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Approve a contract with Innovative Health Solutions for $125,000 to provide nutrition education services for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024; and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _ _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _ _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve a contract with Innovative Health Solutions for $125,000 to provide nutrition education services for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024; and delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the contract and any subsequent amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, up to an aggregate of $74,999.
SUMMARY:
The California Department of Public Health’s CalFresh Healthy Living Program funds the Solano County Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health Division, Nutrition Services Program, to provide community-based nutrition education and obesity prevention activities.
This contract with Innovative Health Solutions will provide for the continuation of nutrition education classes and events for students and parents, allowing for enhanced, targeted nutrition activities at several school sites within the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District. The contract also provides for materials, program evaluation, a youth social media messaging project and implementation of the California Department of Public Health mandated evaluation project for direct education at school sites.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Health and Social Services Department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget includes $157,968 for the Innovative Health Solutions contract for the period of July 2023 through September 2023. This new contract is for the period of October 2023 through June 2024. Appropriations for these services in FY2023/24 is funded through grant funds received from the California Department of Public Health for the CalFresh Healthy Living program. The last three months of the contract term will be included in the Department’s FY2024/25 Requested Budget. There is no impact to the County General Fund.
DISCUSSION:
Solano Public Health has previously contracted with Innovative Health Solutions to provide nutrition education and obesity prevention to target populations. On October 1, 2019, the Board approved a three-year contract for the period October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2022. On September 27, 2022, the Board approved a one-year contract to continue services through September 30, 2023.
Approval of the recommended contract will allow for continuation of current services, including completion of program impact outcome evaluation as required of all local health departments operating the CalFresh Health Living program through September 30, 2024.
Innovative Health Solutions has substantially contributed to the CalFresh Healthy Living program and the Solano County community, and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Innovative Health Solutions mobilized to provide the Solano community with resources. With CalFresh Healthy Living funding, the organization promoted the urban cultivation of vegetable plants, which were distributed to families and youth in Solano County in conjunction with the Food Bank's community produce program.
Innovative Health Solutions has also built and sustained a partnership with the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District. In 2020, Innovative Health Solutions’ staff established a partnership with Armijo High School to support the school garden. In 2023, Innovative Health Solutions partnered with Sustainable Solano to create a healthy local food program at Armijo High School. Thirty students enrolled in the program and were educated on the importance of growing, cooking, and eating healthy food along with the importance of using local food. The youth are now leading a social media messaging campaign to educate others. Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District has requested the continuation of the program for the current school year.
Innovative Health Solutions continues to work with David Weir Preparatory Academy, Dan O. Root Health and Wellness Academy and Ana Kyle Elementary School to establish school gardens and provide nutrition education to students and families. Through a partnership with Sustainable Solano, Innovative Health Solutions’ staff also provided garden curricula and resources to Matt Garcia Middle School.
With the Board’s approval of this contract, Solano Public Health and Innovative Health Solutions will continue to provide nutrition education and obesity prevention efforts in Solano County to target populations.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve this one-year contract with Innovative Health Solutions. This is not recommended because it would prevent the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District from providing enhanced evidence-based nutritional education to students and parents and not allow the program to complete the impact outcome evaluation as required by the California Department of Public Health.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Department worked with Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District to develop this contract.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION