DATE: January 26, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Pomaville, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Salary Resolution Amendment
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve Amendment to the Salary Resolution adding one Care Manager position, one Program Manager position, two Health Education Specialist positions and ten Licensed Vocational Nurse I/II/III positions to the Public Health’s Org 5620, retroactively effective January 25, 2021, as reflected in Appendix D.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will amend the Department’s Salary Resolution adding the following positions to help with the County’s COVID-19 vaccine planning, education and distribution efforts: one Program Manager, two Health Education Specialists, and ten Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). These positions will be assigned to educate the public and providers, as well as administer and distribute COVID-19 vaccines. Approval of the recommended action will also add a Care Manager position to assist in the creation of a care coordination program across multiple County departments, community-based organizations, and other service providers. This item is Countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the Department’s capacity for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration will be limited with detrimental delays in reaching the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The total annual cost for these positions is $613,543. The positions will be funded with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars, California Department of Health Care Services funds, as well as other Federal and State grants. Should funding for these positions be exhausted, the positions will be deleted. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Department has been responding to COVID-19 since February 2020. Beginning mid-December, the Department began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. As of December 28, 2020, there have been a total of 63,811 cases, with 646 total deaths in Fresno County. Approximately 517,191 test results have been received and processed. As of December 22, 2020, the County is in Tier 1, which means the County Risk Level is “Widespread.” There are more than 7 new daily cases per 100,000 population. In order to mitigate and ultimately eliminate the spread of COVID-19, the County needs to continue with response efforts and increase vaccine distribution and administration. Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department to hire positions critical for these tasks.
The Program Manager will oversee the outreach and training component for Federally Qualified Health Centers, community-based organizations and hospitals, as well as identify opportunities for collaboration in the community. The Health Education Specialists will be assigned to the vaccine distribution team, responsible for COVID-19 vaccine education and distribution to providers and community organizations. This includes planning, developing, coordinating and establishing procedures and maintaining relationships. The LVNs will be assigned to the vaccination team, responsible for administering the vaccine to members of the community.
Approval of the recommended action will also assist the Department with developing and implementing a care coordination program. The Care Manager will be responsible for developing, implementing and managing a care coordination program that focuses on persons experiencing homelessness and have mental illness or multiple chronic health conditions. The position will also develop a program that integrates primary care, behavioral health care, and social services, focusing on multiple programs, Federally Qualified Health Centers, County departments, community-based organizations, hospitals and other service providers to offer holistic care to participants.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Appendix D
CAO ANALYST:
Raul Guerra