REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 28, 2020
FROM
SHARON NEVINS, Director, Department of Aging and Adult Services
SUBJECT
Title
Great Plates Delivered Program Funding and Ramp Down
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve extension and corresponding funding of the Great Plates Delivered program on a month-to-month basis, following extension of the program by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
2. Approve four week ramp down period upon expiration of the Great Plates Delivered program to transition participants to long-term nutrition programs.
(Presenter: Sharon Nevins, Director, 891-3917)
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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
As of July 1, 2020, the total cost for Great Plates Delivered program was $5,257,050. The program currently is set to expire on August 10, 2020. Each additional extension will continue to provide three meals per day to participants at $66 per day, seven days per week. This is based on an average of the U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates for California as follows: $16 for breakfast, $17 for lunch, $28 for dinner, and incidental expenses of $5. Once the State program expires, the County will initiate a four week ramp down period that will gradually decrease the number of participants served. During the ramp down period, participants will be transitioned to long-term meal providers and meal services will be reduced to two meals per day, seven days per week at a reduced rate of $25 per day per participant. The breakdown of those costs are $8 for breakfast, $13 for lunch and incidental expenses of $4. Under these scenarios, the projected cost of the program is as follows:
|
|
Grand Total |
|
Costs thru 6/30/20 |
$5,257,050 |
|
Costs from 7/1/2020 to 8/9/2020 |
$6,036,650 |
|
30 day ramp down |
$1,200,000 |
|
TOTAL |
$12,493,700 |
The program was originally planned to be reimbursed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) program (75%), State (18.75%), with a required 6.25% local share. As the program has gone on, new information gathered by staff may imply that the County of San Bernardino, being a direct recipient of the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Coronavirus Relief Funding, is ineligible to apply for further FEMA assistance for emergency feeding programs. If this is the case, the program costs would be funded by 100% CARES funding, if available. In the event that local CARES funding is not available, it may be possible to pursue FEMA reimbursement in the future. Discussion is ongoing between staff at County OES, Auditor Controller, and Legislative Affairs to solidify the eligibility parameters of the program in order to maximize the use of both CARES and FEMA funding.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On April 24, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of the first-in-the-nation Great Plates Delivered program. The program is a meal delivery service for California’s older adults, who are at high risk from COVID-19. The program exemplifies the staying home and staying healthy approach to minimizing risk while providing three nutritious meals each day to older adults and essential economic stimulus to local businesses and workers struggling to stay financially solvent during the COVID crisis.
The Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) received 3,133 applications for services and began enrolling participants into the program on April 29, 2020, with meal deliveries beginning May 1, 2020.
The program had an original end date of May 10, 2020. FEMA approved an extension of the program on May 10, 2020 through June 10, 2020, and DAAS received approval to continue the program through the FEMA approved extended date. FEMA approved a second extension through July 10, 2020, and San Bernardino approved the extension at the county level. The program was extended to serve individuals who were new to DAAS, identified as high risk for developing a severe illness, and were unable to obtain and prepare meals during the stay at home order. As of July 1, 2020, DAAS had enrolled 2,210 participants with 255,850 meals served from 35 participating local restaurants. It is estimated that a total of 2,700 participants will be enrolled by August 10, 2020.
The program has demonstrated a critical need for meal services in the county. The month-to-month program extension will continue to offer meals daily to the participants. Meals will continue to be provided by the existing restaurants. DAAS will continue to deliver meals from the restaurants who do not have delivery capabilities using 38 Public Service Employees (PSE).
A ramp down period following the Great Plates Delivered program will afford participants time to be transitioned to long-term meal providers. No additional participants will be added during this phase. Residents seeking food services will be linked to existing nutrition programs. Restaurants will continue to be utilized during the ramp down period, as will four PSEs for support services. Meals will be reduced to two meals per day, seven days per week to mimic the current nutrition programs offered through DAAS. DAAS will transition participants weekly to long-term providers. All participants will be transitioned to a long-term nutrition program within four weeks of commencing the ramp down period.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Jennifer Mulhall-Daudel, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on July 15, 2020; County Counsel (Jacqueline Carey-Wilson, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 15, 2020; Finance (Christopher Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8393) on July 15, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on July 15, 2020.