To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding Registered Dietitian Services Provided to County of Del Norte
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve and authorize the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between County of Humboldt’s Public Health (PH) WIC program and County of Del Norte’s PH WIC program for the period of Jan. 1, 2021 through April 30, 2021;
2. Authorize the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) - Public Health Director or designee to sign the MOU;
3. Authorize the DHHS - Public Health Director or designee to sign future amendments and documents directly related to the MOU upon County Counsel and Risk Management review and approval; and
4. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one copy of the certified agenda item to DHHS - Public Health.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund (1175)
DISCUSSION:
The County of Humboldt has participated in the WIC program since 1976. WIC provides individualized nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, vouchers to purchase healthy foods for low-income women and their children as well as referrals to health care providers and medical clinics. The target population includes women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have recently delivered a baby as well as infants and children less than five years of age. DHHS - Public Health WIC serves approximately 3,400 clients a month. WIC is federally funded; California Department of Public Health - WIC division is responsible for administering these funds for local WIC programs.
County of Humboldt DHHS - PH has received funding from CDPH in order to administer a WIC program in Del Norte County for many years. County of Del Norte PH recently received funding from CDPH to establish their own WIC program, as they previously did not serve as a WIC provider. Humboldt County PH’s WIC program will provide Registered Dietitian (RD) services until Del Norte PH’s WIC program has hired RD staff to perform the services.
The MOU before your Board today will allow DHHS - PH to continue to provide RD services for Del Norte PH’s WIC program while Del Norte PH searches for an RD to hire, once Del Norte PH is established as a WIC provider. This MOU covers the period from Jan. 1, 2021 through April 30, 2021.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The RD services as detailed in the MOU will be paid for by the County of Humboldt’s WIC budget in Fund 1175, Budget Unit 415 - WIC for the period of Jan. 1, 2021 through April 1, 2021 and are expected to be reimbursed by CDPH. Del Norte PH will not be billed. The RD’s time will come from their current budget assignment for their position and the estimated staff cost for this time period is $3,975. These funds were anticipated and are included in the fiscal year (FY) 2020-2021 county budget in Fund 1175, Budget Unit 415 - WIC. There is no impact to the General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Department of Public Health
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose not to approve the MOU with Del Norte County for Humboldt County to provide RD services. However, DHHS - PH does not recommend this as the WIC program provides services to low-income families.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MOU between Humboldt County and Del Norte County & associated Exhibits.
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: 20-1536