Would you compete in a County’s Got Talent competition? Or would you be more into cheering on your co-workers?
We’re trying to gauge interest in an event of that kind for employees. Musicians, magicians, moonwalkers and more – want to take the stage?
Let us know! Take the poll (on the InSite homepage.) If you think you’d like to enter, send us an email for our interest list.
You have another option to stay up-to-date on everything happening at the County. Sign up to get text messages about Countywide events, Employee Wellness activities and/or professional development opportunities.
You can sign up for all three categories or just the ones that interest you. Here’s how (message and data rates apply):
If you decide they’re not for you, reply “CoSD STOP” to stop receiving the messages.
Please note, this is different than the workplace emergency alert system. You don’t need to enroll in that program – during an emergency, notifications will automatically be sent to your work and personal cellphones. Please review your contact information in PeopleSoft Self Service to make sure it is up to date.
The African American Association of County Employees (AAACE) received a proclamation from the Board of Supervisors June 19 to recognize the annual Juneteenth holiday.
AAACE also held a Juneteenth celebration last Friday. The holiday marks the official end of slavery, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted.
The AAACE event at the County Operations Center had a packed program. There was singing, dancing and a speaker. Plus, guests were invited to browse a Juneteenth gallery with books and artifacts donated by the San Diego County Library. It awarded three young scholars with $500 for educational support. And AAACE became the first Employee Resource Group (ERG) to become a Live Well San Diego partner.
View a photo gallery of the Juneteenth celebrations at the County.
To learn more about AAACE, visit its InSite page.
There’s still time to earn your $100 Wellness Incentive! Get a wellness screening, take an online health risk assessment and submit proof of completion by June 30 to earn $100.
Employees can choose to get a screening with their own doctor or a free screening at KP Care Now, which is located at the County Operations Center, 5530 Overland Ave., 2nd Floor. To make an appointment at KP Care Now, call (858) 278-2802 or email KP-carenow@kp.org.
For program details and forms, please visit the Employee Wellness website.
What is a “Well-fie”? It’s a wellness selfie, and taking one is our Employee Wellness’ Summer Adventure Challenge! Print the Wellness logo and take it with you on your vacation, staycation or other fitness activity. Snap your well-fie and be sure to include the Wellness logo.
Email your well-fie to County Communications by Sept. 7.
Everyone who sends in a Well-fie will get a puzzle that’s a collage of employees’ Well-fie pictures.
For details please visit the Employee Wellness’ InSite page.
You all did amazing! Nearly 800 County employees participated in the Amazing Race at the County Operations Center in April and the results are in!
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Seventeen foster parents and relative caregivers won awards at the recent Quality Parenting Initiative Caregiver Appreciation banquet.
Three hundred foster parent and relative caregiver families were honored recently by the County’s Health and Human Services Agency.
HHSA hosted the second annual Quality Parenting Initiative Caregiver Appreciation banquet, highlighting the efforts of these families in providing safety, stability and hope for foster youth in the County.
Awards were presented to 17 caregivers who provide children in foster care loving, committed and skilled parenting while helping to maintain important connections in a child’s life.
A new award was introduced this year recognizing a community partner. Straight from the Heart, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that offers a wide array of support to caregivers including a storefront to purchase clothing or other items at a nominal cost.
Supervisor Greg Cox applauded the work foster families are doing to strengthen birth families, support sibling connections and care for older or medically fragile youth. In addition, Nick Macchione, HHSA director, and Cathi Palatella, child welfare services director, expressed deep appreciation for resource parents’ dedication to children and families.
The County of San Diego Filipino American Employees’ Association (CSDFEA) held a Philippine Independence Day celebration at the County Operations Center Friday, which was full of food, fun and festivities. The annual holiday commemorates the independence of the Philippines from Spain. See the photo gallery.
Learn more about the County's 10 employee resource groups on InSite.
Our hearts sank as we heard back-to-back stories last week of two famous people taking their own lives. At the very same time came a troubling new report from the CDC showing suicide rates on the rise across the country. While our local rate has stabilized, on average, we still see a San Diegan die by suicide each day.
The celebrity deaths are evidence that all the success in the world won’t make someone immune to depression. It strikes people regardless of their race, ethnicity or economic status.
And it can clearly reach our fellow County employees and their loved ones. I want to offer a reminder of a few ways you can get help for yourself or take care of those around you.
First, our Employee Assistance Program can provide counseling for you or members of your household. It’s free and strictly confidential. You can visit the website or call 888-777-6665 (Sheriff’s Dept. sworn staff have their own EAP at 800-222-9691). Please don’t hesitate to take advantage of this service.
For the public, but certainly available to employees as well, the County sponsors the Access and Crisis Line where trained counselors offer advice on handling a mental health crisis. The number is (888) 724-7240.
I also want to encourage everyone to be alert to risk factors among your co-workers, family or friends. Most people who take their own lives show some kind of warning signs. These can include:
Looking beyond that, there’s a suicide prevention technique known as QPR: Question, Persuade and Refer. It’s available through the Suicide Prevention Council. Additionally, Mental Health America of San Diego County has a training called Mental Health First Aid that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses.
News like we’ve had recently naturally leaves us saddened and confused. But experts stress that by seeking help and watching out for each other, suicide can be prevented. Let’s focus on what we can do and the steps we can take to safeguard our own and others’ well-being.
Does the thought of finding a dentist have you gritting your teeth? It doesn’t have to be so stressful. In celebration of Oral Health Month, the County’s dental care provider has shared five tips to help employees choose a dentist that they can really smile about.
Know your dental health benefits. With your HMO dental plan, you select an in-network dentist as you Primary Care Dentist. If you have the PPO dental plan, you can visit a dentist of your choice and will receive the greatest discounts for those dentists who are in-network.
Ask others for recommendations. Ask family, friends or coworkers what they like about their dentist. You also may wish to ask for a list of local dentists who are members of professional associations, such as the California Dental Association (CDA).
Factor in accessibility. Do you prefer a dentist location near your workplace or your home? How flexible can you be when it comes to scheduling appointments? How important is it for your dentist to have office hours on Saturdays? You will want to convey this information to a prospective dentist and dentist office staff.
Meet for a consultation. When you have a list of prospective dentists, call or visit several before making an appointment. Ask if he or she a member of organized dentistry (such CDA), and find out which dental procedures are completed in-office and which are referred out. Also, ask how far in advance you need to schedule regular checkups or cleanings.
Evaluate the dentist after an appointment. During your initial visit, check the office to make sure it’s clean, neat and orderly. How courteous are staff members? Do they handle your private medical and dental history with care? How child-friendly is the office?
In addition, the Department of Human Resources’ Benefits Division has put together some additional resources for County employees:
Still have a question? Contact Delta Dental. If you have Delta Dental PPO, call 877-688-3503 (Group Number: 17214) or if you have Delta DentalCare USA DHMO call 844-697-0579 (Group Number: 76990-0001).
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