REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  February  6, 2018
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-9.

SUBJECT:

Public Health Accreditation Board Application and Agreement

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Terri Fields Hosler, MPH, RD-Public Health Branch Director, (530) 245-6861

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Terri Fields Hosler, MPH, RD-Public Health Branch Director

RECOMMENDATION

Take the following actions: (1) Approve and authorize the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Director or the Public Health Branch Director to accept and sign or electronically sign the Terms and Conditions (T&C) and submit an application to the Public Health Accreditation Board to enter HHSA – Public Health into the Public Health Accreditation Program, in an amount not to exceed $54,600 (including advance payments for the Initial Accreditation Review Fee in the amount of $21,000 and the Annual Accreditation Services Fee in the amount of $8,400 per year for the remaining four years of the five-year program) for the period Spring 2018 through Spring 2023; and (2) approve and authorize the HHSA Director or the Public Health Branch Director to accept and sign or electronically sign prospective and retroactive amendments and other documents related to the T&C that result in a net change not to exceed $10,920, and other, non-monetary amendments as necessary, in compliance with Administrative Policy 6-101, Shasta County Contracts Manual.

SUMMARY

Approval will allow the HHSA Public Health Branch to apply for accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board, evaluating the Public Health Branch against nationally adopted standards and measures. The fees cover required travel and training on the accreditation process, as well as ongoing access to a Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) Accreditation Specialist; a site visit by a PHAB Accreditation Specialist and three peer site reviewers; and ongoing technical assistance and support for quality improvement efforts and preparation for reaccreditation. 

DISCUSSION

The National Public Health Accreditation Program is designed to promote high performance and continuous quality improvement in state and local health departments across the country.  It recognizes high performers that meet nationally accepted standards of quality and continuous improvement, and illustrate accountability to the public and policymakers in addressing local Public Health issues and fulfilling mandates. The program launched in September 2011, and since that time 212 health departments across the nation have achieved accreditation, including the California Department of Public Health, as well as 11 local health departments within California, including Butte and Humboldt counties.

The Branch Director presented to the Board of Supervisors in the Spring of 2014 the overall process of national Public Health accreditation.  Since that time Public Health has completed the three pre-requisite requirements for application; a Community Health Assessment, a Community Health Improvement Plan, and a Branch Strategic Plan.  These included extensive community and partner involvement, and were presented at the Public Health Advisory Board Community Health Awards luncheon in September of last year.  At this time the Branch is ready to process the application fee and begin the next step of completing the requirements of the accreditation process.

ALTERNATIVES

Alternatives include not approving the T&C, not authorizing the HHSA Director or Branch Director to submit the application, and/or not authorizing the HHSA Director or Branch Director to execute amendments.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

County Counsel has approved the T&C as to form. Risk Management and Information Technology have approved the T&C. The recommendation has been reviewed by the County Administrative Office.

FINANCING

The HHSA Public Health Branch Fiscal Year 2017-18 Adopted Budget includes the $21,000 Initial Accreditation Review Fee. Future fiscal year budget requests will include the Annual Accreditation Services Fees. There is no additional General Fund impact with approval of the recommendation.