2009 Public Health Budget

New Business Models:

• Change contract model for OB/Maternity Services.
• Narrow focus of tuberculosis investigations to high risk.
• Reduce Maternity Support Services (MSS) home visits.
• Move from direct interpretation to telephonic interpretation services.

Efficiencies:

• Reduce Access & Outreach services provided by community based organizations.
• Reduce Community Assessment and Policy Development functions, reducing data collection and grant-development.
• Restructure Communicable Disease reporting and investigation systems.
• Implement efficiencies and economies generated at over 10 public health centers and central administrative programs.
• Transfer the WIC program from Public Health Centers to community site.
• Reduce the phlebotomy and medical/lab support at 2 Public Health Centers.
• Centralize process for family referral service, eliminating personal assistance for 800 clients.
• Reduce Dental Clinic staffing to meet client demand.
• Centralize business operations for Public Health clinics.
• Local Hazardous Waste team consolidation.

Program Reductions:

• Eliminate HIV/AIDS Hotline.
• Reduce Vector/Nuisance Control service, leading to reduced response to rodent complaints.
• Close pharmacy at 1 Public Health Center.
• Discontinue HIV/AIDS perinatal case management of NW Family Center.
• Eliminate Street Outreach with pregnant women and families involved in substance use.
• Reduce the number of Immunization Clinics from 9 full-time, to 4 part-time Clinics.
• Reduce Nurse Family Partnership home visits to 25 new teen mothers and infants.

Administrative Reductions:

• Reduce administration functions including MIS, Business Standards & Accountability, Contracting, and Budget & Finance.

Update - June 4, 2009:

Lifeboat funding to end for many services facing elimination while stop-gap measures save some public health, criminal justice and human services www.kingcounty.gov/exec/news/release/2009/June/04budget.aspx