DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Thomas L. Schlenker
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
The Kresge Foundation Emerging Leaders in Public Health Program and Grant
SUMMARY:
This ordinance ratifies the submission of a grant application to The Kresge Foundation by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) and authorizes the acceptance of grant funds upon award in an amount not to exceed $125,000.00 for participation in the Emerging Leaders in Public Health program for a sixteen month term. This action also authorizes a proposed program budget for the execution of an action learning project.
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Metro Health to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents and grant contracts to effectuate the application and acceptance of the referenced grant, and to execute contract amendments pertaining to this contract, to include: a) carry-over funds, when ascertained and approved by the funding agency through a revised notice of award; b) line item budget revisions authorized by the funding agency; c) modifications to the performance measures authorized by the funding agency and listed in the contract so long as the terms of the amendment stay within the general parameters of the intent of the grant; d) no cost extensions; and e) amendments which will provide supplemental grant funds to the grant by the funding agency in an amount up to 20% of the total amount initially awarded to the grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In the fall of 2014, The Kresge Foundation announced a nationwide competitive process for a new initiative for local health officers entitled Emerging Leaders in Public Health (ELPH). This program focuses on the development of local governmental public health officials along with a learning partner of their choice from the agencies they lead. As part of the process, Kresge invited state associations for city and county health officials to nominate local governmental public health leaders to participate in this new leadership initiative. In late November, Dr. Thomas Schlenker and Theresa Medina were notified of their selection into the program.
The 16-month program will provide an action-oriented leadership development experience that will enable public health leaders and their partners to flourish in the new health care reform environment. The cornerstone of the learning experience will be completion of a strategic, systems-level action learning project. Metro Health's project will focus on prevention and improving control of Diabetes in San Antonio. During the 16 month course, 12 teams from across the country will be provided access to an array of experts, 4 in-person leadership development trainings and resources to support the learning project for which the foundation will provide up to $125,000.00 for each team to assist project implementation.
ISSUE:
The original announcement of the ELPH program opportunity outlined a two phase process with State Health Associations nominating public health leaders that would be invited to apply for the new program. These nominees were to be further screened with only a handful to be invited to submit a full proposal. Dr. Thomas Schlenker, Public Health Director for Metro Health was nominated by Dr. David Lakey, outgoing Health Commissioner for the Texas Department of State Health services in September 2014 and, as requested, submitted the initial grant application. Mid-way through the process The Kresge Foundation announced the selection of teams selected essentially bypassing the stage requesting submission of the full proposal. Therefore, Metro Health requests City Council authorization to ratify the submission of the initial grant application and further requests authorization to accept funds upon award in an amount not to exceed $125,000.00 from The Kresge Foundation for participation in the Emerging Leaders in Public Health Program for a sixteen month term.
ALTERNATIVES:
If submission of the grant application is not ratified, Metro Health would forgo an opportunity to participate in the Emerging Leaders in Public Health program and an opportunity to receive funding to assist with the implementation of a project focused on prevention and improving control of Diabetes in San Antonio.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Metro Health requests City Council authorization to ratify the submission of a grant application and further requests authorization to accept funds upon award in an amount not to exceed $125,000.00 from The Kresge Foundation for participation in the Emerging Leaders in Public Health Program for a sixteen month term. There will be no fiscal impact to the City's General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the ratification of the submission of a grant application to The Kresge Foundation and the acceptance of funds upon award in an amount up to $125,000.00.