Explanation
Background: Columbus Public Health has been awarded grant funds from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) originating from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $40,000.00 in grant monies to fund the Advancing Evidence-Based Strategies to Strengthen Vaccine Uptake and Confidence in High-Risk Communities Grant Program for the period of November 9, 2026, through July 30, 2027. The total grant award is $40,000.00.
Columbus Public Health (CPH) will implement a community-centered and evidence-based vaccine confidence and access strategy among families of young children enrolled in Head Start and publicly funded childcare centers serving communities experiencing low vaccination coverage and vaccine hesitancy. The primary outcome will be increased MMR vaccination among participating children, with evaluation findings informing continuous improvement and sustainable vaccination efforts.
Emergency: This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to avoid forfeiture of the grant; to meet the urgent deliverables of the grant due early December; and to implement strategies to increase vaccination rates in vulnerable communities to protect public health and safety.
Fiscal Impact: The NACCHO Grant Program is entirely funded by the CDC Grant. This program does not generate any revenue or require a City match. ($40,000.00)
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept a grant from the National Association of County and City Health Officials for the Advancing Evidence-Based Strategies to Strengthen Vaccine Uptake and Confidence in High-Risk Communities Grant Program in the amount of $40,000.00; to authorize the appropriation of $40,000.00 to the Health Department from the unappropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($40,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $40,000.00 in grant award funding has been made available through the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for the Advancing Evidence-Based Strategies to Strengthen Vaccine Uptake and Confidence in High-Risk Communities Grant Program for the period of November 9, 2026 through July 31, 2027; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds for the support of the NACCHO Grant Program; 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 NACCHO to meet the urgent deliverables of the grant that are due in early December, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and to avoid forfeiture of the grant; 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 $40,000.00 from NACCHO for the Advancing Evidence-Based Strategies to Strengthen Vaccine Uptake and Confidence in High-Risk Communities Grant Program for the period of November 9, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies 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 during the grant period, the sum of $40,000.00 is hereby appropriated to the Health Department, Division No. 5001, upon receipt of an executed grant agreement.
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 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. 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 6. 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.