Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution amends the Public Health operating budget to accept a WI Department of Health Services grant for $520,000 through August 31, 2029. The grant will fund a 1.0 FTE Disease Intervention Specialist. The position will be a peer navigator to enhance the safety, health, and well-being of people who use drugs and will help establish linkages to evidence-based substance use disorder treatments, community resources, health services, and ongoing care.
Title
Amending the Public Health Operating Budget to Accept WI Department of Health Services Grant Funding for a 1.0 FTE Disease Intervention Specialist to Support Linkages to Care for People Who Use Drugs
Body
WHEREAS, Public Health Madison & Dane County (Public Health) applied for and received funding from the WI Department of Health Services (DHS) via the Employing Navigators to Increase Linkage to Care for People who Use Drugs (PWUD) grant; and
WHEREAS, Public Health’s Syringe Services Program (SSP) has averaged nearly 1,200 client encounters per month so far in 2024 and is a vital tool to engage with PWUD, prevent fatal/non-fatal overdose, and curb the spread of communicable disease; and
WHEREAS, with this funding, Public Health will create a peer navigator position to enhance the safety, health, and well-being of people who use drugs by offering trauma-informed support and connecting them to essential services and resources that build recovery capital; and
WHEREAS, this position will also help establish vital linkages to evidence-based substance use disorder treatments, community resources, health services, and ongoing care, with the goals of reducing overdose deaths, improving access to treatment and support services, and fostering a safer, healthier community; and
WHEREAS, the approved grant application included funding for a 1.0 FTE Disease Intervention Specialist (Range 14) position to support navigator functions for this project. The creation of this position would cost an estimated $104,000 of grant funding annually through the end of the grant period; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Public Health has received a total of $104,000 in funding from the Employing Navigators to Increase Linkage to Care for PWUD grant in 2024 designated to a 1.0 FTE Disease Intervention Specialist position for the duration of the grant period; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that per the Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City of Madison & Dane County, Public Health employees are employees of Dane County and both the Dane County Board and the City Council are required to approve the creation of any new positions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED Public Health anticipates that the positions will be hired in the fourth quarter of 2024 and there will be continued funding through August 31, 2029; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council approves amending the 2024 Public Health operating budget to accept the additional funds in the amount of $104,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County is authorized to sign the agreement for the amount and purpose outlined above; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that upon adoption of this resolution and approval from the Common Council and Dane County Board, a 1.0 FTE Disease Intervention Specialist (Range 14) position will be created in the Public Health Madison & Dane County 2024 Operating Budget, and the position will be noted in the 2025 Operating Budget to reflect that the continuation of the position is contingent upon continued Employing Navigators to Increase Linkage to Care for PWUD grant funding.