REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 12, 2023
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Allocation from the California Department of Public Health, Tuberculosis Control Branch, for the Enhanced Prevention and Control Project
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Accept allocation and approve acceptance of award (Grant Award No. EPCF3623) from the California Department of Public Health, Tuberculosis Control Branch for the Enhanced Prevention and Control Project, to enhance the capabilities of tuberculosis prevention and control activities, in the amount of $10,000, for the retroactive period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.
(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 does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The one-time allocation (Grant Award No. EPCF3623) in the amount of $10,000 from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Tuberculosis Control Branch (TBCB), for the Enhanced Prevention and Control Project, does not require a local match. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2023-24 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DPH has received TBCB grant funding since 1948 to support countywide prevention efforts to control the spread of Tuberculosis (TB). DPH will use the one-time allocation to supplement current funding and enhance the County’s capabilities by increasing the ability to conduct additional TB prevention and control activities to include staff travel; TB-related trainings; program supplies and equipment; and food, shelter, incentives and enablers (FSIE). Additionally, the funds will be used to provide services that include measures to enhance treatment compliance, prevent homelessness by offering alternative housing for persons with infectious TB to increase successful follow-up treatment and allow for the use of less restrictive alternatives to decrease or prevent the need for detention of TB patients.
FSIE allotment funds are intended to improve adherence to treatment and ensure successful completion of therapy for patients with confirmed TB, suspected TB, and their contacts. This funding will allow for practical items to be provided to ease TB treatment adherence. These items include providing transportation assistance to treatment or clinic appointments and provision of food and shelter for patients who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The funds will be fully expended within the agreement term. This funding was requested by an email communication from DPH to CDPH on April 3, 2023, to cover excess costs incurred during the retroactive period. The demand for food, shelter, and transportation exceeded the annual base FSIE amount DPH typically receives due to an increase in the number of TB cases reported and the needs of those patients. The yearly number of TB case reports is unforeseen, and many cases may require management. Moreover, a portion of these patients require housing, resulting in additional expenses. CDPH routinely offers supplementary funding to jurisdictions surpassing the established base FSIE amount, contingent upon a formal request provided by the specific jurisdiction.
As a result of the request provided to CDPH, on July 28, 2023, DPH received an allocation grant award letter (Grant Award No. EPCF3623) from CDPH for the Enhanced Prevention and Control Project, in the amount of $10,000, for the retroactive period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. This item is being presented at this time, as this is the first available date following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews. Approval at this time will have no impact on DPH’s TB services or activities.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 16, 2023; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on August 18, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on August 24, 2023.