Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Use of District-Discretionary Measure K Funds - Supervisorial District 1
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $100,000, to the Health Plan of San Mateo, acting as the fiscal sponsor for the San Mateo County Oral Health Coalition, to support the implementation of the Coalition’s 2024 strategic plan in three key areas: Oral Health Workforce Development, Communications, and Oral Health Coalition Infrastructure, providing an exception to the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds to allow for up-front funding of the grant, and authorizing the County Executive, or designee, to execute the grant agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
Measure K is the half-cent general sales tax initially approved by San Mateo County voters in November 2012 and extended in November 2016 for a total of thirty years.
The Board of Supervisors (Board) held study sessions on Measure K expenditures and approved funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 budget cycle, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for one-time district-discretionary needs and projects. District 1 has submitted a request to use their district-discretionary Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
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District/Project |
Amount |
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District 1 (Supervisor Dave Pine) - Health Plan of San Mateo - implementation of San Mateo County Oral Health Coalition’s 2024 strategic plan (Oral Health Workforce Development, Communications, and Oral Health Coalition Infrastructure) |
$100,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018, with the following exception: the proposed grant, if approved, would provide for up-front funding of the grant ($100,000.00). This exception is needed because the Oral Health Coalition and its fiscal sponsor, the Health Plan of San Mateo, do not have sufficient cash reserves to prepay these expenses. The recommended payment structure requires Board approval because the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds provide for reimbursement payments. The Board may approve this exception to the criteria by adopting the resolution.
District 1 indicates that this organization is either a public agency operating within the County, or a nonprofit organization registered and in good standing with the California Attorney General. District 1 indicates that the sponsoring Board member, member’s family, and member’s supervisorial staff do not serve as an officer, director, or play a policy role for the grantee organization.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to the Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM), acting as the fiscal sponsor of the San Mateo County Oral Health Coalition, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $100,000, to support three key elements of the 2024 Oral Health strategic plan. The Coalition consists of numerous community partners, including San Mateo County Oral Health, Sonrisas Dental Health, Ravenswood Family Dentistry, the Health Plan of San Mateo, and other organizations in San Mateo County. The Oral Health Coalition has no permanent staffing. HPSM is currently running a pilot Medi-Cal dental program, and has offered to implement the proposed Measure K-funded program on the Coalition’s behalf. The County Executive’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
The mission of the San Mateo County Oral Health Coalition is to convene community partners to leverage knowledge and resources and identify gaps and barriers to care in order to eliminate oral health disparities. The Coalition prioritizes equitable policies that address the social determinants of oral health and promote dental/oral healthcare access for all residents.
District 1 indicates that this organization has not previously received Measure K district-discretionary funding.
This district-discretionary grant will be used to fund the following three projects or services:
1. Workforce Development
To encourage existing providers to treat uninsured, underinsured, MediCal or other underserved patients, the Coalition will identify, promote, and pay (in part or in full) for training opportunities for dental providers (e.g., assistants, hygienists, dentists, including specialists). Such trainings, which may be offered by the Coalition directly or by other organizations, will focus on priority populations defined by the Coalition (e.g., children and adults with or at-risk of special health care needs, pregnant women, children under 6, Medi-Cal members, etc.).
To expand the dental assistant (and hygienist) workforce, the Coalition also will explore the creation of a scholarship program for students to attend the dental assistant program at College of San Mateo, through which students would commit to serving in San Mateo County clinics.
2. Communications Plan:
The Coalition will engage a consultant to develop a communications plan to target underserved patients. The plan may include creation of a communication strategy (e.g., social media, newsletter, website, etc.); exploration of branding and co-branding opportunities (e.g., Smile, CA); and targeting messaging and/or methods to reach San Mateo County residents in areas where disparities in oral health access exist. Consultant would also develop and produce related materials (hard copy posters, postcards, videos, etc.) based on identified gaps.
3. Organizational Infrastructure
The Coalition will provide a stipend for individuals/organizations to serve in a leadership role (“chair”) to lead the Coalition and to help it establish a sustainable organizational infrastructure. The stipend will support the chair to plan and facilitate Oral Health steering committee and Coalition meetings, including associated costs, such as food & supplies. Working through an existing workgroup committee structure, the chair will lead the effort to address the identified activities in the Workforce and Communications sections mentioned above. The identified chair will also seek future funding opportunities for the Coalition, including educating and informing policymakers about its work. Current funding for the chair stipend expires June 30, 2025, so this portion of the grant is for the next 12 months, ending June 30, 2026.
District 1 has informed the grantee organization that this grant is one-time only, and that the grantee organization will need to find other sources of funding going forward.
The project or services funded by this district-discretionary grant will be implemented or provided between December 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $100,000
The release of funds will be contingent on the execution of an agreement providing for the County’s confirmation of the expenditure of funds for the purposes stated herein. The County will disburse the funds to the following organization for the purposes described above:
HPSM Provider Services Department
Luarnie Bermudo, Director of Provider Services
Health Plan of San Mateo
801 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 100
South San Francisco, CA 94080
tel: 650.616.0050
Luarnie.Bermudo@hpsm.org
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
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Description: Grantee to support implementation of the SMC Oral Health Coalition’s 2024 strategic plan, by achieving one or more of the following: |
Complete |
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• Workforce Development - provide at least two trainings or send at least 30 dental providers to training |
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• Workforce Development - provide up to four (4) full or eight (8) partial scholarships to participate in the dental assistant program |
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• Communications Plan - Develop and create a detailed communications plan for underserved patients |
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• Organizational Infrastructure Development - provide stipend for the chair for 12 months (7/1/25 to 6/30/26), including meeting support such as food and supplies |
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The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
EQUITY IMPACT:
The Oral Health Coalition works together to advocate for equitable policies that address the social determinants of oral health and promote access for all San Mateo County residents.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2024-25 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget.