REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 11, 2020
FROM
TRUDY RAYMUNDO, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title v
Grant Award from the National Environmental Health Association for the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention National Environmental Assessment Reporting System Funds
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept grant award from the National Environmental Health Association for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Environmental Assessment Reporting System funds to support food safety programs and activities, in the amount of $2,500, for the period of February 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020.
2. Designate the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Department of Public Health to submit any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the grant award on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Department of Public Health to transmit all non-substantive amendments in relation to the grant award to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Jennifer Osorio, Division Chief, 387-5159)
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
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The grant award in the amount of $2,500 from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) for the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Environmental Assessment Reporting Systems (NEARS) funds does not require a match. Approval of the necessary budget adjustment to the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2019-20 budget is not requested at this time, but will be included on a future quarterly countywide budget report presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for approval.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DPH Division of Environmental Health Services (EHS) recently became an active participant of the NEARS. NEARS is CDC’ surveillance system that captures environmental assessment data from foodborne illness outbreak investigations to improve food safety programs in retail food services. DPH will utilize the NEARS grant award funds to train and standardize EHS staff in conducting comprehensive foodborne illness (FBI) investigations, and potentially obtain equipment/tools needed to conduct FBI investigations.
The NEARS grant opportunity provided through NEHA were made available to local health jurisdictions with awards ranging from $2,500 to $4,000. Funds are intended to support the following activities:
• Staff time to learn about NEARS, such as:
Ø Taking Environmental Assessment Trainings (EATS) to conduct environmental assessments,
Ø Participating in a NEARS webinar training session, and
Ø Attending a regional or national NEARS presentation.
• Purchase of environmental sampling/other investigation equipment to build capacity in foodborne outbreak investigation.
• Activities that encourage local programs within the state to participate.
On December 2, 2019, the County Administrative Office authorized the submission of the grant application to NEHA for NEARS funding to be utilized to improve food safety programs and activities, in the amount of $4,000, for the period of February 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020.
On January 15, 2020, DPH was notified by NEHA of the NEARS grant award, in the amount $2,500, for the period of February 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020. This item is being presented at this time as this is the first date available for presentation following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews. Approval by the Board on this date will not impact DPH EHS program services or activities.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 28, 2020; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on January 27, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on January 27, 2020.