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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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Health Department
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DATE:
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June 7, 2007
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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June 26, 2007
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Charlene A. Silva, Director, Health Department
Brian Zamora, Director, Public Health and Environmental Protection Division
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SUBJECT:
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Agreement with Free at Last
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a Resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an Agreement with Free at Last (FAL) in the amount of $102,488 for the period of July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 to provide needle exchange services.
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.
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Goals 5 & 8: Residents have access to healthcare and preventive care; and help vulnerable people – the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others – achieve a better quality of life.
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The Agreement contributes to this commitment and these goals by providing needle exchange, risk-reduction education and referrals to protect the community from drug-related harm.
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Performance Measure:
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Measure
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FY 2006-07
Estimated
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FY 2007-08
Projected
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Number of client contacts in which clients will receive risk reduction information and referrals
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3,732
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4,800
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BACKGROUND:
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In Fall 2001 your Board approved the operating principle of harm reduction, a public health model that aims to protect drug users and the community from drug-related harm by implementing practical strategies for safer use, managed use and abstinence. Your Board also established a Needle Exchange Task Force to respond to the dual epidemics of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C related to injection drug use in the county. The Task Force’s report recommended community-based needle exchange activities and four operating principles to guide current and future efforts in San Mateo County. The operating principles are:
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• Minimize barriers to accessing clean needles and syringes;
• Maximize access to clean needles and syringes both by geographic location and time;
• Maximize collection of used needles; and
• Use needle exchange as a conduit to support services and ultimately recovery.
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DISCUSSION:
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On March 27, 2006, Public Health released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide needle exchange services for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009. An independent panel of needle exchange professionals from community organizations throughout the Bay Area selected Free at Last to provide these services.
FAL has been providing needle exchange, risk-reduction information and referrals to injection drug users in the areas of East Palo Alto, East Menlo Park and Redwood City since July 1, 2006. A department level contract was prepared for the first year of services. The approved three percent cost-of-living increase provided to the contractor for this year has increased the amount of the contract to Board approval level.
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The Agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel and Risk Management. The Contractor has assured compliance with the County’s Contractor Employee Jury Service Ordinance, as well as all other contract provisions that are required by County ordinance and administrative memoranda, including but not limited to insurance, hold harmless, non-discrimination and equal benefits.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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The term of the Agreement is July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. The maximum amount of funding for the Agreement is $102,488 and is funded by Net County Cost. These funds are included in the FY 2007-08 Recommended Budget.
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