REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 13, 2022
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Award from the California Department of Public Health for the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve grant award agreement (Grant Agreement No. 22-10281) from the California Department of Public Health for the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program, in the amount of $41,727,837, for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025.
2. Designate the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Department of Public Health to execute any subsequent non-substantive amendments in relation to the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program grant award agreement (Grant Agreement No. 22-10281) 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 Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program grant award agreement (Grant Agreement No. 22-10281) 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
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The grant award in the amount of $41,727,837 from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program does not require a local match. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2022-23 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The WIC Nutrition Program provides a number of services including breastfeeding information and support, nutrition education, referrals to healthcare and other community resources, and provision of the WIC Card to purchase identified foods selected for their nutrient content. DPH uses WIC funding to provide nutrition education, including breastfeeding promotion and support, and supplemental foods to an allocated countywide monthly caseload of 59,130 individuals, at an estimated cost of $235 per participant. Eligibility for participation in the WIC Nutrition Program is determined by the household’s annual income (must be below 185 percent of the United States Poverty Income Guidelines) and assessment of nutritional risk. Participants receive a WIC Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to purchase nutritious foods at nearly 200 WIC-authorized grocery stores throughout San Bernardino County.
DPH’s WIC Nutrition Program activities help low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children throughout San Bernardino County eat well and stay healthy. Participants receive monthly WIC benefits via an EBT card to purchase authorized food items such as milk, cheese, eggs, cereal, peanut butter, beans, fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains selected to supplement their diets with beneficial nutrients. WIC Nutrition Program funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services to CDPH who in turn allocates funds to local agencies to administer to local communities. DPH has received WIC funding since 1977.
On April 12, 2022 (Item No. 30), the Board of Supervisors approved the submission of the grant application to CDPH for the WIC Nutrition Program, in the amount of $41,727,837, for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025.
On June 29, 2022, DPH received the grant award agreement (Grant Agreement No. 22-10281) from CDPH for the WIC Nutrition Program, in the amount of $41,727,837, for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 23, 2022; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on August 23, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on August 24, 2022.