Agenda

Return

D.10

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Date:	April 27, 2021

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Award of Approximately $39.5 million ELC Supplemental Funds

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/27/2021

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Patrick Godley, 925-957-5405
cc:	Jackie Peterson Marcy Wilhelm

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: April 27, 2021
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

Ratify the Health Services Department's expenditure strategies and objectives, and initiatives plan and acceptance of the approximate award of $39,500,000 Federal Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Enhancing Detection through Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Funds for the period from January 15, 2021 through July 31, 2023.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The award will result in approximately $39.5M, and most likely up to $39,451,314 in federal funds the state is passing through to counties, which allows for 1) continuation of staff currently funded by Phase 1 of the ELC in the amount of $3,452,880; 2) replacement funding for positions funded by the expiring CARES funding in the amount of $20,468,758; and 3) for new projects subject to Federal and State guidelines in the amount of $15,529,676. Of the new project funding, $9,520,832 (61%) is directed to Health Equity initiatives and the remainder $6,008,844 (39%) will be directed to new infrastructure projects to address COVID-19 within our communities.

BACKGROUND:

Each California Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) (excluding Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Pasadena) is awarded a base of $1,000,000. The balance of funds were 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.

See attachment 1 for full details of strategies 1-6.

The six (6) strategies are as follows:
1. Enhance laboratory, surveillance, informatics and other workforce capacity
2. Strengthen laboratory testing
3. Advance electronic data exchange at Public Health Labs
4. Improve surveillance and reporting of electronic health data
5. Use laboratory data to enhance investigations, response, and prevention
6. Coordinate and engage with partners

Contra Costa Health Services staff consulted subject matter experts, and State and local officials on how to best spend the grant dollars allocated to Contra Costa County meeting prescriptive six (6) strategies while addressing Health Equity concerns within the community. The following initiatives were identified:

1. Continue community COVID-19 testing and increase critical workforce capability associated with the COVID-19 pandemic response Continue community disease investigation and contact tracing
2. New lab software, upgrades to improve real time data automation for analysis of infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2, supporting the identification of disproportionally impacted priority populations to allow for targeted outreach and service delivery
3. Automate and improve Communicable Disease workflows to prepare for future disease outbreaks
4. Public information and education campaigns to target high risk communities and website redesign and community engagement tools
5. Funding to support the transition of unhoused individuals from Project Roomkey to sheltered congregate facilities
6. Various lab supplies, equipment, and HIPAA compliant tool to support community surveys

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If not approved, the County will not receive the approximate $39.5 million grant from the California Department of Public Health.