To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC, Doing Business as St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka, Regarding the Provision of Community Outreach and Support Services Related to the CalFresh Program
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LCC, doing business as St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka, regarding the provision of community outreach and support services related to the CalFresh program in an amount not to exceed $105,840.90 for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021;
2. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC, doing business as St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one fully executed original copy of the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC, doing business as St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka, to the Department of Health and Human Services - Contract Unit for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund 1160
DISCUSSION:
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) administers all United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds. Focusing on the important role SNAP plays in access to nutrition and the relation of nutrition to overall wellness, CDSS renamed and re-branded food stamps as CalFresh in California. Beyond the name and image changes, CDSS also made significant program changes to increase CalFresh use by reducing enrollment and retention barriers. Many low-income individuals and families continue to lack awareness of the program and do not apply for CalFresh benefits. Many others are not aware of program changes that can make it easier for them to receive CalFresh benefits.
USDA and CDSS have encouraged counties to work with community partners to help reach and inform community members who might be eligible for CalFresh benefits. Continuing work through outreach partnerships with community-based organizations has led to a significant increase in CalFresh enrollment within Humboldt County and throughout the state.
St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC, doing business as St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka (St. Joseph Hospital), provides a wide range of healthcare services to all persons in need of medical care. Special attention is given to the most vulnerable populations through the Community Benefits Department by partnering with likeminded organizations in the community to improve the health status of indigent people living in Humboldt County. St. Joseph Hospital has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services - Social Services (DHHS - Social Services) regarding the provision of community outreach and support services related to the CalFresh program over the past several years by integrating CalFresh outreach and application assistance into its Willow Creek, Blue Lake, Rio Dell and Loleta Community Resource Center site programs.
After seeing the success and benefits of adding community-based access points to CalFresh enrollment and navigation services, St. Joseph Hospital integrated CalFresh outreach and support services into the Eureka and Loleta Community Resource Center, Paso a Paso and Healthy Kids Humboldt programs in 2010. The 2010 expansion allowed St. Joseph Hospital to increase its reach to include the working poor, the uninsured and underinsured, homeless individuals and families, low-income school-age children and their families, the Latino community and pregnant non-English speaking women who are seeking prenatal care services at St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals.
The attached professional services agreement will allow St. Joseph Hospital to continue providing community outreach and support services that are designed to increase utilization of the CalFresh program by eligible households, raise awareness of the nutrition benefits of the CalFresh program, promote healthy food choices, reduce hunger amongst vulnerable populations within Humboldt County and help dispel program myths and misperceptions. It should be noted that the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Hospital comes to the Board after the start date thereof due to inadvertent delays that occurred during the contract development process.
Accordingly, DHHS - Social Services recommends that the Board approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Hospital regarding the provision of community outreach and support services related to the CalFresh program for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Staff also recommends that the Board authorize the DHHS - Social Services Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Hospital, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays in the provision of needed community outreach and support services.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Hospital has a maximum amount payable of $105,840.90 for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. However, in the event local, state or federal funding is reduced or eliminated, the County of Humboldt may reduce the above-referenced maximum amount payable or terminate the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Hospital in its entirety.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Hospital have been included in the approved fiscal year 2020-2021 budget for DHHS - Social Services budget Unit 1160-511. Funding for the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Hospital is available through CalFresh revenues received by DHHS - Social Services. As a result, approval of the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Hospital will not impact to the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations, creating opportunities for improved safety and health, providing community-appropriate levels of services and facilitating public/private partnerships to avoid problems.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the attached professional services agreement with St. Joseph Hospital regarding the provision of community outreach and support services related to the CalFresh program. However, this alternative is not recommended since it will limit DHHS - Social Services’ ability to increase CalFresh participation and thereby improve the health and economic stability of children, families and other individuals in Humboldt County.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC, Doing Business as St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka, Regarding the Provision of Community Outreach and Support Services Related to the CalFresh Program
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-11; C-15; C-12; C-12; C-28
Meeting of: 05/24/12; 12/18/13; 11/14/14; 01/05/16; 01/17/17; 02/13/18; 05/07/19
File No.: 16-0029; 17-0419; 18-17; 19-572; 20-817