The following represents the 2020 budgets for related health protection and promotion program initiatives funded by a grant from the Ministry of Health to a maximum of 70% of admissible expenditures and by the Obligated Municipalities with required contributions at a minimum of 30%:
- Healthy Smiles Ontario Program;
- Smoke-Free Ontario Program;
- Infectious Diseases Control Initiative;
- Nursing Initiatives;
- Harm Reduction Program Enhancement;
- Needle Exchange Program Initiative;
- Enhanced Food Safety Initiative;
- Enhanced Safe Water Initiative;
The 2020 Healthy Smiles Ontario Program (HSO) budget supports 13.90 FTEs comprised of a manager (0.4), dental assistants (5.5), dental hygienists (5.5), a health promotion specialist (0.5) and support staff (2). The objective of the program is to provide preventive, routine, emergency and essential dental treatment for children and youth, from low-income families, who are 17 years of age or under. Details of the 2020 budget are as follows:
| 2020 | 2019 | Variance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries and benefits | 1,182,702 | 1,207,326 | (24,624) |
| Operating expenditures: | |||
| Travel and meetings | 8,000 | 8,000 | - |
| Mileage | 10,000 | 10,000 | - |
| Professional development | 4,410 | 5,500 | (1,090) |
| Association and membership fees | 1,500 | 300 | 1,200 |
| Office supplies | 4,500 | 4,500 | - |
| Program supplies | 125,174 | 131,674 | (6,500) |
| Purchased services | 182,000 | 162,400 | 19,600 |
| Security | 11,414 | - | 11,414 |
| Total operating expenditures | 346,998 | 322,374 | 24,624 |
| Total 2020 budgeted expenditures | 1,529,700 | 1,529,700 | - |
For 2020, total salaries and benefits are anticipated to decrease $24,624 from 2019. The decline in salaries and benefits is attributed to the reallocation of a portion of the Program Manager’s time from the HSO program to the new Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program. In response to the changes in the hours of operations for the dental clinics, $24,646 of funding is being redeployed into operations, primarily the Purchased services financial caption ($19,600) and Security financial caption ($11,414). Dental clinics will now operate from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in Windsor.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Program support 6.65 FTEs comprised of a manager (0.65 FTE), tobacco enforcement officers (5.0 FTEs) and a youth engagement coordinator (1.0 FTE). Base funding for this program must be used in the planning and implementation of comprehensive tobacco control activities across prevention, cessation, prosecution, and protection and enforcement at the local and regional levels. Tobacco control activities must be based in evidence and best practices, contributing to reductions in tobacco use rates. In addition, Boards of Health must comply with and adhere to the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy: Public Health Tobacco Control Program Guidelines and the Directives: Enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.
| 2020 | 2019 | Variance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries and benefits | 564,661 | 546,350 | 18,311 |
| Operating expenditures: | |||
| Travel and meetings | 3,045 | 3,045 | - |
| Mileage | 32,000 | 30,000 | 2,000 |
| Professional development | 2,115 | 3,380 | (1,265) |
| Program supplies | 14,879 | 28,725 | (13,846) |
| Purchased services | 20,000 | 25,200 | (5,200) |
| Total operating expenditures | 72,039 | 90,350 | (18,311) |
| Total 2020 budgeted expenditures | 636,700 | 636,700 | - |
For 2020, total salaries and benefits are anticipated to increase $18,311 due to changes made in 2016 resulting from the implementation of internal equity and certain other adjustments. This increase will be offset by reductions in a number of operating lines as noted above. To further support this program, $11,971 was budgeted for under the Program supplies financial caption of the Mandatory program budget.
The remainder of the other related program initiatives are as follows:
| 2020 | 2019 | Variance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious Diseases Control Initiative | 461,700 | 466,517 | (4,817) |
| Nursing Initiatives | 392,100 | 437,253 | (45,153) |
| Harm Reduction Program Enhancement | 250,000 | 250,000 | - |
| Needle Exchange Program Initiative | 63,000 | 63,000 | - |
| Enhanced Food Safety Initiative | 53,800 | 53,800 | - |
| Enhanced Water Safety Initiative | 32,900 | 32,900 | - |
| Total 2020 budgeted expenditures | 1,253,500 | 1,303,470 | (49,970) |
To further support these programs, additional amounts were budgeted under the Benefits financial statement caption of the Mandatory program budget, the details of which are disclosed below:
| Initiative | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Infectious Diseases Control Initiative | 14,058 |
| Nursing Initiatives | 53,312 |
| Total | 67,370 |
Infectious Disease Control Initiative: Base funding for this initiative supports the hiring of infectious diseases control positions (4.5 FTEs) and supporting these staff to monitor and control infectious diseases. They serve to enhance the Board of Health’s ability to handle and coordinate increased activities related to outbreak management. Total funding approval for 2019 amounted to $461,700 and supports staffing (salaries, benefits and mileage). For 2020, the amount in excess of the 2019 funding approval or $14,058 has been budgeted for in Benefits financial caption of the Mandatory program budget.
Nursing Initiatives: Base funding supports the Board of Health for the following nursing initiatives and positions: 1. Chief Nursing Officer; 2. Infection Prevention and Control Nurses; 3. Social Determinants of Health Nurses. The Amending Agreement with the Ministry of Health has certain educational and professional requirements that must be satisfied for expenditures to be considered admissible under this funding. Total funding approval for 2019 amounted to $392,100 and supports up to or greater than four (4) FTE’s. For 2020, the amount in excess of the 2019 funding approval or $53,312 is budgeted for in the Benefits financial caption of the Mandatory program budget.
Harm Reduction Program Enhancement: Base funding for this initiative supports the Board of Health in the activities associated with its Local Opioid Strategy. More specifically, it supports 2.5 FTEs dedicated to working on activities associated with: i) Our local opioid response; ii) Naloxone Distribution and Training; iii) Opioid Overdose Early Warning and Surveillance. Total funding approval for 2019 amounted to $250,000 and supports staffing (salaries and benefits).
Needle Exchange Program Initiative: Base funding for this initiative supports the purchase of needles and syringes, and their associated disposal costs, for the Board of Health’s Needle Exchange Program. Total funding approval for 2019 amounted to $63,000.
Enhanced Food Safety – Haines Initiative: Base funding for this initiative was established to augment the Board of Health’s capacity to deliver the Food Safety Program as a result of the Provincial Government’s response to Justice Haines’ recommendations in his report “Farm to Fork: A Strategy for Meat Safety in Ontario”. Total funding approval for 2019 amounted to $53,800 and supports staffing (salaries and benefits) as well as program supplies.
Enhanced Safe Water: Base funding for this initiative should be used to increase the Board of Health’s capacity to meet the requirements of the Safe Water Program Standard under the Ontario Public Health Standards. Total funding approval for 2019 amounted to $32,900 and supports staffing (salaries and benefits) as well as program supplies.