City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: May 2, 2022
FROM: Carmen Gil, Community Engagement & Strat. Partnership Dir.
THROUGH: René L. Mendez, City Manager
SUBJECT: Agreement with Community Foundation for VIDA CHW Program
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve and allow the City Manager to accept a new grant from the Community Foundation for Monterey County in the amount of $216,054.92 for the Community Health Worker aspect of the Gonzales Cares Program.
BACKGROUND
The City of Gonzales and its Community Health Workers have been working endlessly to curve the COVID-19 virus. Stepping into provide everything from mass vaccine clinic support to COVID-19 testing to resources and information for the local community. Our CHW program has supported over 5,507 vaccines 4,076 COVID-19 tests and have provided thousands of resources to the community.
Our CHWs continue leading the way and have helped train others across the County even training other interns and Hartnell students on COVID-19 testing best practices.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors recently extended their support for the CHW program through December of 2022 and continue to see the City of Gonzales as an integral partner in the work.
The CHWs work in the following months will cover community focused response to include COVID-19 recovery efforts, including: 1. Support and expand local efforts to provide COVID-19 health and safety information that is accurate, accessible, and culturally and linguistically appropriate, 2. Reduce the number (and/or disproportionality) of COVID-19 cases, hospitalization, and fatalities in the county. And
3. Promote change in the underlining health conditions and improve health information, communication, informed decision making and access to COVID-19 related health care service.
AGENDA
ITEM
8 These services continue to be critical in our community to ensure local residents have access to up-to-date health-related information that will continue to keep them safe from COVID-19 as well as expand their supports and access to resources.
REVIEW & ANALYSIS
This additional funding will allow us to continue being part of the VIDA program through the end of December 2022. It will also allow us to adjust accordingly to any unforeseen need due to the everchanging status of the pandemic. For example, the support will allow us to adjust to an increase in testing or vaccine support when needed while being able to support healthy lifestyles and access to resources the rest of the time.
If we do not accept these additional funds our current CHW program will have to sunset by the end of the fiscal year as we have not identified another funding source to replace it. The additional capacity that the team of CHWs have provided has been invaluable to the city and we hope to continue having the access to their services.
Duties and Commitments
If the Council decides to accept this additional grant funding, the City of Gonzales will continue to participate in the County’s VIDA project. We will continue to be responsible for reporting progress, challenges and success on a monthly basis and we will be expected to continue being a team player at the County level, when needed. The program expectations will require the city and the CHWs to be flexible and open to learning and growing in various areas to ensure we are meeting program deliverables. This will add trainings and development opportunities for the CHWs. The overall project will still be under the preview of the Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Director; however, the additional support will be brought in to help ensure the program continues to be a success.
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small town charm.
Explain: This program will not only continue to support the community in the fight against COVID, but it will also allow us to continue to build in equitable practices into our city projects.
Without it, the support the city could provide would be limited and the current community connections that have been built through the pandemic would shift.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community. X Yes _____No _____ NA
Explain: Please see explanation above for the Mission.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety _ Yes ____ No ____NA
• Housing Yes ____ No ____NA
• Recreation X Yes ____ No ____NA
• Environment X Yes ____ No ____NA
• Education X Yes ____ No ____NA
Explain: Please see explanation above for the Vision.
ALTERNATIVES
If the Council does not accept the new grant in the amount of $216,054.92 we will not be able to continue with the CHW program as is. We will have to find another funding source or sunset the program all together. Our support towards the community will have to change as we will not have folks available that could continue to provide the “boots-on-the-ground” approach that the CHWs have been able to support us with, which would mean that the level of engagement will shift. The community would have limited access to resources available to them since they may not be aware of how to access them or may be stopped short of accessing them due to a lack of understanding the requirements and criteria.
BUDGET IMPACT
There is no adverse impact to the current budget. Support for this program is coming from a grant from the Community Foundation for Monterey County through the County of Monterey specifically to extend the operations of our CHW program through December of 2022. If approved, our 110 fund budget would increase in revenue by $216,054.92. Extra help (object code 6112) by $196,413.56, and Transfers Out (object code 6905) by 19,641.36.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council approve and allow the City Manager to accept a new grant from the Community Foundation for Monterey County in the amount of $216,054.92 for the Community Health Worker aspect of the Gonzales Cares Program.
Attachments:
1. Agreement