Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tara Gaudin
Department: Human Services Division: Crisis Intervention & Support
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO APPROVE Agreement No. BWF14 between the State of Florida, Department of Health, Broward County Health Department (“BCHD”), and Broward County effective October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025, to provide sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus testing, and non-occupational post exposure prophylaxis treatment to sexual assault victims; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; authorize the County Administrator to execute amendments to the Agreement, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, that do not impose additional financial obligations on the County; authorize the County Administrator to renew the Agreement under substantially the same terms and conditions, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the Agreement.
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Why Action is Necessary
Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Commission”) approval is required for agreements with external agencies.
What Action Accomplishes
Approval enables collaboration and coordination with BCHD to offer victims of sexual assault the opportunity to obtain sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus testing, and non-occupational post exposure prophylaxis treatment.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This action supports the Commission’s value of “approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable,” and the goal to “deliver evidence-based services to the public and connect customers and their family members to sustainable support, with special emphasis on financial supports.” Collaboration with BCHD allows sexual assault victims the opportunity to obtain sexually transmitted infections (“STI”) and human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”) testing, as well as critical non-occupational post exposure prophylaxis (“nPEP”) treatment at the Nancy J. Cotterman Center (“NJCC”).
Agreement BWF14 (Exhibit 1) follows the previously approved Agreement No. BR882, which ends September 30, 2022. BCHD issued Agreement No. BWF14 on February 18, 2022. This Agreement was finalized on April 26, 2022.
Agreement No. BWF14 continues the collaboration with BCHD to provide STI and HIV testing and nPEP treatment to victims completing a sexual assault medical examination at the NJCC and coordination to facilitate the transportation of biological samples obtained by NJCC from nPEP eligible clients to the State of Florida, Department of Health Bureau of Public Health Laboratories in Miami, Florida. It also builds on the existing framework by providing nPEP and STI medication on-site at NJCC and free of cost to sexual assault victims. Prior to this Agreement, sexual assault victims were given a prescription to obtain the medication independently. Providing this service on-site improves client accessibility and reduces the possibility of re-traumatizing sexual assault victims by eliminating the need to visit additional facilities to seek treatment. Furthermore, the timely issuance of nPEP treatment will contribute to controlling the presence and spread of HIV contraction and protects the health of all residents and visitors to Broward County.
There is no fiscal impact related to Agreement No. BWF14 as testing and treatment services will be performed by existing NJCC staff. All testing materials and medications will be provided at no cost by BCHD to NJCC.
The Agreement is in BCHD’s format and has been approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. BCHD will sign following Commission approval.
Source of Additional Information
Carol Cook, Director, Crisis Intervention and Support Division, 954-357-9590
Ana Ferrer, Human Services Administrator, Nancy J. Cotterman Center, 954-357-5765
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
This Agreement is non-financial.