Preliminary FPHS review: environmental health dominates spending as Alliance readies FY26 workplan

Melanie Mackin of BME Strategies presented preliminary results from the Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) data review at the Northern Bristol County Public Health Alliance meeting on May 6.

The SSA received two grants in FY24 totaling $2.63 million, and $2.55 million of that total was spent on FPHS activities, Melanie said. Environmental public health and accountability/performance management were the largest spending areas. Melanie reported that environmental health accounted for about 32% of total spending and 38% of staff working hours; maternal and family child health represented about 1% of spending and staff hours.

Erika Syokau outlined the FY26 workplan and budget timeline driven by the FPHS findings: Phase 1 drafting with regional staff (May 13); Phase 2 DPH guidance incorporation (May 21–23); Phase 3 advisory board review and vote (June 3); Phase 4 submission to DPH (June 18). Erika said the budget will be drafted internally and that the advisory board would review a final draft on June 3 prior to submission.

Regional staff and technical assistance partners will provide templates and case-by-case support for partner mapping and external partner engagement, Cassandra Andersen of OLRH said. Melanie will circulate the in-depth FPHS slides and Erika will share the May 13 special meeting invite to finalize staff roles, equity training timing and draft FY26 objectives.

Members discussed availability for the special meeting and schedule constraints: Sheila O’Brien noted a nursing conference on May 15 and preferred May 13 at 9 a.m.; members agreed the meeting should last roughly 45–50 minutes.

The presentation and timeline are intended to inform allocation decisions and capacity-building steps for the coming fiscal year; no budget votes were taken at this session.