REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 6, 2024
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Amended Grant Agreement from the California Department of Public Health for Disease Intervention Specialist Workforce Funding
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept and approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-1103 (Grant Agreement No. 21-10580), from the California Department of Public Health for Disease Intervention Specialist Workforce funding to expand the Disease Intervention Specialist workforce to strengthen capacity to mitigate the spread of various communicable diseases, decreasing the amount by $756,952, from $1,892,380 to $1,135,428, and extending the total contract period by one month, from July 1, 2021 through January 31, 2026.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Department of Public Health to execute any related documents and subsequent non-substantive amendments to Contract No. 22-1103 (Grant Agreement No. 21-10580), on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Health to transmit all non-substantive amendments to Contract No. 22-1103 (Grant Agreement No. 21-10580), to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(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
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Amendment No. 1 (Amendment) to Contract No. 22-1103 (Grant Agreement No. 21-10580) (Contract), decreases the contract by $756,952, from $1,892,380 to $1,135,428. This grant is funded by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to develop, expand, train, and/or sustain the Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) workforce, supporting strategic targeted efforts in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2024-25 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
CDPH provides Federal funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand the DIS workforce to strengthen local public health department’s capacity to mitigate the spread of communicable diseases and other infections, such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV, and COVID-19. The DIS workforce grant funds must be used to expand and maintain a countywide response-ready DIS workforce with enhanced staff proficiency on STD/HIV disease investigation, as well as to support the need for rapid emergency infectious disease outbreak response for various communicable illnesses.
Investigation of, and response to, communicable diseases continue to be essential public health functions. Currently, DPH has 15 Communicable Disease Investigators conducting countywide disease case investigations, with duties including patient interviews and follow-up visits; counseling; field investigations; coordination with private and public medical authorities; assisting with screenings and evaluations; and recommending treatment when necessary. This grant supports increased capacity to conduct disease investigation, enhancing efforts in linkage to prevention and treatment, case management and oversight, and outbreak response for STD, HIV, COVID-19, and other infectious diseases.
The recommended Amendment will decrease the overall Contract amount by $756,952 and extend the total Contract period by one month, through January 31, 2026, as directed by the CDC. On June 13, 2023, the CDC announced that $400,000,000 in DIS workforce supplemental funds had been rescinded and that there would be no additional funding for the DIS workforce supplement in 2024 and 2025 (years four and five) as initially anticipated. The decrease in the amended Contract is the result of the removal of these rescinded funds for years four and five, with no impact on funding for years one through three. CDC has approved the rollover of unspent funds from 2023 through the end of January 2026. DPH will continue utilizing this remaining funding to support its DIS workforce in order to meet the increasing communicable disease rates and associated workloads.
On December 7, 2021 (Item No. 37), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved and authorized the submission of the Subrecipient Eligibility Form and the Local Health Jurisdiction Contact Information Form required by CDPH in order to receive the DIS workforce funding.
On November 15, 2022 (Item No. 54), the Board approved the Contract with CDPH for the DIS workforce funding in the amount of $1,892,380 for the period of July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2025.
On June 24, 2024, DPH received the Amendment from CDPH decreasing the Contract amount by $756,952 and extending the total Contract period by one month through January 31, 2026.
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 not impact DIS workforce services and activities.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 19, 2024; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on July 19, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on July 22, 2024.