DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Thomas L. Schlenker
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Memorandum of Agreement with Texas A&M University Health Science Center
SUMMARY:
This ordinance will authorize an agreement with Texas A&M University Health Science Center for an amount not to exceed $25,000.00 for the period beginning August 8, 2014 and ending August 31, 2015 to retain educational services related to Public Health. Texas A&M University Health Science Center will provide public health online courses to San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) employees. Successful completion of this coursework will allow Metro Health employees to earn a graduate level certificate in Public Health.
Funding for this agreement is available and budgeted within Metro Health's National Public Health Improvement (NPHI) grant which is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and will have no impact on the General Fund.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Metro Health currently employs approximately 300 staff. One of the primary goals of Metro Health's workforce development plan is to establish a standard level of education for all professional Metro Health employees. The workforce development plan is also a requirement of national accreditation for which Metro Health is currently in the process of preparing an application for submission.
Metro Health currently contracts with Texas A&M University Health Science Center for public health online courses so that Metro Health employees who qualify for the program may earn a public health certificate. Texas A&M University Health Science Center has regional and national expertise in the area of public health and offered the most flexible schedule to accommodate Metro Health employees. The online courses for this program include:
· Introduction to Epidemiology;
· Biostatistics;
· Principles of Environmental and Occupational Health;
· Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health; and
· Introduction to Health Policy and Management
Approval of this contract will allow Metro Health to sponsor 50% of the program cost allowing employees to participate for a lower out-of-pocket cost. This opportunity will allow employees to increase their education beyond the Bachelor's degree. Upon completion of the program, participants will be awarded a graduate level certificate in Public Health. All five courses being offered in the public health certificate program are transferrable into most Master's programs in Public Health and comprise approximately 30% of degree requirements. Programs such as this allow for a more professional workforce.
ISSUE:
Metro Health is requesting City Council authorize an agreement with Texas A&M University Health Science Center to continue the Public Health Certificate Program through August 31, 2015 for an amount not to exceed $25,000.00. This agreement will be supported by Metro Health's NPHI grant which is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
ALTERNATIVES:
The purpose of Metro Health's NPHI grant is to improve public health infrastructure and capacity. The grant deliverables include specific workforce development goals for Metro Health employees. If this agreement is not authorized, Metro Health will relinquish available and budgeted grant funding that has been approved by the grantor for this contract.
In addition, since the workforce development plan is a requirement of the Public Health Accreditation standards, not implementing this workforce development goal could also lead to a delay in applying for accreditation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this agreement in an amount not to exceed $25,000.00 is available and budgeted within Metro Health's FY 2014 NPHI grant budget. This agreement will have no fiscal impact on the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the agreement with Texas A&M University Health Science Center to provide funding in an amount not to exceed $25,000.00 for the period beginning August 8, 2014 and ending August 31, 2015 for educational services related to workforce development of Metro Health employees.