Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Louise F. Rogers, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Lizelle Lirio de Luna, Director, Family Health Services
Subject: Amendment to Increase Funding for the SMCH Baby Bonus Dividend Project
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding with First 5 San Mateo County to increase the funding for the Baby Bonus Dividend Project, extending the term through June 30, 2027 and increasing the amount by $586,000 to an amount not to exceed $670,000.
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BACKGROUND:
The Baby Bonus Dividend Project (Project) is a demonstration project that aims to impact the health and well-being of newborn children into early childhood and mothers in San Mateo County, and to gather data on the impacts of guaranteed income on health outcomes. The Project will provide a monthly unconditional payment of $300 for three years to 400 parents that currently receive Medi-Cal benefits, live in San Mateo County, and have given birth during the 18-month program enrollment period. The $300 monthly payment matches the per child payment families received from the expanded Child Tax Credit ($3,600 per year), a program the federal government established to support families during the COVID-19 pandemic, and which ended in 2021.
The Project will differ from other basic income programs and from programs that condition payments on the use of certain services because the Project intentionally aligns social services and health care services in conjunction with basic income, integrates an evaluation process to provide continuous analysis and action based on findings, and evaluates the added value of basic income over the value of existing aligned services on their own.
The agencies involved in implementation of the Project are: First 5 San Mateo County (F5SMC), Health Plan of San Mateo, Jackie Speier Foundation, San Mateo County Health (SMCH), San Mateo County Human Services Agency, and Stanford University. The collaboration between numerous partner agencies leverages the continuous collection of data on social determinants of health, social services, and health outcomes, lessening participant burden and decreasing the cost of evaluation.
On January 5, 2024, SMCH executed a Memorandum of Understanding with F5SMC to provide $84,000 for the term January 21, 2024 through June 30, 2024 to fund a limited term Community Health Planner responsible for management of the Project.
DISCUSSION:
This amendment with F5SMC is extending the term of the agreement described above to June 30, 2027, and adding $586,000 from Family Health Services (FHS) to fund a limited term Community Health Planner responsible for management of the Project.
This Board is being asked to authorize the FHS director or their designee to execute subsequent amendments which do not exceed an aggregate of $25,000.
This agreement is going to this Board late due to prolonged discussions with F5SMC.
The amendment and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney as to form.
It is anticipated that 12 cross-agency implementation partner meetings will be facilitated annually.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
Performance Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
Number of cross-agency implementation partner meetings facilitated per year |
12 |
12 |
EQUITY STATEMENT:
This agreement will support the Project goals to positively impact the health and well-being of newborn children into early childhood and mothers in San Mateo County with limited financial resources. About 20% of births in San Mateo County are to residents on Medi-Cal. Hispanic/Latinx parents make up approximately 50-60% of Medi-Cal paid deliveries. Providing financial support at a crucial stage of child growth and development could prevent long term negative health and socio-economic outcomes for vulnerable populations, while gathering data on the actual impacts of guaranteed income on these outcomes. This could further encourage the development of similar programs in the future if successful. The Project funds payments to parents that currently receive Medi-Cal benefits in San Mateo County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the amended agreement is January 21, 2024 through June 30, 2027. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $670,000. This amendment increases the Memorandum of Understanding amount by $586,000. Funds in the amount of $175,000 are included in the Family Health Services (FHS) FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget. Similar arrangements will be made in future years. This contract is fully funded by Targeted Case Management savings. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.