Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has been awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Health to support the Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure grant project. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $20,000.00 in grant monies to fund the Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure gap funding grant program for the period of January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023.
The Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure grant will eliminate social and geographic barriers that might prevent individuals from acquiring Naloxone, provide overdose prevention education, and furnish Naloxone.
The increased pollution of street drugs with fentanyl has caused the illicit drugs to become more deadly, putting residents who either use drugs recreationally or who are living with a substance use disorder at extreme risk of accidental overdose death. In the 2021-2022 grant year of the Integrated Naloxone grant, in partnership with Columbus Division of Fire, CPH was able to reach 3,499 people and furnish 3,758 kits of Naloxone. The life-saving drug Naloxone has been critical in reversing the dangerous effects of an overdose and saving lives. The continuation of this grant award allows CPH to continue to provide this life-saving resource and reduce further harm. This grant seeks to serve the broader community with a priority of serving individuals that are at-risk of overdose.
Emergency action is requested as the Ohio Department of Health provided this instant gap funding to not delay nor interrupt naloxone services and help progress the state’s goal of combating drug overdoses.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure grant is fully funded ($20,000.00) by the Ohio Department of Health and does not require a City match.
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Health for the Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure gap funding grant in the amount of $20,000.00; to authorize the appropriation of $20,000.00 to the Health Department in the Health Department’s Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $20,000.00 in grant funds have been made available through the Ohio Department of Health for the Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure gap funding grant program for the period of January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds from the Ohio Department of Health for the continued support of the Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure grant program; and
WHEREAS, the City may receive additional funds awarded from the Ohio Department of Health for the support of the Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure grant program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure gap funding grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department.; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is submitted as an emergency so as to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City’s accounting system as soon as possible. Emergency action is requested as the Ohio Department of Health provided this instant gap funding to not delay nor interrupt naloxone services and help progress the state’s goal of combating drug overdoses; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to accept these additional grant funds from the Ohio Department of Health and to appropriate these funds to Columbus Public Health to maintain the clients' continuity of care for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; 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 funding of $20,000.00 from the Ohio Department of Health for the Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure grant program for the period of January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023.
SECTION 2. The auditor’s office is authorized to adjust appropriations to match current awarded amounts per the attached template and authorized to adjust appropriations as required for future award amount changes from the grantor in the Health Department's Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources for the period of January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023, the sum of $20,000.00 upon receipt of an executed grant agreement, and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated to the Health Department, Division No. 5001, according to the attached accounting document.
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 upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. That, 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 may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. That the 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 6. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept any additional grant awards from the Ohio Department of Health for the Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure gap funding grant program for the period of January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023.
SECTION 7. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 any additional awarded funds are appropriated in Fund 2251 according to notification of award or grant agreement by the grantor.
SECTION 8. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Integrated Naloxone Access and Infrastructure gap funding grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department.
SECTION 9. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby 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.