Important note: The following recommendation was approved by the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 4, 2015:
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health; Susan Ehrlich, MD, MPP, Chief Executive Officer, San Mateo Medical Center
Subject: Agreement with Puente de la Costa Sur for healthcare promoter services funded by Measure A
Recommendation:
Resolution authorizing an agreement with Puente de la Costa Sur for healthcare promoter services for the term of July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2017, and funded by Measure A funds in an amount not to exceed three-hundred fifty-one thousand two- hundred thirty-five dollars and sixty-eight cents ($351,235.68).
Background:
The County operates the San Mateo Medical Center (“SMMC”), which provides care to, among others, those residents of San Mateo County who have little or no access to other sources of medical care. However, such services are not always easily accessible to certain residents of the San Mateo County (“County”) South Coast communities.
Puente de la Costa Sur, a non-profit organization located in Pescadero, California (“Puente”), serves as the only community resource center for the County’s South Coast communities of Pescadero, La Honda, Loma Mar, and San Gregorio. Puente advocates for the communities it serves; leverages resources that foster economic prosperity, security, and individual and community health and wellness; supports local leaders; and works together with its neighbors creating solutions for the diverse communities it serves.
In 2013, the County’s Board of Supervisors approved a funding request from Puente and SMMC, for funds under Measure A to support expanded medical services to the South Coast communities served by Puente. Puente and the San Mateo County Health subsequently decided to shift the focus of this project; on April 28, 2015, the Board of Supervisors agreed to continue Measure A funding for the revised project through the end of FY 2016-17.
Discussion:
Puente wishes to use approved Measure A funds to provide outreach to low income, hard-to-reach residents of the South Coast communities. The specific target population consists of residents eligible for or enrolled in Medi-Cal, Medicare, Healthy Kids, or ACE who could benefit from closer connection to a primary care medical home. Towards this end, Puente will provide information and education to targeted residents in order to reduce perceived barriers (e.g., cultural norms, fear, lack of knowledge, and language barriers) that inhibit them from accessing health resources, while teaching new habits and lifestyle changes that can lead to a healthier community. Puente will also conduct health education in small group settings at geographically accessible locations such as ranches, farms, or community locations, promote preventive health campaigns, help connect clients with services, and otherwise help manage cases for those served by Puente.
In order to achieve these goals, Puente will employ the equivalent of 2.5 full time employees to provide the listed services. To ensure program effectiveness and proper use of funds, Puente shall report monthly on the number of adults reached, number of unduplicated adults reached, and other statistics needed to satisfy County Measure A reporting requirements. Puente will also participate in program evaluations conducted by the SMMC Coastside Clinic and SMMC Pescadero outreach staff, as well as other San Mateo County Health quality improvement efforts and required Measure A evaluations.
The resolution contains a provisions allowing amendment of the terms of the agreement without any change in the agreement’s amount. The resolution and agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
Acceptance of this grant contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Healthy Community by improving outreach to members of a community that frequently lacks adequate access to healthcare and other services. It is anticipated that over 750 individuals will be contacted monthly by the program.
Performance Measures:
Measure |
FY 2015-16 Estimated |
FY 2016-17 Projected |
Average number of client contacts per month |
750 |
750 |
FISCAL IMPACT:
Services provided by Puente pursuant to this agreement shall be funded solely by funds from the County’s Measure A program. Funds in the amount of $172,680.48 will be paid to Puente for the term July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, and funds in the amount of $178,555.20 will be paid to Puente for the term July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017. In no event shall the payments to Puente under this agreement exceed $351,235.68 over the two-year term.
Important note: This is a copy of the official report -- item 3 on the Board's agenda.