To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Social Services
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Agreement with St. Joseph Health Northern California, LLC., d.b.a. St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka to Assist with CalFresh Outreach and Support Activities
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the agreement with St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka to assist the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) increase utilization of CalFresh benefits by eligible households in an amount not to exceed $163,855; and
2. Direct the Clerk of the Board to route the fully executed Agreement to the DHHS-Contract Unit for forwarding to DHHS- Social Services Administration.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund 1160
DISCUSSION:
St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka (SJH-Eureka) 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. SJH-Eureka has partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) on CalFresh Outreach 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-all working in collaboration with the Humboldt Network of Family Resource Centers.
After seeing the success and benefits of adding community-based access points to CalFresh enrollment and navigation services, SJH-Eureka partnered directly with DHHS in 2010 to integrate CalFresh Outreach into the Eureka and Loleta Community Resource Centers (CRCs), Paso a Paso programs, and Healthy Kids Humboldt (HKH). The 2010 expansion allowed SJH-Eureka 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 Eureka Community Resource Center is located in St. Vincent de Paul’s Dining Facility, where staff interact daily with hundreds of homeless individuals and families who frequent the dining facility’s free lunch program.
Paso a Paso staff have the unique opportunity of working intimately with pregnant Latina women who seek out prenatal education, breast feeding support, and parenting classes through St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals. HKH staff assists marginalized populations in gaining access to health insurance, CalFresh, WIC, earned income tax credit, and other resources in the community that will help them improve their quality of the life. The primary staff of Paso a Paso and HKH are recruited directly from the immigrant community so they are uniquely qualified to serve this population. Both SJH-Eureka and First 5 Humboldt support the staff with funding to receive specialized training in a variety of subject areas needed to maintain a quality program.
All of these programs continue to be well-respected and vital to the communities they serve and we have learned over the years that services and education is most effective with the indigent and non-English speaking populations when it is provided in a familiar setting and by individuals with whom they have built a trusted relationship.
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 not be fully aware of and do not apply for CalFresh benefits. Many others are not aware of program changes that can make it easier for them to receive and continue 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. Partnering with community based organizations is not only consistent with DHHS’s general approach and strategic plan; it is key to DHHS’ goal of providing integrated, place-based and holistic services. This continuing work through outreach partnerships with community-based organizations has led to a significant increase in CalFresh enrollment within the county and throughout the state and nation.
Therefore, DHHS recommends that the Board approve and authorize the Chair to execute this agreement and direct the Clerk of the Board to return the executed agreement to the DHHS-Contract Unit for further processing.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The approval of the agreement with SJH-Eureka for CalFresh outreach services in the amount of $163,855 for the period of May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020 will reside in fund 1160, Budget Unit 511. There is sufficient appropriation to cover the anticipated FY 18-19 expenses (estimated to be $27,309.16), the remainder of $136,545.84 will be included in the proposed FY 19-20 budget. There will be no impact to the county’s General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by creating opportunities for improved safety and health and protecting vulnerable populations.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board can choose not to approve the agreement for the CalFresh Outreach and Support activities with St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka. This is not recommended as the Department of Health and Human Services asserts this funding is important to the goal of increasing CalFresh participation and thereby improving the health and economic stability of children, families and other individuals in Humboldt County.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Agreement with St. Joseph Hospital of Eureka to Assist with CalFresh Outreach Activities for the Period of May 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-11; C-15; C-12; C-12
Meeting of: 11/14/2014; 01/05/2016; 01/17/2017; 02/13/2018
File No.: 19-572