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Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request of $248,130 to recognize unanticipated revenue for FY2018/19 from the California Department of Social Services for the CalWORKs Home Visiting Initiative, Healthy Families Solano Program FY2018/19 (4/5 vote required)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _x _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _x_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health & Social Services (H&SS) recommends that the Board approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) of $248,130 to recognize unanticipated revenue for FY2018/19 from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for the CalWORKs Home Visiting Initiative (HVI), Healthy Families Solano Program (HFS) FY2018/19 (4/5 vote required).
SUMMARY:
Solano County H&SS has successfully implemented the HFS Program for more than five years. The HFS Program provides intensive home visiting services to pregnant and parenting women and their families in Solano County. Effective January 1, 2019, Assembly Bill 1811 (Chapter 35, Statutes of 2018) appropriated State funding for the HVI program. Subject to an appropriation in annual State Budget Acts, CDSS will continue to award funds to participating counties who apply biennially and meet the minimum requirements.
On July 31, 2018, California Department of Social Services (CDSS) announced the release of a Request for County Plan for the CalWORKs HVI to county agencies who are currently implementing evidence-based home visiting programs. H&SS applied for the initial Solano County allocation of $248,130 for the term of January 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019 and the allocation of $496,260 for FY2019/20. The allocations for both FY2018/19 and FY2019/20 may increase as funds initially allocated to counties who do not choose to participate will be redistributed. Subject to annual appropriations, this funding is ongoing and will be available in three-year cycles beginning FY2020/21. Additionally, the Division of Employment & Eligibility Services will receive a one-time augmentation in a yet to be determined amount to the CalWORKs Single Allocation from California Department of Social Services for opting in and collaborating with the Solano County Public Health Division for the CalWORKs HVI.
Public Health Division, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Bureau submitted a plan for the CalWORKs HVI, HFS Program on September 28, 2018. If approved by the Board, Solano County HFS will have an opportunity to expand case management services to pregnant and parenting CalWORKs clients in Solano County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
If approved by the Board, the CDSS will provide Solano County $248,130 in FY2018/19 and $496,260 in FY2019/20 for the HFS Program to provide home visitation services to CalWORKS clients. There is no required County General Fund match for this new program. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2018/19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Healthy Families America (HFA) is a nationally recognized evidence-based home visiting program under the Prevent Child Abuse America Organization. HFS successfully received affiliation in December 2012 and obtained accreditation in April 2015 after successfully meeting rating standards on all 152 elements. Public Health Division, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Bureau has successfully implemented HFS, providing services to high-risk pregnant Medi-Cal eligible women promoting parent-child interaction; monitoring child growth and development; and assessing and linking to health care and community resources.
The purpose of the HVI is to support positive health, development, and well-being outcomes for pregnant and parenting women, families, and infants born into poverty, expanding their future educational, economic, and financial capability opportunities and improving the likelihood they will exit poverty. The pairing of evidence-based home visiting with CalWORKs provides an opportunity to connect parents with necessary resources, improve their parenting skills and ensure that their children have a safe and nurturing environment that allows them to thrive and grow.
HFS has demonstrated long-term capacity to successfully implement interventions which meet the HFA model fidelity and the new CalWORKs HVI criteria. In the five-years that HFS Solano has operated, the program has served 272 pregnant and postpartum women, their families and newborns. During this same period, 99% of pregnant women attended prenatal care appointment. Additionally, 93% of newborns were born at a healthy weight (5.8+ pounds); 90% were born at 37 weeks of pregnancy or later; and 97% of infants received timely immunizations. The HFA program model embodies an infant mental health approach, with the belief that early, nurturing relationships are the foundation for life-long, healthy development. This approach impacts school readiness, prevents adverse childhood experiences, improves family functioning and family self-sufficiency, and long-term impacts on community health.
In FY2018/19, H&SS will use existing resources to set up the infrastructure for the CalWORKS HVI under the HFS Program, including serving an additional 20 pregnant and postpartum women, newborns and their families. In FY2019/20, the first full year of expanded operation, HFS will serve additional 50-75 pregnant and postpartum women, newborns and their families.
The additional funds for the HFS Program will increase service capacity to specifically serve CalWORKs pregnant and parenting women, families, and infants born into poverty. The additional and ongoing HVI funding will support the Department’s request to delete 1.0 Full Time Equivalent Public Health Nurse and add one 1.0 Full Time Equivalent Health Assistant which will be submitted with the FY2019/20 Requested Budget. The Health Assistant will provide case management and home visits
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve this ATR to accept CDSS HVI program funds. This is not recommended as the additional funding will increase services for pregnant and parenting women, families, and infants born into poverty in Solano County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Solano County H&SS’ Public Health Division and Employment and Eligibility Division worked collaboratively on the application to CDSS. H&SS worked with the County Administrator’s Office on the grant application approval for Healthy Families Solano. Solano County Health & Social Services, Public Health Division will continue to work with partners in the BabyFirst Solano collaborative to expand Healthy Families Solano services and continue to address the needs of high-risk pregnancies in Solano County.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION