To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Gift Cards and Transportation Vouchers for Clients of the FMCH Programs
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to purchase, on behalf of the Health Services Director, gift cards and transportation vouchers totaling an amount not to exceed $240,050 for programs within Public Health's Family, Maternal and Child Health Program for the period from November 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The gift cards and transportation vouchers are funded by the California Department of Public Health and California Home Visiting Program (CHVP). Funding received for this program includes financial supports for eligible clients that include food, transportation, and other items of care. No County general funds will be used.
BACKGROUND:
Family, Maternal and Child Health (FMCH) Programs within the Public Health Division of Contra Costa Health Services operate evidence-based programs to provide vulnerable women and their children with education, resources, and support during pregnancy and the early years of the child(ren)’s life. Several of our programs for pregnant women, new mothers and families receive funding specifically to provide food and other emergency assistance including transportation and items to care for the women and their families.
The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) Program (5799) is funded by the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. This funding is to be used solely for the purpose of supporting CHVP MIECHV-funded home visiting programs, including staffing supported by CHVP MIECHV funds and participants enrolled in CHVP MIECHV-funded Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) home visiting models. Client assistance to include the following gift cards and transportation vouchers:
700 Target gift cards each with a $200 value, totaling $140,000. Eligibility criteria: As designated by the American Rescue Plan (California Home Visiting Program, California Department of Public Health), funds can be used toward providing prepaid grocery cards to Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) NFP clients for the purpose of meeting the emergency needs of the family. Each client will receive 1 card upon completion of program family assessment timepoint periods: 1) 5-7th pregnancy encounter, 2) 36th week gestational age encounter, 3) infant birth encounter, 4) infant 6 month encounter, 5) toddler 3rd visit encounter, 6) toddler 18 month encounter, 7) toddler 24 month encounter.
401 Target gift cards each with a $50 value, totaling $20,050. Eligibility criteria: 1) each NFP client will receive 1 card as a welcome gift upon enrollment, 2) each eligible client will receive a card at 6-month breastfeeding continuation, 3) each client will receive a card at program completion (≥ 2 years), and 4) clients can receive 1 card if they express an emergency need. Must be presented at case conference or 1:1 supervision meeting by Public Health Nurse and approved by NFP Nurse Manager.
800 Chevron gift cards each with a $100 value, totaling $80,000. Eligibility criteria: Client can receive 1 card per program phase (Pregnancy, Infancy and Toddlerhood) if they express an emergency need. Must be presented at case conference or 1:1 supervision meeting by Public Health Nurse and approved by NFP Nurse Manager.
On July 26, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved agenda item C.52 to execute Grant Agreement #78-001 with CDPH, to pay the County an amount up to $157,665 for the CHVP ARP, effective upon approval of the agreement through September 30, 2023. These round 1 funds have been exhausted and the gift cards and transportation vouchers purchased with this funding have all been distributed to eligible clients through September 30, 2023.
On May 9, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved agenda item C.30 to execute Grant Agreement #78-001-1, Round 2 with CDPH to pay the County an amount up to $240,085 for the CHVP ARP through September 30, 2024. Approval of this action will allow the purchase of the gift cards and transportation vouchers using the round 2 grant funds to be distributed to eligible clients served by the FMCH programs through September 30, 2024.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this request is not approved, the department will not be able to utilize funding specifically allocated for food, emergency assistance and transportation needs of clients. The inability to provide these financial supports may negatively impact the health and well-being of vulnerable women and their children living in our County.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
FMCH Programs achieve all 5 Children's Impact Statements: Children Ready for and Succeeding in School; Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood; Families that are Economically Self Sufficient; Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing; and Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families.