SUBJECT
Title
AUTHORIZE ACCEPTANCE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING ALLOCATION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The California Budget Act of 2022, as authorized under Health and Safety Code 101320, 101320.3, and 101320.5, provided $200,400,000 in general ongoing funds to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) starting in 2022-2023 to support the public health infrastructure at the State and local levels. The County of San Diego (County) received an allocation of $14,356,108 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2023. This funding is intended to strengthen public health capacity and preparedness to respond to future emergencies throughout California communities by developing and strengthening California’s public health workforce. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) has accepted Future of Public Health funding since 2022 and most recently, the Board authorized the acceptance of $43,068,324 for FY 2023-24 through FY 2025-26 on August 29, 2023 (5). The CDPH notified the County that they will be allocating $42,543,939 to the County for three years through June 30, 2029.
Today’s action requests the Board approve and authorize acceptance of approximately $42,543,939 in funding for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, to support the public health workforce in San Diego County, and to apply for additional funding opportunities to further develop and strengthen the public health workforce.
Today’s action supports the County of San Diego vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all, specifically those communities and populations in San Diego County that have been historically left behind as well as our ongoing commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This will be accomplished by ensuring the local health department can continue to improve the health and well-being of San Diego County residents.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Authorize the acceptance of $42,543,939 in Future of Public Health funding allocation from the California Department of Public Health, for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, or designee, to execute all required funding allocation documents, upon receipt, including any extensions, amendments, and/or revisions thereto that do not materially impact or alter the services or funding level.
2. Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, or designee, to apply for any additional funding opportunity announcements, if available, to further develop and strengthen the public health workforce.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services (PHS) continues to increase its workforce infrastructure, it is important that employees hired through this funding allocation reflect the community it serves, as having a diverse and wide spectrum of ideas, backgrounds and skills will help PHS better meet the service needs currently and into the future. As of December 2025, of the positions funded through the Future of Public Health funding, 40% of staff are Asian, 30% Hispanic/Latinx, 1% Black/African American, and 2% Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. This ensures services provided to residents are more representative of San Diego County’s diverse demographics.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Today’s action supports the County of San Diego’s (County) Sustainability Goal #1 to collaborate with stakeholders to foster inclusive and sustainable communities by providing leadership and investing in community-centered approaches to advocate for communities that have been disproportionately impacted. Additionally, today’s action supports Sustainability Goal #2 to provide just and equitable access to services, and Sustainability Goal #4 to protect the health and well-being of everyone in the region by sustaining the capacity of the County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services workforce to support the region during public health emergencies or infectious disease outbreaks.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-28 CAO Recommended Operational Plan in the Health and Human Services Agency. If approved, this request will result in estimated costs and revenue of $14,181,313 in FY 2026-27 and estimated costs and revenue of $14,181,313 in FY 2027-28. For the three-year term, cumulative estimated costs and revenue of $42,543,939. The source for this funding allocation is the California Department of Public Health. There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
The Health Services Advisory Board is scheduled to review this item at its meeting on May 12, 2026.
BACKGROUND
In the U.S., the public health system is dedicated to disease prevention and health promotion through federal, State, and local agencies and departments that track and predict emerging and persistent threats, respond to health risks and events, and promote health through education, intervention, and policymaking. It also identifies and addresses health disparities. The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated the disparities and gaps in the U.S. public health infrastructure and demonstrated the critical importance of a robust public health system for future public health emergencies.
A robust U.S. public health system depends on multiple factors, some of which include sufficient and sustained funding, expanded preparedness for future public health emergencies, and a diverse, well-trained, and supported workforce. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) has accepted Future of Public Health funding since 2022 and most recently, the Board authorized the acceptance of $43,068,324 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 through FY 2025-26 on August 29, 2023 (5). The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) notified the County of San Diego (County) that they will be allocating $42,543,939 to the County for three years through June 30, 2029.
This funding is intended for investment in local health departments across six foundational governmental public health services necessary to effectively address future challenges:
• A diversified workforce empowered to build an equitable, efficient, and effective future of public health system.
• A ready and sustainable public health infrastructure that can rapidly identify hazards and deploy.
• Expanded data access and interoperability to enable data driven decision making and advanced analytics to explain, predict, and prevent disease spread.
• A holistic partnership network, engaged to support State and local governmental public health efforts.
• A proactive, personalized, and highly coordinated communication strategy and operations; and
• Comprehensive community health improvement strategy that emphasizes life course approach, resiliency, equity, and prevention.
The methodology used to allocate the Future of Public Health funding allocation included an appropriation provided to the local health jurisdiction proportionally based on 2019 population data, poverty data, and population of Black/African American/Latinx/or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. The funding requires at least 70% of funds to be allocated to support the hiring of permanent County staff. The remainder of the funds is to be used for equipment, supplies, and other administrative purposes, such as operational costs. The Future of Public Health funding for FY 2025-26 provided the County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services (PHS) with the ability to sustain 88.58 existing Full Time Equivalent positions. These positions support ongoing COVID-19 and other infectious disease response activities, health equity and promotion activities, nursing workforce, and more. This funding also requires PHS to continue to inform its decision making with the Community Health Assessment, Community Health Improvement Plan, and the PHS Strategic Plan, as well as with evaluation and metrics, including measurement and evaluation of the process and outcome of hiring permanent staff. If today’s action is approved, a memorandum to the Board will be presented in 2026 to provide an update on the state of public health, strategy, and program outcomes and other health data outcomes, which is a requirement of CDPH for funding acceptance.
Today’s action requests the Board approve and authorize acceptance of approximately $42,543,939 in funding for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, to support the public health workforce in San Diego County, and to apply for additional funding opportunities to further develop and strengthen the public health workforce.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action supports the Equity (Health) and Community (Quality of Life) initiatives in the County of San Diego 2026-2031 Strategic Plan, as well as our commitment to the regional Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe, and thriving communities. This is accomplished by ensuring that San Diego County is able to respond to future emergencies by developing and strengthening the public health workforce.
Respectfully submitted,
EBONY N. Shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
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