To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nolan Sullivan, 707-565-4774; Amelyn Olson, 707-565-2696
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Department of Health Services Staffing Allocation and Budget
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a personnel Resolution amending the Department Allocation List of the Department of Health Services to add 1.0 full-time equivalent Time-Limited Senior Lactation Consultant position allocation to support the Family Health program, effective October 27, 2026.
B) Adopt a budget Resolution, authorizing budgetary adjustments to the fiscal year 2026-2027 adopted budget to reflect additional revenues and expenditures in the amount of $184,250; including $134,250 associated with a grant awarded to the Department by the First 5 Sonoma County initiative and $50,000 associated with Women, Infants, and Children community engagement activities. (4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
The Department of Health Services, Public Health Division, requests Board approval to add 1.0 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Time-Limited Senior Lactation Consultant position and approve related Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget adjustments totaling $184,250. The funding will support implementation of the Bilingual Lactation Education and Consultation Pilot Program and community engagement activities within the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.
Discussion:
The Department of Health Services (DHS) Public Health Division’s Community and Family Health programs support the health and well-being of pregnant and postpartum people, infants, children, adolescents, and families through public health services, care coordination, education, and community-based prevention strategies. This work includes the Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health (MCAH) program, which implements state-mandated maternal and child health activities, including requirements under the federal Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, and the WIC program, which provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, referrals, and supplemental foods to eligible families.
On May 18, 2026, DHS received two Notices of Award from First 5 Sonoma County to support family health activities, each with a three-year contract term from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. The first award provides $515,000 for a Bilingual Lactation Education and Consultation pilot program. The second award provides $165,000 to support WIC community engagement activities.
The WIC Community Engagement Grant will help DHS expand outreach to families who may be eligible for WIC services, particularly families who may face barriers to accessing nutrition, breastfeeding, referral, and family support services. These activities will complement the lactation education pilot program by strengthening community connections and helping families access existing DHS and partner resources that support healthy pregnancies, infants, and young children.
The Bilingual Lactation Education and Consultation pilot is designed to expand access to culturally and linguistically appropriate lactation services, with a focus on reducing disparities among Spanish-speaking families and families in rural or underserved communities. To implement the pilot, DHS is requesting approval to add 1.0 FTE Time-Limited Senior Lactation Consultant position, effective October 27, 2026. The position will be assigned to the MCAH program and will require a bilingual Spanish/English International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant.
The proposed position has been intentionally structured as a clinical subject matter expert role focused on direct lactation consultation, education, and technical assistance. Program planning, administrative oversight, and partner coordination will remain the responsibility of existing MCAH staff. This structure ensures that the new position aligns appropriately with the Senior Lactation Consultant classification and focuses on clinical lactation expertise rather than broader program administration.
The Senior Lactation Consultant will provide direct lactation consultation, including advanced assessment and management of complex cases; client education and counseling; care coordination with existing DHS programs such as WIC and home visiting; community-based service delivery to improve access to care; and education, training, and technical assistance for staff, community partners, and employers supporting lactation accommodation in the workplace.
Budget Adjustment
DHS is also requesting approval to adjust the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Adopted Budget to recognize new First 5 Sonoma County grant revenue and associated expenditures for the Bilingual Lactation Education and Consultation pilot program and for WIC community engagement activities. The total three-year awards are $680,000, consisting of $515,000 for the lactation consultant pilot and FTE and $165,000 for the WIC community engagement activities. Of the total award amount, DHS anticipates expenditures of $184,250 in Fiscal Year 2026-2027. The remaining grant revenues and expenditures will be incorporated into future year budgets through the annual budget process.
The associated grant agreements will be executed administratively pursuant to the Department's existing delegated authority for revenue agreements, subject to all applicable County requirements. This Board action is limited to establishing the position and appropriating the grant revenues and expenditures necessary to implement the awarded funding.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 1: Expand integrated system of care to address gaps in services to the County’s most vulnerable.
Objective: Objective 3: Create a “no wrong door” approach where clients who need services across multiple departments and programs are able to access the array of services needed regardless of where they enter the system.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
On July 7, 2026, the Board adopted a resolution delegating authority to the Director of the Department of Health Services to accept funding allocations and execute revenue agreements with governmental entities, received during Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 26-27 Adopted |
FY 27-28 Projected |
FY 28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$184,250 |
$241,000 |
$254,750 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$184,250 |
$241,000 |
$254,750 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$184,250 |
$241,000 |
$254,750 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$184,250 |
$241,000 |
$254,750 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Approval of this item will increase the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Adopted Budget revenue and expenditure appropriations by $184,250. The two grant awards include $134,250 in Family Health for the Community Lactation Access and Support Initiative, which will fully fund 1.0 FTE Time-Limited Senior Lactation Consultant and program materials. Additionally, $50,000 will be added to the WIC budget for the Breastfeeding Engagement grant which will fund 0.1 FTE Community Health Worker Specialist and program materials. Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2027-2028 and Fiscal Year 2028-2029 will be requested through the annual budget process. The Senior Lactation Consultant position will be 100% grant-funded by First 5 Sonoma County. The grants have a three-year term, and continuation of the positions and programs beyond the grant term will be contingent upon future grant funding or the identification of alternate funding sources.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Senior Lactation Consultant |
8,273.69-10,056.44 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
There are no Staffing Impacts. This request for a new allocation is driven by a new funding opportunity from First 5 Sonoma County to implement a pilot program expanding access to services currently not being provided.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Budget Resolution
Attachment 2 - Personnel Resolution
Attachment 3 - Award Letters
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None