DATE: June 20, 2023
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Agreement Funding Application with California Department of Public Health
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement Funding Application Policy Compliance and Certification with California Department of Public Health for Round 2 funding for the California Home Visiting Program - Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting, continuing the support of home visiting activities that address the immediate needs of parents, children, and families related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, effective July 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024 ($170,718).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Approval of the recommended action will provide the Department of Public Health (Department) with Round 2 funding from California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for the California Home Visiting Program (CHVP) - Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV). The CHVP - MIECHV will continue to utilize the funds to support expectant parents and families with young children to address the additional needs that might have been introduced while managing through COVID-19 related situations. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the Department would not accept the Round 2 CDPH funding and will not be able to continue providing additional supports to expectant parents and families with young children affected by COVID-19.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Funding to CHVP - MIECHV is being made through a Round 2 funding opportunity from the CDPH American Recovery Plan (ARP) grant. For FY 2023-24, CDPH is awarding a maximum of $170,718 to Fresno County to support ongoing education to staff as well as resources with a focus on COVID-19 emergency preparedness and assistance to parents and families. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2023-24 Recommended Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Department provides Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) services countywide through the County’s original NFP site in the City of Fresno. The program provides nurse home visitation services to low-income, first-time mothers and their families following the evidence based NFP model. From pregnancy through the child’s second birthday, Public Health Nurses (PHN) with specialized training visit with mothers, fathers, and extended family members to monitor the health of both the mother and child, as well as the environment. PHNs also provide information on pregnancy, parenting skills, healthy relationships, disease prevention, and appropriate community services. During their visits, the PHNs encourage positive health choices, such as:
• Avoiding smoking, drinking, and using drugs;
• Seeking prenatal care;
• Eating nutritious foods;
• Increasing intervals between births; and,
• Setting achievable life goals.
CDPH funding has supported the CHVP in Fresno County since 2012. On January 7, 2020, your Board approved an agreement with CDPH for an additional one-year funding of the existing CHVP program. On June 9, 2020, your Board accepted State General Funds (SGF) from CDPH to expand the CHVP, increasing services at both program sites. On November 16, 2021, your Board approved agreements with CDPH for an additional three-year funding of the existing CHVP and CHVP - SGF expansion. On November 8, 2022, your Board approved a revenue agreement with CDPH for the CHVP ARP Round 1 grant funding to support home visiting activities that address the immediate needs of parents, children, and families related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
In FY 2022-23, the County’s CHVP serviced 90 families with 73 infants and completed 530 in-person and 164 telehealth visits. The program had 11 graduates and 32 new enrollees. CHVP provided clients linkage and health care services and other resources including childcare, job training, housing, transportation, injury prevention, childbirth and lactation classes/services, charitable and legal services, as well as early childhood intervention and dental services. Clients were also connected to crisis intervention services including intimate partner violence, mental health, and substance abuse cessations.
The Department expects to continue to serve the same population in the current year and approval of the recommended action would provide the Department with Round 2 funding for CHVP - MIECHV to continue addressing the needs of expectant parents and families with young children related to COVID-19.
CDPH will issue the CHVP ARP Round 2 award letter once the Agreement Funding Application is approved.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #35, November 8, 2022
BAI #45, November 16, 2021
BAI #29, June 9, 2020
BAI #34, January 7, 2020
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - CHVP ARP Round 2 Agreement with CDPH
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander