eligible services. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Department has been providing services for the Early Stars program with FCSS since July 1, 2018. On January 27, 2026, your Board approved a retroactive agreement with FCSS to continue the funding and services for the Early Stars program from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
FCSS developed the Fresno County Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) Hub, in partnership with Central Valley Children’s Services Network, WestEd’s program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC), and the Department, to provide coaching, training, technical assistance, and assessments to childcare and early learning programs pursuing quality improvement.
The recommended agreement will provide funding for two PHNs to provide technical assistance, consultation, and training to local childcare and early learning sites enrolled in FCSS’s Early Stars program while utilizing the T&TA Hub. In FY 2025-26, the two program PHNs achieved the following:
• 239 childcare providers received coaching and technical assistance on health/safety best practices;
• 368 childcare providers received training on health/safety topics: provider self-care, medication administration, importance of active physical play, challenging behaviors, developmental screenings, trauma informed care, obesity and safety practices; and
• Consultation and technical assistance to childcare providers on health, safety, and infection prevention practices, including safe sleep, diapering and toileting, hygiene and sanitation, communicable disease management, injury prevention, environmental health, tobacco and smoke exposure prevention, emergency preparedness, and supporting children with special health care needs.
Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Department to continue providing services that address the health and safety issues facing county childcare providers and the families they serve. The Agreement contains mutual indemnification requiring each party to indemnify and hold harmless the other party. The Department will be providing the necessary insurance as required by the contractor terms in the Agreement.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #45, January 27, 2026
BAI #54, November 5, 2024
BAI #42, August 22, 2023
BAI #36, August 23, 2022
BAI #46, April 13, 2021
BAI #40, March 26, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with FCSS
On file with Clerk - Certifications
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander