REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 10, 2023
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Allocation from the California Department of Public Health for the Syphilis Outbreak Strategy and Congenital Syphilis Prevention and Control
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Accept allocation and approve Agreement (State Agreement No. 22-10887) from the California Department of Public Health for the syphilis outbreak strategy and congenital syphilis prevention and control activities, in the amount of $3,207,525, for the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2027.
2. Designate the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Department of Public Health to execute and submit any subsequent non-substantive amendments and documents for this Agreement (State Agreement No. 22-10887) 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 amendments in relation to this Agreement (State Agreement No. 22-10887) 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 California Department of Public Health (CDPH) allocation in the amount of $3,207,525 for the congenital syphilis (CS) prevention and control activities does not require a match. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2022-23 budget and will be included in the future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The CDPH, Sexually Transmitted Disease Branch (STDCB) received an allocation in the 2022-23 State budget for the Syphilis Outbreak Strategy (SOS). This one-time funding is to be allocated to local health jurisdictions (LHJ) based on CS rates within each jurisdiction. DPH will use the allocation to expand the existing syphilis and CS control activities, with a focus on disproportionately impacted populations as determined by local or regional syphilis and CS epidemiology.
DPH will also use the allocation to fund CS prevention and control activities that will include: robust case management for pregnant females with syphilis and CS cases; increasing access to transportation for testing and treatment follow-up; collaborating with local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to increase awareness of and provide linkages to syphilis testing; partnering with correctional facilities to implement syphilis screening in jails; providing education to priority prenatal care providers and birthing hospitals to enhance screening and treatment practices; and implementing innovative targeted paid media advertising towards at-risk groups. The overall goal of CDPH’s CS project is to implement evidence-based public health activities to proactively address the rise in CS cases within the LHJ.
On November 14, 2022, DPH received the allocation notice of award from CDPH for CS prevention and control funding in the amount of $3,207,525 for the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2027. Funds will be allocated annually from 2022-23 to 2024-25 with the ability to be encumbered or expended through June 30, 2027.
This item is being presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) at this time, as this is the first date available following the required operational, fiscal, and legal reviews. Approval by the Board at this time will have no impact on DPH’s services or activities.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) December 15, 2022; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on December 20, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on December 20, 2022.