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Health Services Department recommending the Board ratify the signatures of the Directors of Human Services and Health Services on letters of intent, due to the State August 31, 2011, to apply for a Community Nutrition Expansion Project grant with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH), respectively.
The Health Services Department, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, is requesting Board approval in concept to investigate a proposed grant with the above-noted State agencies for grant funding in the amount of $150,000 each for the Health Services Department and Department of Human Services (total combined funding $300,000), for the term October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012.
FUNDING: Federal, US Department of Agriculture through CDPH and CDSS.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: There is no Net County Cost associated with this grant program.
Background: This grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), and is intended to establish a county-wide presence for SNAP-Ed throughout the community. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-296) is the Federal Child Nutrition and Reauthorization bill that was signed into law in December 2010, (it became retroactively effective October 1, 2010) and included a provision that incorporates a Community Nutrition Expansion Project into SNAP-Ed. The project is offering a grant that requires collaboration between local Health Services and Human Services agencies, formalized by an MOU, and provides funding for nutrition education activities for the eligible population of the County.
The Departments are requesting approval in concept from the Board to further investigate the opportunity presented by this proposed grant; in the event the Department determines this grant would be appropriate, Department will return to the Board with further information.
Reason for Recommendation: The Act outlines a funding scheme for FFY 2011-18, providing funds to States that are to be distributed to local applicants for program participation. It is believed that this may be the first of several such funding programs addressing nutrition and obesity issues at a local level, and the Health Services Department recommends participation in this first such program.
Due to the limited timeframe for the Department to apply for this grant, Health Services Department and Department of Human Services each submitted a letter of intent to meet the Grantor's deadline of August 31, 2011; however, in accordance with Board of Supervisors Policy A-6, the letters notified the Grantor that the submission cannot be considered binding until approved by the Board of Supervisors. The Department asks the Board to ratify Directors signatures on letters of intent and authorize the Health Services Department Acting Director to further investigate the Community Nutrition Expansion Project grant.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1) Board Clerk's Office to return two (2) Certified Minute Orders to Department.
2) Department to submit confirmation to Grantor of Board's approval of the letters of intent to participate in the program.
3) Department to return to Board with further information regarding potential grant application.
Contact: Daniel Nielson, 642-7275