Department
Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities
Requested Action (Identify appropriate Action or Motion, purpose, cost, timeframe, etc.)
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Request approval to extend the contract for professional services - Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), RFP#21RFP000026A-CJC, Advancing Health Literacy Grant in the amended amount of $172,520.00 with The Black Cross Inc (Atlanta, GA) to implement health communication strategies in underserved communities and to form lead and facilitate a community coalition board (CCB) and develop an online Hub as a part of the US Department of Health & Human Services (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health), Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19 grant. 100% grant funded. The original effective dates of the contract were from October 1, 2022 - September 30, 2023. The extension is effective October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, with no renewal option. (APPROVED UPON ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA)
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Requirement for Board Action (Cite specific Board policy, statute or code requirement)
Request approval to extend the contract for professional services - Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), RFP#21RFP000026A-CJC, Advancing Health Literacy Grant in the amended amount of $172,520.00 with The Black Cross Inc (Atlanta, GA).
Strategic Priority Area related to this item (If yes, note strategic priority area below)
Health and Human Services
Commission Districts Affected
All Districts ☒
District 1 ☐
District 2 ☐
District 3 ☐
District 4 ☐
District 5 ☐
District 6 ☐
Is this a purchasing item?
No
Summary & Background Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) has been awarded funding in the amount of $3,900,000.00. The purpose of the project is to increase awareness about COVID-19 mitigation efforts and behavioral health services; increase COVID-19 testing, vaccine confidence, and vaccine uptake; and decrease stigma related to behavioral health, increase behavioral health literacy, and increase usage of behavioral health services in Fulton County.
Scope of Work: The successful respondent for the non-governmental, Community Based Organization (CBO) shall be experienced in implementing health communication strategies in underserved communities as following: Develop a 15 person Community Coalition Board (CCB) that includes representatives from racial, minority and socially vulnerable populations, community based organizations, community health centers, and Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center (MSM PRC). Recruit community-based representatives from each of Fulton County’s six Board of Commissioner Districts. Community Members will use their influence to promote strategies and services with their communities. The Community Coalition Board led by the selected Community Based Organization will meet monthly or more frequently to discuss the data related to minority communities, issues impacting vulnerable communities, their needs, and how to best connect individuals with services. The CCB will be instrumental in facilitating partnership between communities, academic institutions, and local government towards community-responsive evaluation planning, implementation and monitoring of the health literacy project. The CCB concept will be adapted from the Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center model2 to ensure community leadership and input in the evaluation process. The coalition will recruit people from diverse perspectives to constructively share their beliefs and ideas, serve as subject matter experts and inform on-the-ground solution design and community engagement in all community input and data gathering. CCB will help co-lead development of evaluation assessment for appropriate data collection; communicate and disseminate health literacy strategies; and develop strategies on the best methods to connect people to behavioral health services Focus groups will be conducted and the CCB’s input will be utilized to develop guides and audience segmentation. The community based organization will also implement a dynamic online culturally responsive HUB as a resource for utilizing the evidence-based model of community care coordination that focuses on addressing social determinants of health. The site will be user-friendly, written in plain language, provide translation services for individuals with limited English proficiency, and be simple to navigate. Users can access live chat or text options and schedule appointments. The site will promote a “no wrong door” concept where users can find resources and services.
Community Impact: Fulton County, through DBHDD desires to provide shared resources to support an implementation of a health literacy program that will address personal and organizational health literacy through culturally appropriate strategies.
Department Recommendation: DBHDD recommends the approval of the contract extension.
Project Implications: The COVID pandemic has negatively affected the overall mental health of Fulton County citizens. This project will target underserved communities that have been most adversely affected by the pandemic to advocate and educate about behavioral health & facilitate their access to behavioral health services in Fulton County.
Community Issues/Concerns: None
Department Issues/Concerns: None
Fiscal Impact / Funding Source
Funding Line 1:
461-755-AHL1-1160