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Approve an intergovernmental agreement with Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for revenue of $1,000,000 for a one-year period (November 2018-October 2019) to implement five projects to improve the health and well-being of the people of Solano County; Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request for $1,000,000 for FY2018/19 in unanticipated revenue (4/5 vote required); and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the intergovernmental agreement and contracts and agreements related to project implementation
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No__X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Departments of Health & Social Services (H&SS) and First 5 Solano recommend the Board of Supervisors approve an intergovernmental agreement with Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for revenue of $1,000,000 for a one-year period (November 2018-October 2019) to implement five projects to improve the health and well-being of the people of Solano County; Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request for $1,000,000 for FY2018/19 in unanticipated revenue (4/5 vote required); and Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the intergovernmental agreement and contracts and agreements related to project implementation.
SUMMARY:
In October 2017, the County of Solano and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation (Yocha Dehe) entered an intergovernmental agreement which provided $1,000,000 to support three projects to help people in need throughout Solano County: Vibe Solano, a multi-pronged health campaign intended to prevent and reduce chronic diseases; the Mobile Food Pharmacy, a mobile food truck to bring healthy and nutritious food to low-income, food insecure patients of Solano County Family Health Services Medical Clinics; and Helping Families with Basic Needs, a fund to assist families throughout the county to cover their basic living expenses. Numerous families throughout Solano County have benefitted from these three projects.
Based on the success of the initial year of partnership, Yocha Dehe has agreed to a second year of funding to assist the most vulnerable residents of Solano County, including continuing funding for the three Year 1 projects, and expanding to include two new projects which, following the tribe’s priorities, expand and leverage existing resources and fill gaps in community need. The five projects work together toward improving the health and well-being of Solano County residents:
1. Vibe Solano: A multi-pronged health campaign intended to prevent and reduce chronic diseases by increasing access to healthy choices, places, messages and community engagement to make a more vibrant, healthy Solano County;
2. Mobile Food Pharmacy: The “Food is Medicine” Mobile Food Pharmacy project will continue to bring healthy and nutritious food to the low-income, food insecure patients of Solano County Family Health Services Medical Clinics. The 2017-2018 funding was primarily used to purchase and wrap the mobile truck and 2018-2019 funding will contribute to the truck’s operational support;
3. Helping Families with Basic Needs and Opening the First 5 Early Childhood Center: Basic Needs Support Fund will continue to provide basic needs to families in crisis, so the families can focus on stabilizing and strengthening to avoid such crises in the future. Funding will also be used to assist with tenant improvements for establishment of a “First 5 Early Childhood Center,” to provide critical support to families and their young children;
4. Transportation for Seniors: In partnership with the Solano Transportation Authority (STA), this project will involve the acquisition of two paratransit vans so as to meet the transportation needs of senior citizens within the County, particularly those with mobility issues;
5. High School Diploma Scholarship Programs: Through a partnership with the State and County libraries, the program will help people who have faced challenges earn their high school diplomas.
The Yocha Dehe Tribal Council agreed to fund all five projects for one year for a total funding amount of $1,000,000.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no requirement for local matching funds for implementation of these projects and there is no cost to the General Fund. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2018/19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is a sovereign Native American nation which holds ancestral territory within the boundaries of Solano County. Yocha Dehe remains committed to improving the environment, education status, and the health, safety and general welfare of not only its citizens, but also Native American and non-Native American people throughout California. Revenues from gaming operations enable Yocha Dehe to help non-tribal communities in a meaningful way, including supporting local jurisdictions.
In August 2016, Yocha Dehe amended their Tribal-State Compact between the State of California and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. The Compact provides a funding mechanism for Yocha Dehe to fund local government services in counties that Yocha Dehe has ancestral territory (Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Yolo counties) as recognized by the Native American Heritage Commission.
In December 2016, Supervisor Hannigan first entered discussions with Yocha Dehe staff on their interest in providing funding to Solano County which resulted in the funding of three projects aimed at improving the health and well-bring of residents of Solano by targeting high-risk populations via three distinct projects: VibeSolano; a Mobile Food Pharmacy; and Basic Needs Support. These projects, which collectively work toward creating healthy and strong communities, were implemented beginning October 2017. Some outcomes of the projects during the year include:
• VibeSolano assisted two grocery stores with healthy makeovers to increase healthy foods at checkout; installed 19 water stations in locations that have also agreed to adopt healthy beverage policies; distributed over 20,000 water bottles to students in Title 1 schools; trained 20 community members as lay leaders/coaches to offer free chronic disease prevention and injury prevention classes, thereby helping hundreds of residents take charge of their health; implemented a senior health needs assessment to educate and garner feedback from over 300 seniors on healthy eating, active living, fall prevention, and local resources; collaborated with Sustainable Solano on a local farmer survey to assess what food is grown and where it is sold; completed a media campaign with health and cannabis prevention messages; and conducted a six week pilot farm to fork project to identify operational costs, challenges, distribution mechanisms and options to bring fresh produce and healthy prepared meals to residents.
• A Mobile Food Pharmacy pilot was established, distributing 11,500 pounds of fresh produce to 824 patients and their families. The Mobile Food Pharmacy vehicle was placed into service September 2018.
• The Basic Needs fund assisted 404 families (1482 individuals) throughout Solano County with basic needs to remain safely in their homes. Rental assistance was the highest need, followed by utilities.
Projects for Year 2 include the continuation and expansion of the three Year 1 projects, along with two additional programs to assist adult students in obtaining their high school diploma and to acquire two paratransit vans to assist seniors. The full proposals can be found as Attachment B.
VibeSolano: The mission of VibeSolano (the H&SS Health Promotion and Community Wellness Bureau), is to maximize personal and community wellness by promoting healthy behaviors and environments throughout Solano County. Funding for this project, totaling $333,500 for Year 2, would allow the continuation of VibeSolano chronic disease prevention projects which started with a Community Transformation Grant in 2012 through the Public Health Institute, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Year 2 VibeSolano will focus on:
• Chronic disease prevention, especially addressing rates of diabetes and hypertension
• Senior injury prevention through education and safety improvements
• Increasing access to healthy food and drinking water as the beverage of first choice
• Outreach and engagement of the community through primary prevention
Mobile Food Pharmacy: The We’re All Family! Mobile Food Pharmacy (MFP), a project of H&SS Family Health Services, proposes to utilize $225,000 in unspent funds from Year 1 and additional Year 2 funds of $50,000 to cover operations, supplies and staffing of the MFP vehicle. Patients with chronic disease will receive a prescription for fresh produce that they pick up from the MFP regularly scheduled outside the FHS clinics or alongside the Mobile Medical Clinic. The produce box will contain fruits and vegetables tailored to best support the improvement of the patient’s specific chronic condition. Recipe cards corresponding to the produce box received will be included to assist patients in the preparation of healthy and appetizing dishes. Solano County partners with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano to ensure the success of the MFP project.
Helping Families with Basic Needs and Opening the First 5 Early Childhood Center: The Basic Needs Fund, a project of First 5 Solano, will continue with an additional $200,000 in Year 2 to provide for the immediate basic needs of families in crisis, so the families can focus on stabilizing and strengthening to avoid crisis in the future. First 5 Solano will work with existing partnerships with Family Resource Centers (FRCs) located in each city in Solano County. In addition, Year 2 includes $300,000 to assist with tenant improvements for establishment of a First 5 Center in Vallejo. The center will promote and support the health and well-being, social emotional development, and school readiness of young children, along with providing support for parents, such as parent education, access to resources, and peer to peer support.
High School Diplomas: In June 2018, through a partnership of the Solano County Library, the Vallejo Friends of the Library, the Fairfield-Suisun Friends of the Library, the Vacaville Friends of the Library, Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan, and matching funds from the California State Library, 10 people earned a high school diploma from Solano County Library’s Career Online High School (COHS). $16,500 from Yocha Dehe in Year 2 will be used to match funds from the California State Library to offer 30 adult learners scholarships to attend the accredited COHS online program and earn their high school diploma, preparing them to engage in higher education or enter the workforce.
Transportation for Seniors: Multiple community meetings and local community-based transportation studies have identified the need to improve access to paratransit to assist low-income seniors and people with disabilities to access medical appointments, social services, and other activities. $100,000 will be used to partner with Solano Transportation Authority (STA) to purchase two paratransit vehicles for a Vehicle Share Program in which non-profit agencies can borrow the vehicles to transport those in need. STA has committed to provide the ongoing operating cost of the pilot program.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the intergovernmental agreement or ATR. This is not recommended as the agreement will bring revenue into Solano County for services which will benefit a wide variety of community members. In addition, this will continue the on-going mutually beneficial relationship with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Solano County Health & Social Services, First 5 Solano, the Solano County Library, and the Solano County Transportation Authority have been working closely with Supervisor Erin Hannigan and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. In addition, the intergovernmental agreement has been reviewed by County Counsel.