DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Accept Grant Funds From Minnesota Department Of Health For Foundational Public Health Responsibilities Grant, Execute Grant Agreement, Add 1.0 Grant-Funded, Full-Time Equivalent And Amend 2024 Public Health Budget
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize acceptance of the Foundational Public Health Responsibilities grant from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), execution of the grant agreement, addition of a 1.0 grant-funded full-time equivalent (FTE) Environmental Health Supervisor and amendment to the 2024 Public Health Budget.
SUMMARY
Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 375A.04, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners is, and performs the duties and exercises the powers of, a community health board under Minn. Stat. ch. 145A, and is required to govern and administer those functions as fully as other Dakota County functions, including the responsibility to prevent disease and to promote and protect the public health of Dakota County residents.
In 2023, MDH adopted the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) National Framework for Foundational Public Health Services <https://phaboard.org/center-for-innovation/public-health-frameworks/the-foundational-public-health-services/>. This framework outlines the unique responsibilities of governmental public health and defines a minimum package of capabilities and programs that must be available in every community. This framework will allow Public Health to explain the vital role of governmental public health in a thriving community, identify capacity and resource gaps, determine the cost for assuring foundational activities, and justify funding needs. These recommendations are the minimum capabilities and services; however, to best serve the community, additional services may be required. A comprehensive cost and capacity assessment was completed across Minnesota to understand the gaps in the public health services and capabilities. The assessment showed significant disparities between local health departments in promoting, protecting, and preventing disease.
During the 2023 session, the Minnesota Legislature allocated funds to local community health boards to fulfill foundational public health responsibilities. This ongoing, annual funding is a legislative component of the Local Public Health Grant (LPHG) defined by Minn. Stat. §145A.131, but is to be used specifically to strengthen local and tribal public health departments.
Dakota County Public Health (PH) was awarded $146,832 from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, for foundational public health responsibilities. Community health boards must provide a match of at least 75 percent of the new foundational public health responsibilities funding, as is required for the LPHG. Dakota County is currently meeting this requirement with no additional funding required. PH plans to utilize this funding to add a 1.0 grant-funded FTE Environmental Health Supervisor to create infrastructure to support an environmental health program that can respond to the increasing needs of our population as suggested in the April 2023 Office of Planning and Analysis (OPA) Environmental Health Program review. Additional capacity will also be used to create a strategic approach to the partnership between Environmental Health and Environmental Resources.
OUTCOMES
How Much?
Hire a 1.0 grant-funded FTE Environmental Health Supervisor to develop an intentional cross-departmental team for evaluation, communication, and proactive efforts toward developing an environmental health program for Dakota County residents. Tracking and reporting will include the number of resident inquiries, public health nuisances, radon kits, elevated blood lead in children and pregnant people, the number of outreach efforts, the number of in-home assessments and testing, the number of targeted marketing and communications campaigns, and any other environmental health concerns received.
How Well?
Through tracking the noted data points, staff will develop evaluation measures to determine effectiveness. Strategic adjustments to these efforts will be determined through the evaluation process and continued improvements will be implemented to meet the needs of the public more efficiently and effectively.
Is Anyone Better Off?
The Environmental Health Supervisor will partner with the Public Health Environmental Health Program Coordinator, Public Health Environmental Health Specialist, and the Public Health Epidemiologist to develop the outcome measurements as the workplan is developed and data points are recorded. By taking a proactive strategic approach to environmental health work, the goal is to mitigate or prevent environmental health issues in addition to providing a robust response.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to accept MDH Foundational Public Health Responsibilities grant funds in the amount of $146,832 for January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, execute the grant agreement, add a 1.0 grant-funded FTE Environmental Health Supervisor, and amend the 2024 Public Health Budget.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
There is $0 net County cost as a result of this action. The 2024 Public Health budget is requested to be amended to add the anticipated grant funds. Included in this request is funding for a new 1.0 FTE. This position is contingent upon the availability of grant funding.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☒ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 375A.04, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners is, and performs the duties and exercises the powers of, a community health board under Minn. Stat. ch. 145A, and is required to govern and administer those functions as fully as other Dakota County functions, including the responsibility to prevent disease and to promote and protect the public health of Dakota County residents; and
WHEREAS, in 2023, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) adopted the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) National Framework for Foundational Public Health Services <https://phaboard.org/center-for-innovation/public-health-frameworks/the-foundational-public-health-services/>, which outlines the unique responsibilities of governmental public health and defines a minimum package of capabilities and programs that must be available in every community; and
WHEREAS, this framework will allow Public Health to explain the vital role of governmental public health in a thriving community, identify capacity and resource gaps, determine the cost for assuring foundational activities, and justify funding needs; and
WHEREAS, these recommendations are the minimum capabilities and services; however, to best serve our community, additional services may be required; and
WHEREAS, a comprehensive cost and capacity assessment was completed across Minnesota to understand the gaps in the public health services and capabilities and the assessment showed significant disparities between local health departments in promoting, protecting, and preventing disease; and
WHEREAS, during the 2023 session, the Minnesota Legislature allocated funds to local community health boards to fulfill foundational public health responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, this ongoing, annual funding is a legislative component of the Local Public Health Grant (LPHG) defined by Minn. Stat. §145A.131 but is to be used specifically to strengthen local and tribal public health departments; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County Public Health (PH) was awarded $146,832 from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, for foundational public health responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, community health boards must provide a match of at least 75 percent of the new foundational public health responsibilities funding, as is required for the Local Public Health Grant (LPHG) and Dakota County is currently meeting this requirement at no additional funding required; and
WHEREAS, PH plans to utilize this funding to add a 1.0 grant-funded full-time equivalent (FTE) Environmental Health Supervisor to create infrastructure to support an environmental health program that can respond to the increasing needs of our population as suggested in the April 2023 Office of Planning and Analysis (OPA) Environmental Health Program review; and
WHEREAS, additional capacity will also be used to create a strategic approach to the partnership between Environmental Health and Environmental Resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to accept the grant funds from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for the Foundational Public Health Responsibilities grant in the amount of $146,832 for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute the grant agreement for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That unless the grant program requirements change, the Community Services Director is hereby authorized to amend the grant to extend the grant term up to two years after initial expiration date, accept additional grant funds, and continue grant-funded full-time equivalents, consistent with County contracting policies, and inclusion of grant funds in future yearly Recommended and Approved Budgets, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to add a 1.0 grant-funded, full-time equivalent Environmental Health Supervisor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the 2024 Public Health budget is hereby amended as follows:
|
Revenue |
|
MDH Grant Revenue |
$146,832 |
|
Total Revenue |
$146,832 |
|
|
|
Expense |
|
Staff Expense |
$146,832 |
|
Total Expense |
$146,832 |
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: None.
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☒ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Coral Ripplinger
Author: Katelyn Johnstone