Sponsor: Public Health
Title
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Personnel Complement Increase in the Public Health Department through the Foundational Public Health Responsibilities Grant
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Recommendation
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Approve an increase in the personnel complement of the Public Health department by 1.0 Full Time Equivalent for the duration of the grant.
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Background and Rationale
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Saint Paul - Ramsey County Public Health (SPRCPH) has been awarded a Foundational Public Health Responsibilities (FPHR) Grant through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The FPHR grant is ongoing funding to strengthen local and tribal public health in Minnesota and must be used to fulfill foundational public health responsibilities. The initial grant award for 2024 is for $178,664 and will be used for Workforce Development, an activity under the foundational capability of Organizational Competencies, which includes strengthening the department’s ability to develop and maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce with the cross-cutting skills and competencies needed to implement the Foundational Public Health Services effectively and equitably. This will include cultivating an organizational culture of employee well-being, support and retention, and developing, implementing, and maintaining infrastructure and a written plan for public health workforce development.
This position will serve as a liaison within the department and continue current efforts of the longstanding Workforce Development Team, and leading the department’s new Workforce Mental Health and Well-being Team. The Workforce Mental Health and Well-being Team has adopted the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being, which highlights five essentials that support workplaces:
1. Protection from Harm
2. Connection and Community
3. Work-Life Harmony
4. Mattering at Work
5. Opportunity for Growth.
The FPHR Grant provides the department an opportunity to more clearly focus on and prioritize staff well-being and create a workforce culture and infrastructure that supports the public health workforce. This is a critical role that will also support current efforts around recruitment, retention and promotion.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Adding this position in Public Health will support the county’s strategic priority Aligning Talent Attraction, Retention and Promotion. The public health workforce serves some of the most vulnerable and disproportionately impacted residents and communities. According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being: “Many workplace relationships can positively affect worker health and well-being… between workers and their consumers and customers.” Staff who are provided supports that build a strong and healthy mental health and well-being workforce will translate into the service delivery to residents, communities and community partners and organizations.
Furthermore, the county’s 2023 Year End Workforce Statistics Report identified that SPRCPH had 286 employees with nearly 48% of employees identifying as racially and ethnically diverse. This is similar to the current U.S. Census’s most recent data on the county population, where 40% of residents are racially and ethnically diverse. Moreover, the 2023 Year End Workforce Statistics report shared that 47% of employment separations were racially and ethnically diverse employees. It is crucial to maintain and work toward a workforce that is reflective of the residents we serve. Creating a workforce culture that addresses employee mental health and well-being needs is crucial to staff retention and offers an appealing and supportive workforce to candidates who are exploring public health roles in the department.
Community Participation Level and Impact
This position will focus efforts on internal workforce mental health and well-being, but will also include talent attraction, recruitment and public health promotional strategies and will assist with hiring practices that include community representation on hiring panels within the department. Through staff engagement and workforce improvement efforts and initiatives, this position will help build a stronger workforce where staff enjoy their work culture and environment. Staff are key recruiters of diverse talent and by having a dedicated staff to lead this work, a healthier and more enjoyable workplace culture will attract new talent and retain current talent. A key responsibility for this position will be to engage and support recruiting diverse talent, promoting public health as a profession and specifically promoting employment in the department through avenues such as tabling at community events and attending job fairs.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Public Health has been awarded ongoing grant funding through the Foundational Public Health Responsibilities Grant from the Minnesota Department of Health. The 2024 and ongoing grant award of around $178,664 will support 100% of the salary and fringe for this position. This grant has not been included in the approved 2024-2025 budget, but there is no anticipated impact on levy for this position.
Last Previous Action
On November 5, 2019, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the Master Grant Contract between Ramsey County, acting as Saint Paul Ramsey County Community Health Board, and the Minnesota Department of Health for the period January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2024. (Resolution B2019-246).
Attachments
1. Grant Award Letter from the Minnesota Department of Health
2. Foundational Public Health Responsibilities Grant Expenditure Guide