Report 2012-105 Recommendation 7 Responses

Report 2012-105: Departments of Public Health and Social Services: Weaknesses in the Administration of the Child Health and Safety Fund and the State Children's Trust Fund Limit Their Effectiveness (Release Date: November 2012)

Recommendation #7 To: Public Health, Department of

To ensure that it is able to measure its progress toward fulfilling the requirements of the health and safety fund, Public Health should establish performance measurements for the Kids' Plates Program.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2015

CDPH's Kid's Plates Program awarded four contracts for the implementation of an evidence-based program, Safe Routes to School, which has demonstrated success in reducing childhood bicycle and pedestrian injuries. Each contract included a scope of work with measurable objectives and delineated performance measures and/or deliverables for major activities. At the conclusion of the contract period, CDPH evaluated the overall performance and impact of the Kid's Plates contracts, prepared a Final Report Summary and posted this summary on the Kid's Plates website: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/KidsPlates.aspx

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2015

The status of this recommendation is unchanged.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2014

The status of this recommendation is unchanged.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented

1-Year Agency Response

The following performance measures are in place for the Kids' Plates Program (KPP) 1. Performance Measure--CDPH will ensure the KPP funds are utilized to implement evidence-based/informed programs or best practices that can contribute to reducing childhood injuries and fatalities. Consistent with recommendations on page 28 of the report, each contract scope of work contains activities that support the Program performance measure. For example, each KPP contractor will be conducting bike/pedestrian injury reduction activities for which there is evidence, research or evaluation demonstrating the injury reduction benefits. CDPH staff will monitor the contracts, and provide technical assistance and other guidance to ensure fidelity. A baseline of collisions/injuries/fatalities will be completed for each of the intervention schools/districts. Changes in these incidents will be monitored during and at the end of the contract to measure changes. 2. Performance Measure-Using available data and surveillance mechanisms, CDPH will monitor changes and trends in childhood injuries to assess the impact of its efforts in reducing childhood injuries. Because of funding amount, the small scale and short duration of the current projects, and the factors that contribute to reductions in injuries/fatalities, it is very difficult to measure the link between contractor/Program performance and overall injury reduction. Over time, with continued investment, and using proven injury prevention approaches, the KPP can help stimulate changes in policy, practice and priorities that will lead to injury reductions. These Performance Measures have been approved by CDPH Executive Staff (see attachment). We have attached the signature page for the contracts. The contract with Monterey County was delayed due to the required time to schedule it for approval by the Board of Supervisors. It has been signed by the contractor and CDPH and is waiting for final approval.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

Each of the four awardees submitted a scope of work delineating performance measures and/or deliverables for each of the major activities that they will implement. CDPH is incorporating these measures into the contracts. The awardees will submit semi-annual reports to describe progress in achieving these performance measures (December 31, 2013; June 30, 2014; and December 31, 2014).

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Partially Implemented

60-Day Agency Response

Public Health stated that the Kid's Plate Program RFA requires the completion of a template, which requires a specific "Performance Measure and/or Deliverable" for each major project activity. Public Health stated that each of the three awardees submitted a scope of work delineating performance measures and/or deliverables for each of the major activities that they will implement. Public Health stated it will incorporate these measures into the contracts and the awardees will submit semi-annual reports to describe their progress in achieving these performance measures.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented

All Recommendations in 2012-105

Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.