COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Services Agency

DATE:

March 24, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 8, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Margaret Taylor, Director of Health Services

Brian Zamora, Director, Public Health and Environmental Protection

SUBJECT:

Grant Agreement with Peninsula Community Foundation

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute a grant agreement with Peninsula Community Foundation.

Background

The explosion of knowledge about how infants and toddlers develop has led to a new appreciation of ways in which a baby's earliest experiences set the stage for later emotional competence and achievement. With the support of the Board of Supervisors and private funders like Peninsula Community Foundation, the Prenatal to Three Initiative (Pre-3) has grown into a nationally recognized early intervention program. In 2001, the National Center for Children in Poverty selected Pre-3 as one of 25 initiatives across the country that are excellent models of "comprehensive strategies to enhance outcomes for the youngest members of society". In 2002, Pre-3 was highlighted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as part of their workshop, "Improving Early Childhood Development: Promising Strategies for States and the Health Care System". More recently, the American Journal of Public Health accepted a Public Health Brief for publication on the positive impact that Pre-3 has had on rates of well baby visits and immunization in San Mateo County. In addition, the journals, Community Mental Health and Zero to Three are publishing articles about the mental health component of Pre-3.

Since Pre-3 started in 1996, the Board of Supervisors has accepted yearly grants from Peninsula Community Foundation that have generously supported general operating costs. The current grant extends the funding a seventh year.

Discussion

Pre-3 provides multi-disciplinary home visiting and group services to families on Medi-Cal with children up to age three years. Families who are poor and facing high-risk situations, such as mental illness or substance abuse, are offered more intensive and longer-term services than families who are poor, but coping well with obstacles that they face in their lives. Pre-3 also offers regular provider training on health and early child development issues.

This grant supports general operations of Pre-3. Anticipated project outcomes include sustaining and strengthening the Pre-3 program, with special focus on: 1) improving documentation for billing to maintain maximum Medi-Cal reimbursement; 2) reviewing and addressing program infrastructure, including staffing mix; and 3) expanding Touchpoints training to harder-to-reach provider groups.

Performance Measures

FY 2001-02 Actual

FY 2002-03 Projected

FY 2003-04 Estimated

Number of families receiving home visits and Public Health Nursing services

1,800

1,400*

1,400

Number of women receiving mental health treatment

400

400

400

Number of individuals trained on Touchpoints principles

50

50

50

*reduction due to budget cuts in FY 2002-03

Vision Alignment

The grant from Peninsula Community Foundation keeps the commitment of ensuring basic health and safety for all and goal number 5: "Residents have access to healthcare and preventative care" and goal number 6:"Children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods." The grant from Peninsula Community Foundation contributes to this commitment and goal by providing funding to sustain and strengthen the Pre-3 program.

Fiscal Impact

The grant of $150,000 is to be used during the period from February 1, 2003 through January 31, 2004. $63,000 has been included in the FY 2002-03 budget; the remaining $87,000 will be included in the recommended FY 2003-04 budget. This grant funding is a part of the local match that allows Pre-3 to leverage Medi-Cal dollars from the Targeted Case Management program. There is no net County cost.