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Lassen County approves two public‑health grants totaling about $1.53 million
Summary
The Lassen County Board of Supervisors approved acceptance of a roughly $272,000 annual “Future of Public Health” allocation and a three‑year California Home Visiting Program grant totaling $1,255,185 to expand home‑visiting services and sustain public‑health staff.
The Lassen County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to accept two California Department of Public Health grant allocations intended to sustain public‑health staff and expand home‑visiting services.
Natalie, the county’s director of public health, told the board the Future of Public Health allocation this year is about $272,000 and that roughly 70% of that money is earmarked for staff. “This is routine funding that we receive and 70% of it is to be allocated towards staff,” she said, adding that a new work plan will remain in place through 2029.
Why it matters: the board also approved a larger home‑visiting grant that will add staff and programs serving families with children ages 0–5. Natalie said the California Home Visiting Program award totals $1,255,185 over three fiscal years—about $418,395 per year—and will fund two home‑visiting caseworker positions, a program coordinator and related operating costs. “This program is intended to help children with their developmental needs,” she said.
Board members pressed staff on allocation decisions and local capacity. One supervisor asked why Lassen’s Future of Public Health allocation appears smaller than some other counties; Natalie said state allocations consider population and workforce infrastructure and that she would follow up with the department. She also acknowledged the county has under‑spent portion of the previous allocation and outlined steps to increase spending on workforce supports.
On the home‑visiting program, staff said the model used will be the evidence‑based Parents as Teachers curriculum, and that current capacity includes five families with additional referrals pending; trained home visitors could carry caseloads of up to 10–15 clients after the program scales, though geography and travel time will affect capacity in remote parts of the county.
The board made the formal motions to accept both awards and authorized the county CEO and public‑health director to execute necessary agreements and amendments. The motions carried by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will complete grant paperwork, begin required invoicing and time‑study reporting, and move forward with recruitment and union coordination for new positions. The public‑health director invited supervisors to visit the new Family Engagement Center at 1345 Paul Bunyan, Suite B to see program operations.
