REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 13, 2026
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Agreement with the California Department of Public Health for Congenital Syphilis Prevention and Control
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 19-444 (State Agreement No. 18-10700) with the California Department of Public Health for congenital syphilis prevention and control activities, increasing the amount by $100,000, from $980,000 to $1,080,000, and extending the grant period by one month, for a total period of January 1, 2019 through February 28, 2026.
(Presenter: Joshua Dugas, Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The increased award in the amount of $100,000 is federal funding from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is passed through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for congenital syphilis prevention and control. There is no required local match for this funding. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2025-26 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when an individual with syphilis passes the infection on to the baby during pregnancy. If left untreated during pregnancy, congenital syphilis can have significant impacts on a baby’s health such as deformed bones, severe anemia, jaundice, brain and nerve problems including blindness, meningitis, and even death. CDPH receives federal funding from the CDC to be allocated to local health jurisdictions based on congenital syphilis rates within each jurisdiction. San Bernardino County receives CDPH funding for evidence-based public health activities to proactively address cases within the county.
DPH will use the increased award to continue funding prevention and control activities. These activities include robust case management, treatment for pregnant persons with syphilis and babies born with congenital syphilis and conducting morbidity and mortality reviews of cases to identify opportunities for prevention. Supporting activities include collaborating with CDPH on statewide quality improvement measures aimed at improving health department syphilis processes, partnering with correctional facilities to implement syphilis screening in jails, and providing outreach and education to health care providers to promote screening and treatment.
On June 25, 2019 (Item No. 36), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 19-444 from CDPH for congenital syphilis prevention and control, in the amount of $700,000, for the period of January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2023.
On February 27, 2024 (Item No.41), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 19-444 from CDPH, updating the grant activities and budget documents, increasing the amount by $280,000 from $700,000 to $980,000, and extending the grant period for an additional two years and one month, for a total period of January 1, 2019 through January 31, 2026.
On September 16, 2025, DPH received from CDPH Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 19-444, increasing the contract amount by $100,000, from $980,000 to $1,080,000, and extending the grant period by one month to allow additional time to fully utilize the funds, for a total grant period of January 1, 2019 through February 28, 2026.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 25, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Iliana Rodriguez, Administrative Analyst, 387-4205) on November 26, 2025.