To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Grant Extension #28-966-2 with the California Department of Public Health
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ACCEPT Grant Award Extension from the California Department of Public Health, to extend the Federal Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Enhancing Detection and ELC Expansion Funding from July 31, 2024 through July 31, 2026 with no other changes to the grant terms and conditions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This extension will not change the original funding award of approximately $39,500,000 in federal funds the state is passing through to counties, for ELC Enhancing Detection and ELC Expansion. No County match required.
BACKGROUND:
Each California Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) (excluding Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Pasadena) were awarded a base of $1,000,000. The balance of funds was distributed based on the proportion each LHJ contributes to the 2019 population (50% of allocation), the proportion each LHJ contributes to the 2019 population in poverty (25% of allocation), and the proportion each LHJ contributes to the population that is Black/African American, Latinx, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (25% of allocation). Population and race/ethnicity data are from the Department of Finance, and population in poverty are calculated using 2019 Census Estimates.
As required, the expenditure of grant dollars must focus on meeting objectives within six (6) strategies, with a special emphasis on health equity throughout the strategies. The six (6) strategies are as follows: enhance laboratory, surveillance, informatics and other workforce capacity; strengthen laboratory testing; advance electronic data exchange at Public Health Laboratories; improve surveillance and reporting of electronic health data; use laboratory data to enhance investigations, response, and prevention; and coordinate and engage with partners.
On April 27, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved acceptance of Grant Award #28-966 with the California Department of Public Health, to pay the County in an amount not to exceed $39,500,000 for the ELC Enhancing Detection through Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Funds, for the period from January 15, 2021 through July 31, 2023.
On June 13, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved acceptance of Grant Award Extension #28-966-1 with the California Department of Public Health, to extend the termination date from July 31, 2023 to July 31, 2024 with no change in the other grant terms and conditions.
Approval of this Grant Award Extension will allow the County to continue to provide these services through July 31, 2026, with no changes to the other grant terms and conditions.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this extension is not approved, the County will not be able to continue strategies to enhance coronavirus detection using laboratory data.