Agend R port
July 31, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Finance Committee (July 31, 2023)
FROM: Public Health Department
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES TO RECOGNIZE AND
APPROPRIATE $636,070 IN STATE OF CALIFORNIA GRANT FUNDS TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 PUBLIC HEAL TH DEPARTMENT
OPERATING BUDGET AND INCREASE THE PERSONNEL
ALLOCATION BY 7.0 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT ("FTE") FOR THE
BLACK INFANT HEAL TH ("BIH") PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the proposed action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), and 15378, as the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment;
2. Authorize the City Manager to amend an agreement with the County of Los Angeles to accept and administer State of California grant funds on behalf of the City of Pasadena to implement an expansion of the Black Infant Health ("BIH") Program to the County of Los Angeles Service Planning Area ("SPA") 3 geographic area; and
3. Amend the Fiscal Year 2024 Public Health Department Operating Budget by recognizing and appropriating $636,070 in grant funds and increase the personnel allocation by 7.0 full-time equivalent ("FTE") limited-term grant-funded positions.
BACKGROUND:
Infant mortality rate is an important indicator of a population's health, the quality of health care, and an essential tool for monitoring the health and well-being of infants, children, and families. In Los Angeles County, Black infants are more than twice as likely as White infants to die before reaching their first birthday. At the same time, preterm birth is one of the leading causes of infant death overall and highest among Black infants. In California, preterm births have increased for the third straight year.
MEETING OF 07/31/2023 AGENDA ITEM NO. _ 2_l __ _
Pasadena Black Infant Health Program Grant
July 31, 2023
Reducing the risk of infant death requires a comprehensive, multi-faceted life-course approach that addresses both individual and social determinants of health. Effective strategies focus on improving the health of the mother before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and between pregnancy by addressing social and environmental factors that impact health.
For more than 30 years, the City of Pasadena Black Infant Health ("BIH") program has helped pregnant and parenting women develop life skills, set and attain health goals, and learn strategies for managing stress. The program is intended to address the large and persistent disparities in maternal and infant health that affect the African American birthing community and align with the Pasadena Public Health Department goal of ending health inequities and achieving healthy birth outcomes for Black women and birthing people (i.e., people who don't identify as cisgender women who are having a child).
The BIH program provides 10 prenatal and 10 postpartum groups sessions covering a number of varying topics, including: cultural heritage as a source of pride; healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery; nurturing ourselves and our babies; prenatal, postnatal, and newborn care; stress management; and healthy relationships. The program also provides client-centered life planning and one-on-one case management.
Recently, the state increased funding for county services in alignment with local and state initiatives to end birth inequities including the Los Angeles County African American Infant and Maternal Morality ("AAIMM") initiative and California Perinatal Equity Initiative ("PEI"). Through this investment, the County awarded the City of Pasadena additional funds to increase program capacity to effectively serve residents in Pasadena and nearby surrounding areas in Los Angeles County Service Planning Area ("SPA") 3.
The Pasadena Public Health Department has sought opportunities to supplement the local program over the years. Through the current contract with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the BIH program provides services to women in the greater San Gabriel Valley including Pasadena, Altadena, Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte, South Pasadena, and Claremont. The additional funding will maintain the existing program structure and support expansion of outreach and service delivery to African American families who reside in every city in SPA 3, a geographical area extending east to Pomona and south to City of Industry. The goal of the program is to increase the number of participants from 25 to 160 per year.
The PPHD requests recognition and appropriation of $636,070 in Fiscal Year 2024 through June 30, 2024. The County plans to offer an opportunity to apply for additional funding in FY25 and FY26. The Department requests an increase in personnel by 7.0 FTE grant-funded limited-term positions in FY 2024. The grant will fully support an additional 1.0 FTE Social Worker, 1.0 FTE Community Services Representative Ill, three 1.0 FTE Community Services Representative II positions, 1.0 FTE Community Services Representative I, and a 1.0 FTE Office Aide. These positions align with the evidence-informed model and will help ensure effective delivery of this grant program.
Pasadena Black Infant Health Program Grant
July 31, 2023
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The proposed action is consistent with the City Council's strategic planning goal to support and promote the quality of life and local economy.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The action proposed herein is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") in accordance with Section 21065 of CEQA and State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060 ( c)(2), 15060 ( c)(3), and 15378. The amendment of the Public Health Department Operating Budget to recognize and appropriate additional funding and to increase the departmental personnel allocation are continuing administrative and maintenance activity (e.g., government funding mechanisms and personnel-related actions). These actions would not cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Therefore, the proposed action is not a "project" subject to CEQA, as defined in Section 21065 of CEQA and Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Under this definition, the proposed activity is not a CEQA "project" and is, therefore, also not subject to CEQA.
Pasadena Black Infant Health Program Grant
July 31, 2023
FISCAL IMPACT:
It is anticipated that the additional grant funding of $636,070 will be received and spent in Fiscal Year 2024. If approved, the Department's Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget will be increased by $636,070 for project implementation. This action will increase the Department's personnel allocation by 7 .0 FTE. No net impact to the unappropriated fund balance is anticipated.
Prepared by:
~~ ~
Stella Clingmon, MPH
Program Coordinator II
Department of Public Health
Approved by:
Ml~ARQUEZ
City Manager
Respectfully submitted,
Acting Director
Department of Public Health