PHEP funding is always in dire need and is often underfunded to local jurisdictions or within organizations/healthcare systems. For this assignment, we will be performing an exercise specifically dealing with the CDC's Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement funding.

As described by the CT Department of Public Health, "Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement (PHEP CoAg)Links to an external site. is for building and strengthening public health departments abilities to effectively respond to a range of public health threats, including infectious diseases, natural disasters, and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events. The State of Connecticut was awarded this grant from the CDC and in turn contracts with the CRI regionsLinks to an external site. to distribute funding to improve their ability to respond to a range of public health incidents and build better prepared communities. The PHEP CoAg includes activities and deliverables for the CT Department of Public Health such as conducting risk assessments, writing plans, and conducting drills and exercisesLinks to an external site. focused on the 15 National Public Health Preparedness Capabilities."Links to an external site.

ASSIGNMENT:

The CRI lead for your region has dispersed the PHEP CoAg funding to local health departments/districts within the planning region on a per capita basis. In this made up scenario, the allotment for each local health department/district in Budget Period 5 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) is $0.56 per capita. As the local health director, you are being asked to submit your budget request for the upcoming fiscal year for this grant. Your assignment is to follow the below steps to complete a budget request consistent with the way a real PHEP CoAg request is made by local health in the State of Connecticut.

1. First, please choose a local health department/district jurisdiction in the State of ConnecticutLinks to an external site.. You can search the website https://portal.ct.gov/dph/Local-Health-Admin/LHA/Local-Health-Administration---Site-MapLinks to an external site. to find a local health department/district or utilize this mapLinks to an external site. to find out which towns comprise a local health district or municipal health department.
2. Once you have selected your CT local health department or district, you will need to calculate the most current accepted population by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Surveillance Analysis and Reporting Unit within the section of Health Statistics and Surveillance using the table in this PDF Download table in this PDF. (Click the arrow to download). Please remember that if a health district is selected, you will need to add up the populations for each member municipality based on the jurisdiction. Calculate the local health department or district's PHEP CoAg funding award for fiscal year July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024. To calculate the PHEP CoAg funding award, you multiply the $0.56 per capita rate by the total population for the jurisdiction.
3. Complete the PHEP CoAg Budget Request Excel Workbook. You will upload your completed workbook as your assignmentLinks to an external site..
   • The Excel workbook has 4 tabs.
   • Tab #1: only enter the local health department or district name in the yellow box as well as the funding award amount you calculated. Do not complete anything else on the first tab - it will self-populate based on the amounts entered in the budget categories.
   • Complete tab #2 for the position of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and any additional staff that you may think is necessary. You must put in a request for at least 1 PHEP Coordinator position; you do not need to do multiple positions if you don't think it is necessary or if your budget allocation does not allow. You will need to think about a realistic hourly rate for this position, how many hours per week they will work during a 52 week period (column D). The fringe benefits typically include things like: medical insurance, workers compensation insurance, short-term disability insurance, unemployment, FMLA, FICA, retirement, etc. For the purpose of helping you with this assignment, if your PHEP Coordinator will be a full-time (30-40 hours/week) position, please enter 30% in column G. If your PHEP Coordinator will be a part-time position (under 29.5 hours/week), please enter 15% in column G. You should make up a name, or use your own. Complete the position justification explaining what job functions this person will carry out.
   • Tab #3 Subcontractor -this tab is optional and is not required. If you feel that your local health department/district would need an additional subcontractor to accomplish the activities, use this tab.
   • Complete Tab #4 Budget line items. Complete the relevant fields including the description of the item(s) and the cost per item. You do not need to complete all fields, they are there just as a guide.
   • The amount that self-populates on Tab #1 in cell C22 must equal your PHEP CoAg funding award amount that you calculated. It may not go over or below that amount.
   • Upload your completed budget request workbook.

REAL WORLD SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR HELPFUL HINTS/CONTEXT:

• Please review the document BP4 PHEP Budget GuidanceLinks to an external site. for allowable activities that you can include in your budget allocation request (the document is for Budget Period 4 July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023, however we will be pretending that it is the same for Budget Period 5, July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024).
• For examples of the activities that must be completed and reported on, and in addition to the BP4 PHEP Budget GuidanceLinks to an external site., please view the template for the programmatic reports that get submitted to the CRI lead every quarter: Subcontractor PHEP Programmatic Progress ReportLinks to an external site. and Volunteer Management PHEP Programmatic Progress Report. Links to an external site.You do not need to complete these forms, but you should view them to help you prioritize your funding needs.