Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has been awarded a grant from the Central Ohio Hospital Council on behalf of the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes (OBBO) Collaboration. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $100,000.00 in grant monies for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
The OBBO grant program supports initiatives of the Baby and Me Tobacco Free Program at Columbus Public Health by providing funds for additional support staff. Under the direction of the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes Collaborative (OBBO), Columbus Public Health (CPH) is responsible for expansion of the Baby and Me Tobacco Free Program. The purpose of the Baby and Me Tobacco Free Program (BMTF), an evidence-based program, is to increase smoking cessation rates among pregnant and postpartum women by offering individualized tobacco cessation treatment and incentives. This program aims to improve birth outcomes by reducing low birth weight and preterm birth rates as part of a larger strategy to decrease infant mortality. CPH is responsible for the management of staff person who will participate in the Baby and Me Tobacco Free Program housed at Columbus Public Health, providing training for OBBO prenatal clinic staff on the process for referring pregnant patients to the Baby and Me Tobacco Free Program, and reporting program specific metrics to OBBO on a monthly basis.
Since its inception in 2014, the Baby & Me Tobacco Free Program at CPH has become the largest perinatal smoking cessation program in Ohio. The program has a direct impact on smoking rates among pregnant women as well as infant wellness in Franklin County. In 2019, the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes (OBBO) reported the first-ever downward trend in maternal smoking within the county and recognized the efforts of BMTF in this achievement.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to avoid disruption to the clients enrolled in the tobacco cessation program, and to avoid forfeiture of the grant.
FISCAL IMPACT: The OBBO grant program is fully funded ($100,000.00) by the Central Ohio Hospital Council and does not require a City match.
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept a grant from the Central Ohio Hospital Council for the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes (OBBO) Collaboration grant program in the amount of $100,000.00; to authorize the appropriation of $100,000.00 to the Health Department in the Health Department’s Private Grants Fund; to authorize the expenditure of said grant funds; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $100,000.00 in grant funds have been made available through the Central Ohio Hospital Council for the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes (OBBO) Collaboration grant program for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds from the Central Ohio Hospital Council for the support of the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes (OBBO) Collaboration grant program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes (OBBO) Collaboration grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to accept these grant funds from the Central Ohio Hospital Council and to appropriate these funds to Columbus Public Health to avoid forfeiture of the grant, and to avoid delay in client services, for the immediate preservation of the public health, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $100,000.00 from the Central Ohio Hospital Council for the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes (OBBO) Collaboration grant program for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Health Department's Private Grants Fund, Fund No. 2291, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $100,000.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement to the Health Department, Division No. 5001, as indicated in the ordinance attachment.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. Funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused city match monies be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Ohio Better Birth Outcomes (OBBO) Collaboration grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health Department.
SECTION 7. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.