TITLE
Title
DHHS-PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION BUDGET AMENDMENT: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LABORATORY CAPACITY TESTING SCHOOL HEALTH STAFFING - $7,941,292
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Dr. Iulia Vann
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BACKGROUND
Background
In support of safe, in-person instruction in kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools, screening testing can provide an additional layer of prevention to protect students, teachers, and staff and slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). While it is critical for schools to remain open for academic, social, and emotional benefits, it is equally important to do so safely. To enable schools to establish and expand COVID-19 screening testing programs to support and maintain in-person learning, the federal government is providing financial resources through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Reopening Schools award.
Public health and education are necessary partners for safe and healthy schools. Successful testing programs with the appropriate response to test results are enhanced by close collaborative working relationships between schools and local health authorities. Efforts should be taken to foster, grow and maintain the tie between public health and education to support COVID testing and response programs and other activities that improve population and individual health for students and school staff. Funding from the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) award will support staff positions that encourage continuity of existing COVID-related activities, maintain the health department’s integral role in screening testing, build upon the work already begun, and ensure a holistic assessment and monitoring of disease burden within any given community.
The funding awarded will be used to hire or contract with a staffing agency to provide clinical staff to work in Local Education Agency (LEA) schools that opt in to testing programs for 2021-2022 school year to support K-12 COVID-19 testing program activities, provide support and response in schools. The staff will provide and support other school health program activities that foster healthy students, in school and ready to learn.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
Budget Ordinance Amendment
General Fund
$7,941,292 Increase in Federal/State Revenue
$7,941,292 Increase in Appropriation to Health and Human Services (Public Health)
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve an increase of $7,941,292 in Federal/State Revenues and increase the FY 2021-22 Department of Health and Human Services (Public Health) budget by the same amount to reflect funds awarded by DPH - Women’s & Children’s Health Branch in the amount of $7,941,292 to be used for COVID-19 screening testing and related costs for Guilford County public schools' students and staff.
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