To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Contract #72-242-1 with Mothers for Mothers Postpartum Justice Project
Recommendation: Recommendation of the County Administrator
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute Contract #72-242-1 with Mothers for Mothers Postpartum Justice Project, a non-profit corporation, in an amount not to exceed $300,000, to provide Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) nutrition support services including home delivered meals for new mothers from birth for twelve (12) weeks postpartum who are enrolled in the Black Infant Health (BIH) Program in East Contra Costa County, for the period October 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this Contract will result in contractual expenditures of up to $300,000 over an eight-month period and will be funded 100% by the Perinatal Equity Initiative Fund revenues.
BACKGROUND:
County Public Health Division’s Family, Maternal and Child Health (FMCH) Program supports the California Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) signed into legislation in 2018 to address the high prevalence of premature birth, low birth weight, and high infant mortality rates in Black communities. The FMCH Program surveyed communities and identified food insecurity in East and West County as an area of focus to improve outcomes in the community. This Contract is entered into under and subject to the following legal authorities: California Government Code §§ 26227. Health Services Personnel approved this Contract to ensure no conflicts with labor relations. Contractor has provided these services while fostering a deep understanding of Public Health’s mission, values, and long-term objectives since October 2024.
In April 2024, FMCH emailed a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) Nutrition Support Services to community-based organizations (CBOs) to close the gap of food insecurity and improve mortality outcomes for black infants with home delivered meal services, including nutrition assessments and ethnic based menus. An RFP for the specified services was issued by Public Works in June 2024, outlining the scope, requirements, and evaluation criteria for qualified service providers.
On December 3, 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #72-242 with Mothers for Mothers Postpartum Justice Project, in an amount not to exceed $300,000, for the provision of PEI nutrition support services including home delivered meals for new mothers from birth to twelve (12) weeks postpartum who are enrolled in the BIH Program in East Contra Costa County for the period, October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2026.
Approval of Contract #72-242-1 will allow the Contractor to continue to provide PEI nutrition support services in East Contra Costa County through June 30, 2027.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Contract is not approved, PEI services to Black women and Black birthing families in the BIH Program including food delivery services will not be provided.