To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Allocation of 1.0 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Senior Health Education Specialist and Allocation of 1.0 FTE Health Education Specialist I/II
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Allocate 1.0 FTE Senior Health Education Specialist position (class 0582, salary range 440) in budget unit (BU) 400, fund 1175;
2. Allocate 1.0 FTE Health Education Specialist I/II position (class 1595A/B, salary range 397/430) in BU 400, fund 1175; effective beginning of the pay period following approval.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund 1175
DISCUSSION:
The California Budget Act of 2022 provided $300 million state general funds ongoing to California Department of Public Health (CDPH) starting in 2022-23 to support the public health infrastructure at the state and local levels. Of the $300 million annual investment (also known as Future of Public Health (FoPH) funding), $99.6 million is dedicated for state operations while $200.4 million is annually allocated to 61 local health jurisdictions (LHJs) for local assistance. Future increase of the funding would require legislative action.
The Future of Public Health (FoPH) initiative aims at transforming and modernizing California to be able to handle public health threats. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of public health systems, but also their understaffing, inadequate information technology systems, and lab capacity. Therefore, California has adopted a modified foundational public health framework addressing six key service areas:
• Workforce Development, Recruitment, and Training
• Emergency Preparedness and Response
• IT, Data Science, and Informatics
• Communications, Public Education, Engagement, and Behavior Change
• Community Partnerships
• Community Health Improvement
The FoPH funding offers a unique opportunity to strengthen and expand local public health workforce, particularly to fill staffing gaps identified during the COVID-19 pandemic. As CDPH recognizes that community needs, challenges, and infrastructure are different for each LHJ, the intent of the FoPH funding is to be used flexibly in ways that are appropriate for each local context and reflect the needs of each local health jurisdiction.
As required by statute, at least 70 percent of the funding must be spent on expanding permanent public health workforce:
• Each LHJ must dedicate at least 70 percent of funding to support recruitment of new permanent city or county staff, including benefits and training;
• Remaining funds, not to exceed 30%, may be used for equipment, supplies, and other administrative purposes (such as facility space, furnishings, travel, and similar activities); and
• The funding should not replace existing public health resources. It may be used to supplement, but not to supplant all other specific local city and/or county fundings (including, but not limited to, local realignment and local general fund resources utilized for LHJ purposes & excluding federal funds in this determination)
CDPH allocated a total of $938,349 to Humboldt County DHHS- Public Health and on November 11, 2022, approved the county’s associated spend plan and scope of work which encompass various existing and new positions throughout the branch. Currently, proposed programmatic areas will include communicable disease control, PH Lab staffing capacity, PH Nursing leadership support, health education and health promotion with a focus on harm reduction and health equity, and Epidemiology program capacity. The item before your Board today approves the allocation of one (1) full time equivalent (FTE) Senior Health Education Specialist to ensure oversight of the North Coast AIDS Project’s expanded focus on hepatitis C (HCV), along with the current HIV/AIDS, harm reduction and housing support services and one (1) full time equivalent (FTE) Health Education Specialist I/II to ensure capacity for health equity initiatives and practices that improve opportunities for heath for all members of our community.
The Department of Health and Human Services - Administration will bring requests to your Board as needed for additional approvals.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The anticipated annual salary and benefit costs for FY 2022-23 for the Senior Health Education Specialist is $96,322.14 and is 0.50 FTE funded by Future of Public Health grant agreement # FoPH-013 and 0.50 FTE funded by CMSP LICN Grant agreement # LICN-046.
The anticipated annual salary and benefit costs for FY 2022-23 for the Health Education Specialist is $83,214.82 and is 0.58 FTE funded by Future of Public Health grant agreement # FoPH-013 and 0.42 FTE Realignment. Both positions are funded in Fund 1175, BU 400005- PH Administration FoPH. These positions will be included in the annual budget process for future fiscal years. There is no impact to the county General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing community-appropriate levels of service This action also supports the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) by providing more support for programs to improve health outcomes in our community.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose to not approve this action. However, this is not recommended due to the loss to the County of funding for positions that will help provide community-appropriate levels of service that can improve health outcomes in our community.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A