REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 5, 2025
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with California Health Collaborative for Maternal and Child Health Services in the High Desert Region Under the Black Infant Health Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 5 to Contract No. 21-629 with the 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 $756,104, from $2,409,894 to $3,165,998, and extending the contract an additional year, for the total period of August 24, 2021 through August 23, 2026.
(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). The increase of $756,104 for the Black Infant Health (BIH) Program services in the High Desert region is funded annually with a State allocation. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2025-26 budget and will be included in the 2026-27 recommended budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 1989, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) expanded its commitment toward ensuring that all babies are born healthy by placing an emphasis on Black/African American infants, due to the alarming and disparate rates of morbidity and mortality in the population. CDPH established the BIH Program in its Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division, which currently funds 17 Local Health Jurisdictions, including San Bernardino County. DPH provides BIH services countywide to Black/African American women who are at least 16 years old, pregnant, or up to six months postpartum at the time of enrollment in the program.
The California Health Collaborative (CHC) provides maternal and child health services in the High Desert region to an estimated 160 participants at an approximate cost of $4,726 per participant annually. Services feature 10 weekly prenatal and 10 weekly postpartum group sessions focused on empowerment and social support, along with case management to connect families to tailored community and health related services.
Approval of the recommended Amendment No. 5 to Contract No. 21-629 (Contract) would allow DPH to continue working with CHC to provide services that align with BIH fidelity requirements, which are designed to address the health needs of pregnant and postpartum Black/African American women via a State evidence-informed model that spans the entire course of the woman’s pregnancy and the infant’s first year. 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.
On August 24, 2021 (Item No. 31), as the result of a formal procurement (Bid No. DPH21-MH-4236), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the Contract with CHC to provide BIH services in the High Desert region, in the amount of $448,843, for the period of August 24, 2021 through August 23, 2022.
On July 26, 2022 (Item No. 36), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to the Contract, increasing the total contract amount by $448,843, from $448,843 to $897,686, and extending the contract an additional year, for the contract period of August 24, 2021 through August 23, 2023.
On August 8, 2023 (Item No. 34), the Board approved Amendment No. 2 to the Contract, increasing the total contract amount by $448,843, from $897,686 to $1,346,529, and extending the term by one year, for a total contract period of August 24, 2021 through August 23, 2024.
On March 12, 2024 (Item No. 32), the Board approved Amendment No. 3 to the Contract, increasing the total contract amount by $307,261, from $1,346,529 to $1,653,790, allowing CHC to increase staffing levels for the addition of a mental health specialist and public health nurse for the program, with no change to the contract period of August 24, 2021 through August 23, 2024.
On August 6, 2024 (Item No. 34), the Board approved Amendment No. 4 to the Contract, increasing the total contract amount by $756,104, from $1,653,790 to $2,409,894, and extending the term by one year, for a total contract period of August 24, 2021 through August 23, 2025.
DPH recommends approval of Amendment No. 5 to the Contract with CHC to increase funding by $756,104, from $2,409,894 to $3,165,998, and to extend the term an additional year, for the total contract period of August 24, 2021 through August 23, 2026.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 8, 2025 and County Finance and Administration (Iliana Rodriguez, Administrative Analyst, 387-4205) on July 17, 2025.