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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board receive and file the California Strengthening Public Health Initiative (CASPHI) funding allocation administered by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), for the retroactive term effective December 1, 2022, through November 30, 2027, in the amount of $629,130.
FUNDING: 100% CDPH pass-through funding from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), no matching funds are required.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On December 4, 2022, CDPH received a Notice of Award from the CDC for CASPHI for a full five (5) years which includes $36,822,154 for direct allocation to participating local health jurisdictions (LHJ). As an LHJ that did not receive direct CDC funding, El Dorado County (County) HHSA has been retroactively allocated CASPHI funds from CDPH in the amount of $125,826 per year for five (5) years, for a total of $629,130. The allocation is retroactive to December 1, 2022, and continues through November 30, 2027.
CASPHI funds provide for key foundational services to strengthen HHSA’s infrastructure, workforce and data systems needed to promote and protect health for residents of our community. Investments in our infrastructure will enable us to better address the challenges of the current population health landscape and build a sustainable system capable of addressing many issues, including those faced by our more rural and underserved communities.
The County will be required to have a minimum of 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) of staff capacity with roles and responsibilities dedicated to eliminating health disparities. HHSA proposes to satisfy this requirement by adding an allocation to serve as a program integration specialist. HHSA is working with Human Resources to determine the appropriate classification. An example of activities that may be provided, include establishing interdivisional teams to better address community needs; develop strategic health initiatives; increase community engagement; and expand infrastructure support. This position will be key to shifting from separated siloed-divisions and programs to a system-based interconnected environment focused on community need.
CDPH sent HHSA an Allocation Award Letter, dated February 23, 2023, notifying HHSA of the retroactive direct allocation, and included an Acknowledgement of Allocation Letter to be signed and returned to CDPH by March 3, 2023, in order to accept the funding. The Allocation Award Letter authorized the submission of invoices to CDPH for spending retroactively to December 1, 2022. Subsequently, the HHSA Director signed the letter, and it was returned to CDPH by the deadline. The County of El Dorado Board of Supervisors (Board) policies do not require direct allocations to be accepted by the Board; however, HHSA is hereby providing the Board with notification of said allocation and the activities it will support.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to receive and file the funding allocation.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel approved the CASPHI Acknowledgement of Allocation Letter.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
CASPHI is CDPH pass-through funding from the CDC and the allocation does not have a match requirement. There is no impact to County General Fund. Sufficient appropriations for CASPHI have been included in the FY 2022-23 Budget and will be included in future budgets for the term of the funding allocation.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Good Governance, Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Interim Director, Health and Human Services Agency