Subject:
Title
Amendments to the Health Care for the Homeless Co-Applicant Board Bylaws and Co-Applicant Agreement and the Co-Applicant Board roster.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the amendments to the Health Care for the Homeless Co-Applicant Board Bylaws and Co-Applicant Agreement and the Co-Applicant Board roster.
• Health Resources and Services Administration will be conducting a virtual operational site visit from March 9-11, 2021 which includes a review of all program requirements. Staff review of the required documentation identified some updates to the governance documents including the Bylaws, Co-Applicant Agreement, and Board Roster which requires Board of County Commission approval.
• The Board of County Commissioners last approved the Co-Applicant Agreement in 2015, the Bylaws and Co-Applicant Board Members in 2017.
• There are no fiscal impacts to these changes.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.2 Be a facilitator, convener and purchaser of services for those in need
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
Summary
The HCH Co-Applicant Board amended and approved the Co-Applicant Agreement on February 9, 2021 to 1) change the name of the governing body from the Mobile Medical Unit Advisory Council to the Health Care for the Homeless Co-Applicant Board, 2) change the review and approval of the budget to align with the three-year grant application (Service Area Competition), 3) change “MMU” references to “health center” to better reflect the addition of Bayside Health Clinic in 2016, and 4) update language that more accurately reflects the current relationship and processes of the Board of County Commissioners in the areas of strategic planning, financial management, and personnel policies.
The HCH Co-Applicant Board also amended and approved the Bylaws on February 9, 2021 to 1) remove standing committees, 2) allow sole authority of the Co-Applicant Board to approve the annual sliding fee discount policy, 3) change the approval of Co-Applicant Board member appointments to the Co-Applicant Board, with approval of the full board roster by the BCC once every three years in advance of the Service Area Competition grant application, 4) clarify the budget approval process between the Co-Applicant Board and BCC, and 5) allow Bylaw changes to be approved by the Co-Applicant board at the same meeting as they are presented.
The HCH Co-Applicant Board solicits board nominations from the community, current or former consumers of the HCH program, persons who are currently or formerly homeless, and other interested individuals who are committed and interested in the delivery of services of the HCH program. Attached is the current board roster for the HCH program for review and approval. While a patient-majority is required for the co-applicant board, Pinellas County maintains a waiver of this requirement due to the difficulty in recruiting consumers from the homeless population to serve in this capacity. The staff and HCH Co-Applicant Board continue efforts to recruit consumers and have taken additional steps, including focus groups and surveys, to ensure consumer input into the program’s services.
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Background Information:
The HCH Co-Applicant Board serves as the patient/community-based governing board to set health center policy for the Healthcare for the Homeless Program on behalf of the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners. As a public center, the HCH Co-Applicant Board includes a representative majority of consumer/patient representatives, meets monthly, and fulfills all the required authorities of a governing board. The purpose of the co-applicant arrangement is to define the roles of the Co-Applicant Board and the Board of County Commissioners.
In 2020, the Health Care for the Homeless Program served 1,903 homeless residents of Pinellas County with primary preventive care medical services, dental, mental health and substance abuse services, and more. Clients are seen at two HRSA approved delivery sites including the Mobile Medical Unit van that travels throughout the County, and at the Bayside Health Clinic.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Interim Director, Human Services
Partners:
Health Care for the Homeless Co-Applicant Board
Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County
Catholic Charities/Pinellas Hope
Operation PAR
City of St. Petersburg
Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Petersburg
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Clearwater
Homeless Empowerment Program
Salvation Army ARC
Tarpon Springs Shepherd Center
Attachments:
HCH Co-Applicant Board Bylaws
HCH Co-Applicant Agreement
HCH Co-Applicant Board Roster