TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and any subsequent amendments between the City of Long Beach and Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center in the amount of $5,000 for the Health Access through Early Childhood Education Program for the period of July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010; and increase appropriations in the Health Fund (SR 130) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HE) by $5,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Early Childhood Education Committee (Committee) is an ad hoc committee of the City of Long Beach Board of Health and Human Services. The Committee, established in 2003, is a broad-based partnership comprised of educators, advocates and care givers of children up to age five who work together to promote high quality care and early education in our community. Members of the committee represent local non-profit organizations, child development centers, preschools, family child care providers, the education community (including the school district, community college district and state university), the public library, philanthropic organizations, faithbased organizations, various City commissioners, and staff from City Departments. The Committee is a cross-disciplinary collaboration of equal partners whose mission is to further the early care and education of all children in Long Beach by: enhancing the quality of services; building capacity to meet the needs of families; and expanding the base of resources.
Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center has awarded $5,000 to the City of Long Beach, through the Department of Health and Human Services, for the Health Access through Early Childhood Education Program.
The focus of this grant is the creation and distribution of a "Zero to Five Health Access Resource Guide" that stresses the importance of medical/dental care and that provides a comprehensive list of referrals for health care coverage, dental screenings, mental health services, vision screening, and diabetes preventionlintervention services for families in Long Beach. This guide will be available on-line and in print for parents, caregivers, child care providers, preschool teachers, children's social workers and other professionals serving children zero to five years old. In addition, on-site training will be provided for staff, parents and caregivers on how to use the Resource Guide. This effort presents a system-wide approach to addressing access to health care for children zero to five years old in the city of Long Beach.
The overarching premise is to connect the 172 child care centers and 550 family child care homes in the city of Long Beach, representing well over 8,000 children, with existing health access providers. The short-term goal is to educate providers on the importance of and how to access health screenings, referrals and services to children and families in their care.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang on August 19, 2009, and by Budget and Performance Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski on September 4, 2009.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this item is requested on September 22, 2009 in order to begin the process of distributing this information.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total amount of the agreement is $5,000, and an appropriation increase for this amount is included in the recommendation. There is no impact on the General Fund.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
RONALD R. ARIAS
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
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APPROVED: |
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |