Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Lizelle Lirio de Luna, Director, Family Health Services
Subject: Agreement with the California Department of Public Health for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with the California Department of Public Health to provide funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, for the term of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $11,253,759.
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BACKGROUND:
The Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative provides federal funds to promote healthy eating, breastfeeding support, and access to nutritious foods through direct food benefits to low-income pregnant women, mothers, and children up to the age of five in San Mateo County. WIC aims to reduce the incidence of low birth weights and improve the nutritional status of at-risk, low-income mothers and their children.
In San Mateo County, WIC serves approximately 20,000 low-income clients and their children by providing nutrition education, breastfeeding support, food benefits, and active referrals to county health and community services. WIC is often the first point of contact for many families seeking health and social service referrals. WIC formally partners with home visiting programs in Family Health Services (FHS) to identify individuals who would benefit from additional services.
FHS has been receiving funding for the WIC program since 1976.
DISCUSSION:
In September 2022, this Board approved a three-year agreement with the California Department of Public Health for the term of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $9,089,748. This agreement renews these services through September 30, 2028.
This agreement has been created with the Director of Family Health Services as the signatory. In order to minimize funding delays, FHS seeks this Board’s authorization for the Chief of San Mateo County Health or their designee to sign the agreement in lieu of the Board.
This Board is also being asked to authorize the Chief of San Mateo County Health or their designee to execute subsequent amendments which do not exceed an aggregate of $25,000.
The amendment and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
It is anticipated that an average of 10,180 individuals will receive WIC benefits monthly, and 60% of babies in WIC will be breastfed at any time by six months of age.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Actual |
FY 2025-26 Estimated |
|
Average number of individuals who receive WIC benefits monthly |
9572 individuals |
10,180 individuals |
|
Percentage of babies in WIC breastfed at any time, by six months of age |
59.18 babies in a given month |
60 babies in a given month |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The WIC program is committed to identifying and reaching low-income families across San Mateo County. It employs a sensitive approach to meet the diverse language and cultural needs of its clients, with a strong focus on supporting the predominantly Latinx population (81%) who prefer or exclusively speak Spanish. In 2023-2024, the program served over 9,000 individuals monthly, including many first-time members with limited access to health and nutrition services. The WIC program also serves 1% Black/African American clients. The WIC program is actively working on enhancing our services for the Black/African American population by providing specifically geared breastfeeding and nutrition education in collaboration with partners specializing in servicing the Black/African American community’s needs. The WIC program is staffed with bilingual and bicultural professionals and offers language access to address the varied needs of the communities it serves. This initiative, coupled with increased funding, will enhance the program’s ability to provide essential nutrition and breastfeeding education to low-income families.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $11,253,759 for the three-year term. Funds in the amount of $3,751,252 are included in the FHS FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget. Similar arrangements will be made for future years. Since the County is receiving this funding, there is no Net County Cost.