TITLE
Title
DHHS-PUBLIC HEALTH APPROVAL TO APPLY FOR IMPROVING COMMUNITY OUTCOMES FOR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH (ICO4MCH) STATE FUNDING ($500,000)
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Dr. Iulia Vann
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BACKGROUND
Background
Award - Requesting $500,000
Spending Plan - Continue implementing in Guilford County the 3 Aims of ICO4MCH Community Impact grant:
1) Improved Birth Outcomes;
2) Reduce Infant Mortality; and
3) Improve Health Status of Children Ages 0-5. Evidence-based strategies chosen to implement under each aim include Improving Preconception and Interconception Health; 10 Steps for Successful Breastfeeding; and Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)
For the FY 24-26 application, Guilford County is submitting a multi-county application, partnering with Forsyth County Department of Public Health to co-implement the 3 aims and evidence-based strategies. Guilford County will
utilize approximately $290,000 and subcontractors that include Forsyth County and Children’s Home Society of North Carolina will utilize approximately $210,000 to make up the $500,000 requested budget. Guilford County
funding will continue to provide support for two positions: A Community Health Educator II and Community Health Educator I position. We will lose funding for a Community Health Educator I position as a result of the multi
county application. Additional funding will provide programmatic support for the evidence-based strategies implemented in Guilford County, as well as pass through funding for subcontractors that include Forsyth County
Department of Public Health and Children’s Home Society of NC.
About the Program
The ICO4MCH Program aims are to improve birth outcomes, reduce infant mortality, and improve the health status of children, ages 0 - 5. Applicants choose from selected evidence-based strategies under each aim. For FY 22-24, Guilford County chose: Improving Preconception and Interconception Health; 10 Steps for Successful Breastfeeding; and Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) as the strategies to implement. These strategies are being selected for continuation in FY 24 -26. The ICO4MCH funding is a collective impact grant that aligns well with the collective action strategic plan of the Every Baby Guilford program, Guilford County Public Health’s infant mortality reduction strategy. The complexity and challenges facing communities to improve the health of individuals of reproductive age and children ages 0-5 can be overwhelming. Collaboration between community-based organizations, local health departments, and other key stakeholders can lead to long-term systematic change. Collective impact is an effective means of collaboration and a proven approach for helping organizations work together. Collective impact is a network of community members, organizations, and institutions who advance equity by learning together, aligning, and integrating their actions to achieve population and systems level change.
Guilford County did not qualify to submit a single county application as a result of our disparity ratio declining by 10% since last application period. The qualifying criteria required a disparity ratio of 2.6 or higher and Guilford County’s ratio dropped 10%, from 2.8 during 2017-2020 to 2.5 during 2019-2021.
As a result, Guilford County is maximizing opportunities to increase capacity for Forsyth County by submitting a multi-county application, as Forsyth qualifies to submit based on eligibility criteria. Guilford County will provide technical assistance to Forsyth County for implementing collective impact based on the two years’ experience of implementing our collective action strategic plan. This will well-equip two counties who continuously have the two highest infant mortality rates in the state, both in the top five counties.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve submission of the ICO4MCH grant application which will further support Guilford County’s bold goal to reduce infant mortality disparities by 50% by 2026. Approve the continuation of funding two (2) positions, if award is granted for FY24-26, Community Health Educator II and Community Health Educator I position and the elimination of one Community Health Educator I.
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