DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Dr. Thomas L. Schlenker
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
CDC Sodium Reduction in Communities Grant
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funds in an amount not to exceed $250,000.00 for year three of a three-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support the Chronic Disease Program of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) beginning September 30, 2015 through September 29, 2016. Metro Health's participation in the Sodium Reduction in Communities Program serves a legitimate public purpose in that this funding will promote public health through activities that include community-wide efforts to reduce sodium intake and decrease the risk of high blood pressure. This action also authorizes a proposed program budget, incidental expenditures for grant program participants, and a personnel complement of 2.45 grant funded positions to support this grant as reflected in Attachment I.
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Metro Health to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents and a grant contract 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; 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; f) amendments funding one time equipment purchases or defined program services; and g) changes in state regulations mandated by the funding agency.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Approximately 90% of Americans consume too much sodium, increasing their risk of having high blood pressure. Because nearly 400,000 deaths each year are attributed to high blood pressure, decreasing sodium intake could prevent thousands of deaths annually. The purpose of this program is to reduce sodium intake to limits recommended by the 2010 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, US2010, which is a program of research on changes in American society in the recent past, led by project director John Logan, professor of sociology at Brown University.
Because the majority of sodium that people consume is already present in foods before purchase or preparation, reducing sodium intake may require increased availability and accessibility of lower sodium items. Because community-wide efforts to reduce sodium intake are relatively new, more practice-based evidence would support identification and refinement of effective strategies. The grant expects to achieve at least two of the following short-term outcomes by the end of the project period.
· Increased availability of lower sodium food products (i.e., presence of lower sodium foods in the environment)
· Increased accessibility of lower sodium food products (i.e., presence of lower sodium foods available in a form, location, price and time that facilitates their consumption)
· Increased purchase/selection of lower sodium food products
Metro Health's Chronic Disease Program has received funding from the CDC since 2013 through the Sodium Reduction in Communities grant which was approved by City Council on September 5, 2013.
ISSUE:
Metro Health is requesting City Council authorization for acceptance of funds in an amount not to exceed $250,000.00 to continue to support the identification and refinement of effective strategies in implementing community-wide efforts to reduce sodium intake.
ALTERNATIVES:
If acceptance of these funds is not authorized, Metro Health will forgo an opportunity to receive $250,000.00 for the Chronic Disease Program to continue community-wide efforts to reduce sodium intake and decrease the risk of high blood pressure.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This Ordinance authorizes the acceptance of an award in an amount up to $250,000.00 for year three of a three-year grant to support Metro Health's Chronic Disease Program in community-wide efforts to reduce sodium intake for the period beginning September 30, 2015 through September 29, 2016 and authorizes a proposed personnel complement of 2.45 positions.
This grant does not require a cash or in-kind match and will have no fiscal impact on the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of funds in an amount not to exceed $250,000.00 for year three of a three-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.