REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 26, 2022
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with California Health Collaborative to Provide Maternal and Child Health Services in the High Desert Region Under the Black Infant Health Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 21-629 with California Health Collaborative to provide maternal and child health services in the High Desert region under the Black Infant Health Program, increasing the total contract amount by $448,843, from $448,843 to $897,686, and extending the contract an additional year, for the total contract period of August 24, 2021 through August 23, 2023.
(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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The increase of $448,843 for Black Infant Health (BIH) program maternal and child health services in the High Desert is funded annually with State General Funds. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2022-23 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 1989, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) expanded its commitment toward assuring all babies are born healthy by placing an emphasis on African-American infants, due to the alarming and disparate morbidity and mortality in the population. Since that time, CDPH established the BIH program in its Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division, with funding available to the then 17 health jurisdictions, which includes DPH, where over 90% of California’s African-American live births and infant deaths occurred.
With the approval of the recommended amendment, California Health Collaborative (CHC), which has historically created programs and services that address the needs of underserved rural and urban populations, will continue to engage in activities that support African-American women, infants, and children “at-risk” for poor pregnancy or health outcomes residing in the High Desert under the BIH program. Utilizing an evidence-informed intervention that uses a group-based approach, services include health promotion, social support, empowerment, and health education throughout a women’s pregnancy and early parenting education. DPH provides these services in other areas throughout the county, contracting with CHC to provide these services in the High Desert area.
The recommended amendment will allow CHC to continue to provide maternal and child health services to an estimated 140 participants, at an approximate cost of $3,206 per participant. In San Bernardino County, preterm births were highest among African-Americans at 14.7 per 100 live births in 2017. Preterm birth, defined as a birth prior to 37 weeks’ gestation, is one of the leading factors contributing to infant mortality (i.e., death within one year of birth). DPH will continue to work with CHC to implement program services in accordance with state BIH fidelity requirements, which are designed to meet the health needs of pregnant and postpartum African-American women through a State standardized model. This model features group intervention to encourage empowerment and social support in the context of a life course perspective and through social service case management to link participants with needed health-related and community-based services, such as one-on-one counseling, parenting group sessions, comprehensive case management, social support and empowerment, educational training for health behavior modification, and financial guidance.
PROCUREMENT
On August 24, 2021 (Item No. 31), as the result of a formal procurement, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract No. 21-629 with CHC to provide maternal and health services in the High Desert region under the BIH Program, in the amount of $448,843 for the period of August 24, 2021 through August 23, 2022, with two one-year extension options by mutual agreement of both parties.
CHC’s performance is monitored by review of monthly reports and an annual site visit to ensure compliance with the administrative, program, and fiscal terms and conditions of the contract. CHC will cooperate with the County in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of this contract and comply with any and all reporting requirements established by this Contract. Contractor charges must be for services provided to eligible beneficiaries under this funded program. The County reserves the right to request additional program and/or fiscal reports to facilitate this monthly review. The contracts may be terminated without cause by the County with 30 days written notice.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on July 5, 2022; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 5, 2022; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on July 5, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on July 11, 2022.