To: Charles Winfrey, Human Services Committee Chairperson
From: Michelle Estell, RS, MSA; Health Officer
title
RE: Approval of a Professional Service Contract between Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) and InvolvedDad
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of Professional Services Contract between the Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) and InvolvedDad. Contractor will be paid $24,000.00 per year to provide training for the Daddy as a Doula Initiative. Contract would be valid from June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2027 to be paid from Funding Account- 2211-607.04-801.000, Funding Source Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Daddy as a Doula (DAD), aims to improve perinatal outcomes by providing culturally responsive doula-adjacent training to fathers. This initiative will use a train the trainer method to provide education and hands-on training to expectant fathers and supportive male partners.
DISCUSSION:
The Daddy as a Doula Initiative will be funded for a 2-year period. Fathers will gain the education and skills to support pregnant individuals during labor, delivery, and the postpartum phase. The DAD Initiative will conduct a minimum of 4 cohort sessions per year, therefore training a minimum of 50 fathers over the course of 2-years. Training and support by a fatherhood organization is needed to meet the goals and objectives of this grant. Genesee County Healthy Start received MiHEF funding for funding cycle June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2027. No county appropriation is needed.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
There is no expected impact on Human Resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Funds for training facilitation have been allotted in the budget.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
There is no expected impact on facilities.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
There is no expected impact on technology.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
The Daddy as a Doula Initiative supports a Healthy, Livable, and Safe Community through the utilization of community services. Efforts that both engage and train fathers are shown to reduce maternal stress, foster emerging father-child bonds, reduce the risk of child abuse, and improve access to care, ultimately promoting healthier families in Genesee County.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Administrative Health Officer to authorize entering into a contract between Genesee County and InvolvedDad, whereby the contractor will provide training and support for the Daddy as a Doula (DAD) Initiative, at a total cost not to exceed $24,000.00 per year for a two-year term commencing June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2027, for a total cost not to exceed $48,000.00 to be paid from account 2211-607.04-801.000 with no county appropriation required, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the July 16, 2025 meeting of the Human Services Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the contract on behalf of Genesee County.