TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute agreements, and all necessary documents or subsequent amendments, including amending the award amount, with Kresge Foundation provided as a sub-award from the University of South Florida, College of Public Health, to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $100,000 for the Public Health Regenerative Leadership Synergy initiative, for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024, with the option to extend the agreement for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and
Increase appropriations in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $100,000, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the City of Long Beach (City) released a Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative as a framework for recognizing, listening to, and convening with stakeholders to develop equitable policies and ideas. The four goals of this initiative include: 1) Ending systemic racism in Long Beach, in all local government and partner agencies, through internal transformation, 2) Designing and investing in community safety and violence prevention, 3) Redesign police approach to community safety, and 4) Improving health and wellness in the City by eliminating social and economic disparities in the communities most impacted by racism.
The Long Beach Filipino Community Collective (LBFCC) will focus on the Filipino community, which has been a presumably overlooked and underserved population. Filipinos make up 35 percent of the Long Beach’s Asian population, making them the largest Asian ethnic community in the city. Due in part to a lack of focused data collection and the common practice of grouping Asian subgroups into a single broad category, there has been limited investigation of the unique health inequities experienced by the Filipino community in Long Beach, which has resulted in very few programs that address the specific health requirements of this community.
The Public Health Regenerative Leadership Synergy, (PHEARLESS) is the result of a collaborative effort that assessed the leadership lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and sought answers to the question of how we can intentionally design communities in which all can flourish. PHEARLESS promotes the support and development of leaders who can answer this question collaboratively in the complex world in which we currently reside. The goal of PHEARLESS is to facilitate the emergence and longevity of leaders who are committed to the welfare of all. PHEARLESS seeks to support partnerships of local, state, regional, tribal, or territorial health jurisdictions that have prior experience collaborating to improve the health and well-being of the community as a whole. The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services was one of fifteen community partners chosen to participate in this one-year program. PHEARLESS defines each partnership as the "Community Collective", consisting of two public health professionals from the local jurisdiction and two community leaders from the same jurisdiction. These leaders are positioned to benefit from additional leadership competency development and support collaborative leadership efforts to enhance the health and well-being of all individuals.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on September 25, 2023 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on September 20, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on October 10, 2023, to ensure the contract is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive grant funding in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024. An appropriation increase is requested in the amount of $100,000 in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department, offset by grant revenue. Any indirect costs that might not ultimately be eligible for grant funds will be funded by the Health Operating Fund, General Fund, or other eligible funds. There is no match or in-kind service mandate required. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER