Connected County: New Duties
/Many of us continue to work from home or other work locations during the fight against COVID-19. In this video, we check-in with Senior HR Analyst Jessica Carlson. See how she is creatively working to provide services.
Reopening County Facilities
/Message from Helen Robbins-Meyer, Chief Administrative Officer
With encouraging trends continuing in our fight against COVID-19, you’ve seen the careful reopening of certain businesses recently. Yesterday, Gov. Newsom added office-based businesses to the list. I’m happy to tell you that includes us.
The County will begin the safe reopening of offices this Friday, May 15. That will be a gradual process taking place over weeks, with different timelines and unique circumstances for each department. Many of you will continue teleworking for now. Please don’t report to an office until your supervisor tells you to do so.
Let me emphasize safe reopening. Protecting your health remains a top priority. When you return, we’ll have temperature and/or symptom screenings at all of our facilities. We’ve added new sanitation procedures at all worksites. We’ll provide personal protective equipment appropriate to your duties as needed. Workstations may be changed to ensure social distancing. You’ll see the same Safe Reopening Plan we’ve required of businesses posted at our offices.
The way we operate will continue to look different for a while. And make no mistake – reopening will have challenges of its own. But this is a huge step in a welcome direction. It’s been nearly two months since we started closing our doors, and I’m thrilled to start inviting the people we serve back.
A big thank-you to those who have been working hard on the plans to reopen. And my appreciation to all of you for hanging tough through this trying time and everything you’ve done to get us to this milestone.
Recognizing Our Nurses
/In honor of National Nurses Week, The Knowledge Center at Health and Human Services Agency created a heartfelt thanks to County nurses.
Update for May 11
/Message from Helen Robbins-Meyer, Chief Administrative Officer
I’ve mentioned before in these mails that living with the restrictions of the stay-home orders, plus all the changes we’ve had at work, can cause a huge emotional strain. The situation can cause anxiety, stress and depression.
Those are normal reactions. That’s an important message we try to get out every May, which is Mental Health Month, but it’s really worth driving home this year. These are trying times, and it’s perfectly understandable if the circumstances are weighing on you or people you know.
Also part of that message is that being a normal reaction doesn’t mean you just live with it. Breaking a bone isn’t unusual, but of course you get it treated. Mental health is health. It’s not just acceptable, but encouraged to get help coping.
Early in this crisis, we realized mental health was a key element of our response, and our Behavioral Health Services put together resources for the public. Share those with anyone you know who may need them. The County Administration Center lighting will be green this week to help boost awareness of mental health.
I’ve given reminders about our Employee Assistance Program in these updates, but it’s worth repeating. EAP makes free, confidential counseling available to all employees and their family members. Please take advantage of the program if you need it. Visit the website or call 888-777-6665.
And continue to look out for each other. Your friends, your family, your co-workers. You don’t have to wait until there’s a sign someone’s having trouble. Check in, see how people are doing. We’re in this together, and we’ll get through by helping each other along.
8 Ways to Stay Cyber Safe While Teleworking
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By Todd Hood, Chief Privacy Officer
In a matter of days, where and how we work changed. Thousands of County employees are teleworking. Laptops, desktops, phones and apps and software have all paved the way for us to work from home – thank you County Technology Office!
While we have leveraged technology to work from home, wrong-doers leverage technology during crises to access computer systems and obtain valuable information. Now is a good time to remember how to stay “cyber safe” and avoid unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of confidential or personal information.
County employees are entrusted with a wide variety of information about others: Social Security numbers, dates of birth, protected health information, non-public personal financial information and the list goes on. Personal information and data become more important and valuable each year.
Teleworking and remote access to the network requires diligence by each of us to safeguard our data, our systems and our network. Please ensure that you continue to comply with practices stated in County of San Diego policies (see links at end).
Here are eight key precautions to stay cyber safe when teleworking:
Your password is good for one thing: logging on to your County account. Never share it. Never reveal it. No legitimate person, email, website or form will ever ask for or need it—the cyberworld, however, is full malicious and clever actors who will try and fool you into coughing it up. Do not be fooled.
Similarly, be cautious about even clicking on unknown links or attachments presented in unsolicited emails. When in doubt, report them using the new “Phishing” button in your toolbar. That will send it straight to our security team and deletes it from your mailbox.
Never reuse your County password for any other home or personal accounts. Mix it up.
Never send work-related emails to your personal email accounts.
Do not write/store passwords on or near your computer.
Always use Pulse Secure VPN, NetMotion VPN or the Akamai service when accessing the County network remotely to reach business applications.
Do not store confidential County of San Diego information on unencrypted devices, such as flash drives or home computers.
Secure paper documents that contain personal information and all County assets (such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, and flash drives) with you at all times.
If you have concerns about safeguarding confidential or personal information while teleworking, please review the policies below; contact the County Technology Office for electronic concerns at 619-531-5570 or CTO.Feedback@sdcounty.ca.gov ; or contact the Office of Ethics and Compliance for non-technology concerns at 619-531-5714 or OEC@sdcounty.ca.gov.
HHSA users can refer to Safeguarding Protected Information - Procedure L-26 and contact the Agency Compliance Office at 619-338-2808 or PrivacyOfficer.HHSA@SDCounty.ca.gov with questions.
You can also report concerns anonymously to the Ethics Hotline at 866-549-0004.
County Admin Manual Policies
Update for May 8
/Message from Helen Robbins-Meyer, Chief Administrative Officer
Some businesses that have been shut can start opening their doors again today, including florists – just in time for Mother’s Day!
I want to recognize some of the special challenges moms have had during this time. (To be sure, anyone in a parenting role, but it’s Mother’s Day weekend.) Many are having to juggle working from home with child care, since schools are closed. They’re acting as part-time teaching assistants to help kids with remote classes. A lot of the places they’d take kids for a break, like parks, were not options until more recently. Raising kids anytime is a big job, and it’s been tougher lately. Hats off to anyone handling it all.
Unfortunately, like the springtime holidays we had last month, Mother’s Day has to be different this year. No heading out for brunch or getting extended family members together. Though we’re easing up on some outdoor activities and businesses, gatherings with anyone outside your household are still off limits. Unless you live with your mom, you need to keep your celebration to phone or video calls.
I know it’s hard, but reducing the chance of transmitting the coronavirus is the best gift you can give. Especially if your mother is older, which puts her at higher risk. As we see things start to reopen, we can’t get ahead of the precautions that still need to be in place.
So my best wishes to all mothers in our workforce, and I hope you celebrate the mothers in your life, but please do so safely. Thanks for all you’re doing to protect the public’s health.
My, How We All Have Changed! Send Us Your Yearbook Photos
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Michele Crichlow, Debt & Capital Finance Officer
Look back – for some of us – way back. Do you remember taking your yearbook photos?
Dig out those dusty yearbooks and send us your high school or graduation picture.
We will feature them here on InSite.
NINA BURKE, Office Assistant, North Inland Family Resource Center
Nathan Fletcher, Supervisor District 4
Rachelle Reyes, Office Assistant, Eligibility Operations, Document Processing Center
Noelita Robeniol, Administrative Analyst II, Behavioral Health Services
Stephanie Gunning, Human Services Operations Manager, Eligibility Operations
Nanette Hartley, Principal Administrative Analyst, Eligibility Operations
Katherine Peterson, HHSA Facilities Analyst
Stephanie Castaneda, Behavioral Health Services
Elizabeth Estrada, Office Assistant, North Central Family Resource Center
Stacy Rosses, Human Service Specialist, Lemon Grove FRC
Melissa Hermosilla, Administrative Secretary I, Eligibility Operations
Tim Boncoskey, Assistant ARCC
Diane Bovey, Administrative Secretary, Child Welfare Services
Lisa Kondrat-Dauphin, Treasury Manager
Jazmin Cruz, Social Worker III, In-Home Supportive Services
Penelope G. Abueg, Protective Services Worker
Diane Reinert, Juvenile Probation
Pej Morgan,Senior Real Property Agent, DGS
Manon (Ehrhart) Maschue, Environmnental Health
Bianca Lorenzana, Land Use/Environmental Planner
Dawn Billburg, supervising Office Assistant, El Cajon FRC
Connie Howard, Public Defender
Michele Blackwood Trejo, Office Support Specialist, Child Welfare Services
Crystal Skerven, Protective Services Program Manager, Child Welfare Services
Thomas Rathgeb, Sr. Facilities Analyst, DGS
Sharyl Hunt, Manager, Treasurer-TAx Collector
Aurora Chedester, Protective Services Worker, Child Welfare Services
Angela Sykes, HHSA Edgemoor, Nurse Assistant
Karen Bonner, Administrative Secretary II, Public Health Services
Arturo Quiros, Social Worker III, Homeless Services – Central Region Administration
Minerva Meza, Treasurer Tax Collector Specialist
Jessica Cruzado, Probation Aide
Billie Berry, Protective Services Worker-Adoptions
Christine Gambino - Chief Data Officer
Zoila Navarro, SHSS, Eligibility Operations
Jeannette M. Garcia, Senior Departmental HR Officer, ARCC
Stacey Sundling, Public Health Nurse, North Coastal Public Health Center
Julie Anne D. Magno, HHSA
Ian Richardson, DGS
Marget F. Vonner-Smith, Office Assistant, Ramona Community Resource Center
Armenia Salazar, Protective Services Worker, Child Welfare Services- Adoptions
Nika Bossier, HHSA; Michelle Smith, ARCC; and Sharon Ferguson, TTC
Dawn Schultheis-Musselman, Human Services Specialist, Ramona Community Center
Patricia Navarro, Human Services Specialist
Jennifer Campos, Civil Rights Coordinator, Eligibility Operations
Jo-Ann Julien, Program Coordinator, HHSA Executive Office
Lorraine Simpson-Hargrove, Program Specialist II, Eligibility Operations
Priscilla Miranda, Administrative Analyst, Public Health Services
Sandra Perez, El Cajon FRC
Albert Candelaria, Auditor & Controller
Gwyn L Reed, Administrative Analyst, Auditor and Controller
Bob Goodchild, HHSA, SDCERA Board Trustee
Kelly Bateson, Administrative Analyst II, North Coastal and North Inland Regions
Brian Lafferty, Legal Support Assistant II, Child Support
Jessica Reyes-Corcoran, Human Services Specialist, Northeast Family Resource Center
Vickie L. Wittmayer, Property Assessment Specialist II, ARCC
Danelle Wallace, MPH, Epidemiologist II/SDIR Manager
Mary Quito, Communicable Disease Investigator, Public Health Services
Sherry Brideau, Corrective Action Specialist, Eligibility Operations
Karla Lopez, Administrative Secretary III, HHSA
Miguel Angel Pino, Ombudsman Office
Linda Tate, Auditor & Controller
Roberto Brown, Supervising Probation Officer, East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
Jacquelyn Clark, Associate Accountant, Maternal, Child, and Family Health Services
Alonzo Fimbrez, Administrative Analyst, HHSA
Daniela Lembo, Communicable Disease Investigator, HHSA
Matthew Mohun, Supervising Attorney, Office of the Alternate Public Defender
Julie Odlum, Housing specialist II, Housing and Community Development Services
Mike Brass, SEnior Electrician, General SErvices
Christine Lafontant, Region Manager, Parks and Recreation
Natalie Schrepfer, County Records Manager, Purchasing and Contracting
Sukey Cardenas, Child WElfare SErvices
Carl Antonio, Program Specialist II, HHSA-AIS
Laura Dildine, South Region Live Well CEnter at National City
Vanessa Cabrera, HHSA Edgemoor
Angel Gonzalez, Social Worker III, Eligibility Operations
Ruth E. Reynolds, Facilities Analyst - Facilities Management, HHSA
Elainerose L. Wingo, IT Principal, Probation
Wendy Hrubovcak, Program Coordinator, Medical Care Services Division Administration
Elizabeth Robles, Parks and Recreation
Diane Padilla, Purchasing and Contracting
Lydia Lopez, Sr. Departmental Human Resources Officer, Planning & Development Services
Jamie Lee De Venecia, Administrative Secretary, Juvenile Probation Center
Update for May 6
/Message from Helen Robbins-Meyer, Chief Administrative Officer
If you’ve been following the news, you know we’re reaching a big milestone this week. The governor plans to move the state’s stay-home order from Stage 1 to Stage 2, which means low-risk businesses can start to reopen. It’s very limited, allowing certain retailers and other workplaces to operate with new restrictions. But it’s an important and welcome step in the right direction.
It also means we have to be looking at the next steps, including those for our County operations. We’re putting a reopening plan together. There are a lot of details to work out, but expect to see it start rolling into place in coming weeks.
It will be gradual and keep the safety of the public and our employees first and foremost. The tremendous effort we’ve put into keeping COVID-19 cases at a manageable level – flattening the curve – will go to waste if we let our guard down too quickly or carelessly.
Things will continue to look different, and we’ll need to continue showing ingenuity in how we deliver services. I want to share a great example of that kind of innovation from our Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk. Take a minute to watch this video showing how they’ve made it possible to still perform weddings under the restrictions.
Your creativity and flexibility are getting us through this, and we’ll rely on those traits as we create our path forward. Stay tuned, stay strong, and thank you for everything.
Update for May 4
/Message from Helen Robbins-Meyer, Chief Administrative Officer
So what is keeping the country and the Golden State shut down?
We’re bending the curve and managing the spread of the new coronavirus. Local hospitals are safely within capacity, and we have surge plans in place for another 2,000 beds if cases spike. The need for face coverings, social distancing and sanitation protocols has been drilled into everyone’s head.
So why can’t we open up?
We get hundreds of emails and calls every day with this question. Restaurants, gyms, salons, bars, offices, malls and countless other businesses want to open their doors and get back to work. Some states have taken an aggressive, perhaps even high-risk, approach to doing just that. Other states are locked down.
We get people’s frustration and pain. We also have a duty to protect the public’s health. In California, and specifically in our county, we are trying to slowly and responsibly find the balance of the right restrictions with the right loosening.
Over the past couple weeks, we have slowly turned the dial down by adding more recreational opportunities for our residents. At the same time, we tweaked the dial up a little by requiring face coverings within six feet of another person. We’re giving hospitals the discretion to resume surgeries that are necessary after limiting them to emergency or immediately life-threatening situations during the early weeks of this crisis. And we’re asking businesses to develop safe reopening plans that include temperature checks and other new safety provisions, so that as soon as the governor gives the go-ahead, they can safely and responsibly reopen.
But what’s really critical to reopening? A vaccine is certainly the most important criteria. But until that can happen, we need a robust ability to test, trace and treat. We are calling it “T3.”
To that end, we’re having Health and Human Services Agency Director Nick Macchione lead this important effort. For the next six months, Nick is stepping aside from his regular job running the Agency to devote his full attention to implementing a T3 capability for our region. That means testing equipment, physical testing sites that reach all populations, increased lab capacity, more PPE, new tracing technology, more isolation rooms, expanded follow-up, antibody research and testing, and so much more.
The County needs an army of people to help with that. Aside from our existing County health professionals and contractors, we will be adding approximately 500 temporary personnel to carry out this enormous task. This is essential for our region to open up!
That’s on top of everything you’ve done to respond to this crisis, while also delivering the other County services our residents continue to need. You’ve stepped up, and we have more steps up to go. Thank you for all your efforts as we work together to safeguard San Diegans’ health.
Friday Photo: Masked Makeover
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While dropping off hygiene kits at the Carlsbad Police Department, Eligibility Operations Chief Kim Forrester snapped a photo of these masked sculptures. County health nurses and community partners provide hygiene kits during homeless outreach.
Share your fabulous photos! If you see a coworker getting the job done, a beautiful sunset over your office or wonderful County program being offered—snap a pic and submit it. Be sure to include information about the photo and your name. One image will be posted to InSite every Friday.