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Board extends local health emergency for Trabuco Canyon Airport Fire; approves health and homeless services contracts
Summary
Orange County approved continuation of a local health emergency for the Trabuco Canyon Airport Fire, extended review dates, and approved several health care and homelessness contract renewals; supervisors asked for follow‑up about federal grant stability and additional shelter health metrics.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on April 8 approved continuation of a local health emergency that the Health Care Agency originally issued September 20, 2024, to support debris and ash removal and mitigation work related to the Trabuco Canyon Airport Fire.
Health Care Agency staff requested the extension and asked the board to set a review to determine the need to continue the local health emergency on May 6, 2025, and every 30 days thereafter until terminated; the board approved the continuation without public comment.
At the same meeting the board approved multiple Health Care Agency contract renewals and amendments for substance use prevention and treatment services, including a youth‑focused prevention contract with the Orange County Department of Education. Supervisor Foley asked whether the federal Substance Use Prevention, Treatment and Recovery (SUPTRS) block grant — cited in the staff report as providing about 66% of funding for the youth prevention contract — is at risk of cuts. "We are still getting the grant, but is there any indication that this is on the list for being cut?" Foley asked; staff said they would check and report back to board offices.
Supervisor Sarmiento asked staff to work with the Office of Care Coordination, shelter operators and the Health Care Agency to collect two additional performance metrics at Yale Navigation Center and Bridges at Kramer Place: the number and percentage of shelter participants with health coverage (including Medi‑Cal beneficiaries) and the number and percentage who receive medical services (primary care, behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment) while at the shelter. Health Care Agency and CEO staff appeared supportive of the request, and the board approved the PATH Yale Navigation Center contract amendment with that comment incorporated as a staff request.
What the actions mean
Continuing the local health emergency preserves county access to emergency funding and authorization to perform debris and water‑well mitigation work while staff and contractors complete damage assessments and cleanup. The additional data requests for shelter health coverage/utilization will require operational coordination between shelter operators, HCA, and care coordination staff.
Next steps
Staff committed to confirming the stability of federal grant funding and to follow up with the board offices. The Health Care Agency is expected to provide the requested shelter health coverage and utilization metrics for discussion at a later date.
