To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
SUBJECT:
title
Master’s in Public Health Affiliation Agreement with George Washington University
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors approve and authorize the Chair to sign two (2) copies of the attached proposed Master’s in Public Health Affiliation Agreement between George Washington University and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Public Health; grant a waiver of the Nuclear Free Ordinance; and direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed copy of the agreement to DHHS - Contracts Unit.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
N/A
DISCUSSION:
DHHS has long standing agreements to provide College of the Redwoods (CR) students with opportunities for clinical nursing internship experiences in Public Health and Mental Health nursing. DHHS also has agreements to provide Humboldt State University (HSU) master’s degree social work students with opportunities for professional internships throughout DHHS. These internships benefit CR and HSU, local human services providers and the community at large. Some students are employed locally and by DHHS upon graduation. However, HSU and CR do not offer master’s level programs to train professional public health practitioners locally. Humboldt County is a professional shortage area, so the need to develop a workforce locally is great. DHHS - Public Health has had difficulty recruiting and retaining staff that specializes in public health and desires to provide internships to students pursuing their Master’s in public health in efforts to increase the numbers of specialized staff.
The agreement before your Board today will allow DHHS - Public Health to place students completing a Master’s in public health into an internship program through George Washington University within the department for the period of September 1, 2018 through August 31, 2020. This internship will allow Master’s in public health students the opportunity to complete the work necessary to obtain their degree, and will contribute to the education or public health students and diminish the shortage of qualified public health professionals in Humboldt County.
As a private research university which has the potential to be involved in nuclear research, George Washington University is unable to include the Nuclear Free Humboldt Ordinance in any agreement. Therefore DHHS - Public Health is requesting that the Board approve a waiver to exclude the language.
The term of this agreement is Sept. 1, 2018, through August 31, 2020. This item comes to your Board after the start date due to belated receipt of the signed agreement from George Washington University.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the Masters in Public Health Affiliation Agreement with George Washington University will not increase or decrease the county approved budget for the duration of the agreement. Existing program staff will provide support using current resources. Therefore, there is no impact to Public Health funds, nor the county General Fund.
This agreement supports the Board’s Strategic Framework by supporting business and workforce development.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose to not approve the proposed agreement. However, this is not recommended because the attached agreement will benefit Humboldt County by increasing the number of qualified public health professionals in the area.
ATTACHMENTS:
Master’s in Public Health Affiliation Agreement with George Washington University
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A