To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Interim Health Services Director
Report Title: Contract #72-197-1 with FIERCE Advocates (Families and Individuals Equitably Rooted in Collective Empowerment), Inc.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Interim Health Services Director, or designee, to execute on behalf of the County Contract #72-197-1 with FIERCE Advocates (Families and Individuals Equitably Rooted in Collective Empowerment), Inc. a non-profit corporation, in an amount not to exceed $350,000, for consultation and technical assistance to assist and support the development of the Doula Program for Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) Public Health Division’s, Family, Maternal & Child Health Programs (FMCH), Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) to provide prenatal, birth and postpartum community support for enrolled County participants for the period April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this Contract will result in annual contractual services of up to $350,000 which will be funded 100% by the Community Development Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) Grant.
BACKGROUND:
The PEI aims to improve birth outcomes in African American communities and was established with the passage of California State Legislature’s AB 1810. Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS), FMCH Programs have been funded to accomplish a scope of work which includes conducting an environmental scan, engaging community partners in planning a process to determine needs, gaining a deeper understanding of the African-American community and its infant mortality rate in Contra Costa County, and developing and implementing a public health awareness campaign to raise awareness about pre-term birth and infant mortality. Additionally, we are required to subcontract with community-based organizations for the provision of supportive services to the most impacted populations of perinatal health inequities. County’s Public Health Division provides outreach and services to communities that may otherwise not get community support for client referrals/case management in collaboration with PEI.
This Contract is entered into under and subject to the following legal authorities: California Government Code §§ 26227 and 31000; Health and Safety Code § 1451. The Public Health Quality Management, Utilization Management and Contract Monitor Staff meet on a regular basis to ensure monitoring and performance measures in the Contract are upheld. Health Services Personnel approved this Contract to ensure no conflicts with labor relations. These contracted services were determined to be exempt from Administrative Bulletin 600.3 solicitation requirements by the Public Works Department’s Purchasing Division.
On May 23, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #72-197 with FIERCE Advocates (Families and Individuals Equitably Rooted in Collective Empowerment), Inc, in an amount not to exceed $700,000 to provide consultation and technical assistance to develop a Doula Program to provide community support services for prenatal, birth and postpartum periods to enrolled County participants for the period April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2025.
Approval of Contract #72-197-1 will allow Contractor to continue to provide consultation and technical assistance to assist and support the development of the CCHS Doula program through March 31, 2026. This Contract was delayed due to prolonged negotiations between the Division and Contractor.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Contract is not approved, referred County participants will not have access to Contractor’s community support services for the prenatal through postpartum periods.