​I. Purpo​​se

This memo pro​​vides an overview of the Future of Public Health (FoPH) funding redistribution process of anticipated unspent funds for fiscal year (FY) 2022-2023. 

Overv​​i​ew

The Future of Public Health (FoPH) funds that are allocated to all 61 LHJs are intended to fill in the public health gaps exacerbated and magnified during the COVID-19 response and increase capacity of local public health jurisdictions to be prepared for the next large-scale emergency. The goal of this local funding redistribution process is to ensure FY 2022-2023 funds are used to support the infrastructure and workforce of local health jurisdictions. CDPH is committed to working in partnership with LHJs to identify strategies to spend down FoPH funds and ensure that these funds continue to be available in future years.

Based on submitted and processed invoices to date, CDPH RPHO anticipates that there would be unspent funds for FY 2022-2023. CDPH RPHO, in partnership with the County Health Executives Association of California (CHEAC), sent a reconciliation drill for LHJs to review accuracy of expenditure data. LHJs were also asked to provide additional information on their plans for spending, including identifying any projected unspent funds for FY 2022-2023. The goal of this exercise was to identify anticipated unspent funds to support a plan to redistribute funds to eligible LHJs who report a need and can attest that they can spend the additional dollars by June 30, 2024.

Approximately $13 million of FoPH funds from FY 2022-2023 were identified as projected to be unspent. All remaining unspent funds must be encumbered or expended by June 30, 2024. It is encouraged that LHJs submit final invoices as close to the end of the funding cycle on June 30th, 2024, as possible and it is recommended that all invoices are submitted within 90 days from the end ​​of the funding cycle. This process is specific only to FY 2022-2023 funds and does not impact or change future year allocation amounts.

For the purpose of this memo, the term redistribution will be defined as the process for which FY 2022-2023 funds will be redistributed from one LHJ to another LHJ on a one-time basis. This process is specific only to FY 2022-2023 funds and does not impact or change future year allocation amounts or methodologies.

CDPH RPHO has developed guidance for redistribution of t​​​hese unspent funds as described below in section II. 

II. FoPH Funding Redistribution Proc​​​ess

1. CDPH RPHO will directly contact LHJs who identified having anticipated unspent FY 2022-2023 funds in the reconciliation drill to confirm the reported total unspent funds. This confirmation process will allow CDPH RPHO to verify the total funds available for redistribution.

• LHJs will be required to confirm total anticipated unspent funds by February 14th, 2024. If LHJs do not respond, the anticipated unspent funds reported in the reconciliation drill will be assumed as confirmed unspent funds.

• Any LHJ who may not have identified anticipated unspent funds through the reconciliation drill and have since identified anticipated unspent funds may contact CDPH RPHO at FoPHfunding@cdph.ca.gov to indicate unspent funds available for redistribution.

2. CDPH RPHO has identified LHJs who are eligible to receive redistributed funds via the FoPH redistribution process. An LHJ is considered eligible if they have invoiced equal to or greater than 60% of their FoPH FY 2022-23 existing allocation as of January 1st, 2024. This criteria was developed in partnership with the California Conference of Local Health Officers (CCLHO) and CHEAC Executive Committees. Eligible LHJs will also be directly and individually contacted by CDPH RPHO.

3. Eligible LHJs will have the opportunity to submit a brief written proposal for a funding amount they have identified as needed and can be spent by June 30th, 2024. Please note the following important details:

• Proposals should include details on how the LHJ plans to spend the funds and include the requested amount to fund the proposed activities.

• Proposals from LHJs who have spent equal to or more than 74% of their FY 2022-2023 allocation will be given priority in review and approval of submitted proposals.

• If the proposals submitted exceed the available funding, CDPH RPHO will engage in a proposal prioritization process with input from CCLHO and CHEAC Executive Committees.

• All LHJs that submit a proposal must be prepared to demonstrate their ability to encumber the redistributed funds by the end of the funding cycle on June 30th, 2024.

4. All proposals must be submitted to CDPH RPHO by February 23rd, 2024, for review and consideration. Eligible LHJs will be contacted to confirm approval of their proposals by February 28th, 2024.

• ​​If the eligible LHJ elects to receive the proposed redistributed funding, the CDPH FoPH Redistribution Agreement form must be submitted to FoPHfunding@cdph.ca.gov inbox by March 1st, 2024.

The additional funding redistributed to eligible LHJs will be subject to all existing funding requirements and guidance as noted for FoPH FY 22-23 funding permissible uses. LHJs may reference the latest funding reference guide for more information.

Below is a summary of key dates relative to FoPH fund redistribution:​​ 

​Eligibility​ Criteria

In order to be eligible to receive redistributed funding from FY 2022-2023, LHJs must have demonstrated, based on CDPH RPHO funding tracking records, that they have spent equal to or greater than 60% of their FY 2022-2023 allocation. Proposals from LHJs who have spent equal to or greater than 74% of their FY 2022-2023 allocation will be given priority in review and approval of submitted proposals. 

CDPH RPHO has identified the following LHJs who are eligible to receive funding via the redistribution process. If any LHJ believes that they have met eligibility requirements and are not documented on the following list, please reach out to FoPHfunding@cdph.ca.gov no later than February 16th, 2024, to confirm eligibility.​ 

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​Thank you for your partnership to ensure these funds continue to support strengthening the local public health workforce and key infrastructure needs throughout California.

Contact Information: For questions related to this funding stream, please email FoPHfunding@cdph.ca.gov.

Sincerely,
​Caroline Kurtz

Caroline Kurtz, PhD
Deputy Director
Regional Public Health Office
California Department of Public Health