Submitted By
Dr. Theresa Chapple, Public Health Director
Reviewed By
A.M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an Application with the Illinois Department of Public Health for a Strengthening Illinois Public Health Administration Grant for a Four-Year Term with an Anticipated Funding Amount of $350,000 and Approval of Subsequent Agreements and Authorizing their Execution
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Overview
Overview
The CDC has awarded state public health entities with funding to distribute to state and local public health departments. The CDC has stated that this new funding opportunity is in response to U.S. public-health agencies fighting on the front line to protect Americans against COVID-19 for over three years.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution.
Background
To respond to the pandemic, public health departments across the country have had to assume new and expanded responsibilities, while continuing to deliver their core responsibilities and services as part of the public health system. Almost half of all employees in state and local public health agencies left their jobs between 2017 and 2021. If this trend continues, half of the governmental public health workforce will have left their jobs by 2025. Stagnant funding and cumbersome hiring processes have left departments struggling to attract, retain and train the specialized and diverse talent they need to better reach, serve, and reflect their communities. These grant funds would be used to recruit for needed positions and provide incentives to current staff in hopes of retaining them.
The State’s program of “Strengthening Illinois' Public Health Administration” (SIPA-24) was funded as part of the Component A option of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s funding opportunity, Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems.
The Public Health Department will use the funds for workforce development activities, including hiring, retention, training, and other incentives to support and sustain the public health workforce. There are no restrictions on the types of positions that can be hired for public health capacity building. In addition, funding may be used for part-time, temporary, and contractual positions. The Department will set annual budgets and goals for each of the four years.
Fiscal Impact
The full funding amount of $350,000.00 will be dispersed all at once. The Department will use the funds for workforce development activities, including hiring, retention, training, project management software, and other incentives to support and sustain the public health workforce. Staff is proposing to use these grant dollars to fully fund the epidemiologist position for three years. Currently, 50% of this position is funded through General Fund dollars. Therefore, this grant will save the General Fund approximately $150,000 over the next three years.
If the Health Department does not receive this grant award, staff would continue to request the General Fund’s support for 50% of the epidemiology position.
DEI Impact
Staff has identified the following communities/groups as priority populations for grant-funded activities in Oak Park: individuals without access to adequate health care, the Hispanic and African American population, individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, senior citizens, individuals who may be wary of virus testing, individuals with suppressed immunity, the LGBTIQA+ community, individuals who experience housing insecurity, and children. Ongoing outreach to the many facilities and programs in Oak Park that provide health and social services will continue to reach other populations. Staff implements the Department’s programs with outreach efforts for these priority populations.
The Department’s programs, while serving the entire Oak Park community, address the social determinants of health and prioritize outreach to those without access to adequate health care.
There are several sources of data the Department uses to inform its programming. Staff utilizes data from the 2022 community health needs assessment, also known as the IPLAN, along with the collected demographic data from vaccine clinics. In addition, the epidemiological fellow tracks data on trends in diseases and how communities are impacted. For this specific grant opportunity, the Department used recent statistics on the state of governmental public health provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The Department engages priority populations through program outreach plans, relationships with local community groups, and community coalitions.
Several programs addressing environmental hazards are funded by these grants, including enforcement of the Smoke Free Illinois Act, reducing second-hand smoke in residential multi-unit buildings and monitoring West Nile virus in the community.
The Public Health Department staff centers health equity in its work and prioritizes populations without adequate access to preventative health services.
Alternatives
The Village Board can deny the request for staff to apply for this grant and staff will continue with the current funding structure of the epidemiologist position, 50% grant funded and 50% general funding.
Previous Board Action
N/A
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
The Village Board will review future grant opportunities, applications, and agreements annually prior to Village Manager execution.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A