Know the Code

By the Office of Ethics and Compliance

Know the Code is a new monthly series highlighting different sections of the County of San Diego Code of Ethics. The series is presented by the Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC) whose mission is to assist in fulfilling the County’s commitment to the highest standards of ethics and compliance.

We get it – finding time to dive into ethics and compliance, policies and procedures while attending to our everyday job responsibilities can be a challenge. The new tools will help ensure you have everything you need to put integrity in action.

OEC is dedicated to fostering a culture of integrity among County staff by:

• serving as a County resource in addressing ethical and compliance matters.

• implementing the County’s Code of Ethics and developing policies, programs and trainings that promote ethics and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• receiving and reviewing complaints alleging discrimination, fraud, waste and abuse, or other allegations of improper County government activity.

Quarterly, OEC will focus on one of the following ethics and compliance topics and highlight the “who, what, when, why, how and where” of policies and procedures and alignment with our roles and responsibilities.

• privacy

• fraud, waste and abuse

• harassment, discrimination and retaliation

• records management

These quarterly ethics and compliance focus areas will provide everyone opportunities for further education, training, review and awareness.

Check out the OEC webpage on InSite for information about upcoming Ethics and Compliance Program events, trainings and resources including monthly “Know the Code” articles and micro-training videos. Look out for articles on Privacy, Fraud Awareness, and Gifts and Entertainment in the coming months.

If you have questions about Ethics & Compliance training or how to access the training and other ethics and compliance resources, please contact the OEC team at oec@sdcounty.ca.gov or 619-531-5174.

Commemorating Hunger Awareness Month

The County Administration Center was illuminated Monday night to commemorate Hunger Awareness Month.

Benefits Open Enrollment Starts Today!

Make your benefits elections for 2022 by enrolling now through 5 p.m., Oct. 21.

Visit the Open Enrollment Website to learn what’s new with benefit plans and review the Open Enrollment Guide. Plus, there are FAQs and instructions to help guide you through the enrollment process.

Did you miss the Open Enrollment information fairs? You can watch them now.

If you have any questions, reach out to your Benefits Ambassador .

Join a Leadership Lunch & Learn for Hispanic Heritage Month

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, the San Diego County Latino Association will host a “Leadership Conversation Lunch and Learn” this week.

Speakers are David Estrella, director of Housing and Community Development; Barbara Jiménez, community operations officer with the Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities; and Claudia Silva, director of the Office of Ethics and Compliance.

The Employee Resource Group will present the virtual event Thursday, Sept. 30 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.  on Teams.

For questions, email sdcla@sdcounty.ca.gov.

New Office of Equity and Racial Justice Up and Running

The County’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice is now complete with its first director, new staff and new digs and is ready to begin carrying out its mission.

The Board of Supervisors established the OERJ in June 2020. The office works hand in hand with the community, the San Diego County Leon L. Williams Human Relations Commission and County departments to advance equity. The office champions belonging for all and advocates for people suffering from structural and systemic racism and exclusion.

Six people make up the OERJ staff.   

The director, Andrew Strong, brings 15 years of experience in local government leadership and community engagement to the new office. Most recently, Strong was the Chief of Staff of the Chief Administrative Office. In this role, he worked with the community and County leaders to develop and implement strategies to address inequities, disparities, and disproportionality in the most underserved communities. 

“It’s time to work with our community to reimagine and change County government through the lens of equity and justice in all we do,” said Strong. “And that means we must start from the inside out to create enduring systemic change, root out systemic racism and create equity in all we do.”

The OERJ includes three equity impact managers.    

Samuel Tsoi will lead the organizational change through targeted universalism principles and work with the chief data officer in developing equity indicators and the equity impact report. Previously, he was the assistant director for the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego and served on the County’s Human Relations Commission. He’s currently the board vice president at Alliance San Diego, a core member of the San Diego API Coalition and a civic seminarian at Citizen University.

Vanessa Green will act as the community engagement lead and take charge of the Uplifting Boys and Men of Color initiative. Green has over 20 years of experience in racial justice work, organizing and training including anti-oppression and domestic violence program leadership in New York. She also played major roles in organizations focused on ending sexism, racism, homophobia and forms of oppression. Most recently, Green worked with Alliance San Diego on the U.S. Census and the State’s Redistricting Commission.  

Janie Regier will lead the social equity program for commercial cannabis and OERJ’s social justice program. She has 12 years’ experience working in local government as District 3’s health policy advisor and community representative, and as a CAO staff officer for the Public Safety Group where she led the implementation of the Proposition 47 Grant Program. She supported the development of three substance use disorder treatment programs for people cycling through the criminal legal system. Separately, Regier supported efforts to divert youth away from the criminal legal system and served as the office liaison for community groups such as the San Diego Reentry Roundtable and the North County Gang Commission.      

Management Fellow Alejandra Chaidez will support the development of the County’s budget equity tool and the OERJ’s communications strategy. Chaidez has worked for nonprofits in research, grant writing, data analysis and program evaluation. She’s also planned and coordinated communications for United Nations conferences in Quito, Ecuador. Her policy interests include mental health and well-being, disability rights, universal design, equity and inclusion, transnational and immigration issues, and issues in bilingual and English as a second language education.  

Nawras Hakak is the office administration lead. Hakak has over 15 years of experience working as a manager for multiple international companies. She has also worked at the County’s North Inland Family Resource Center, and Housing and Community Development Services. Nawras will be supporting both the OERJ and the Office of Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs.

For more information about the OERJ, visit their website.

Try This 6-Minute Mindfulness Exercise

There’s no doubt that it can feel a little strange returning to activities after a year and a half of limiting social interactions.

If you’re feeling a little on edge, take time to sit with your feelings. The County’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has a 6-minute mindfulness exercise and numerous other resources to destress. Find your calm with this “Mindful Check-In.” (Sign in or create an account and then search for“The Mindful Check-in)

For free and confidential assistance, call EAP at 888-777-6665 or visit EAPcosd.

County Attorneys Appointed as Judges

Two County lawyers were appointed to judgeships in the San Diego County Superior Court earlier this month.

Marissa A. Bejarano has served as a community partnership prosecutor at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office since 2019, where she has also served as a deputy district attorney since 2014. Bejarano earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Daniel Segura has served as a deputy public defender at the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office since 1995. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the California Western School of Law.

Hispanic Heritage Month

The County Administration Building is lit for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Connecting the Dots: Belonging

By Susan Brazeau, Director of Human Resources and D&I Executive Council Member

Harvard Business Review shares that “social belonging is a fundamental human need, hardwired into our DNA.” One way this is demonstrated is by the use of shared language to deepen understanding and strengthen the connections between one another.

As we both unconsciously and consciously create systems of acceptable social norms, we may look for the familiar and reject things that are different or unfamiliar. However, welcoming others in and making room for them to present their whole selves can create experiences that enrich us all.

What we’ve learned as we intentionally seek out more information about equity, is that something extraordinary takes place when work cultures prioritize belonging – engagement increases, productivity is driven upwards, better decision-making happens and employees feel more connected to our organization’s goals.

Learn more about belonging in the D&I Digest.

Mentorship Program Pairs Local Youths with County Employees

A dozen youths are headed back to the classroom this fall with some hands-on work experience under their belts after they participated in the County’s first-ever Live Well San Diego Youth Mentorship and Internship Program over the summer. The initiative, a component of the new Live Well San Diego Youth Sector’s year-long leadership program, paired local young people with County employees for a three-month period, during which they learned about their mentor’s job and about the role County government plays in the region.

The leadership program was created to amplify youth voices and foster youth civic engagement. It also empowers participants to provide input on issues that are important to young people in the region.

The youths who participated in the inaugural cohort of the mentorship program were placed in various divisions across the County, including health promotion, emergency services and parks and recreation.

Sixteen-year-old Nadeen Youhanan decided to apply for the mentorship program because it allowed her to meaningfully engage with County government while getting hands-on work experience.

“As a current high school senior, it was the perfect way for me to get work experience and identify possible majors and careers that are of interest to me as I go into college,” said Youhanan. “Most importantly, I was able to connect with like-minded and talented youth and work with them in identifying ways to boost youth engagement within San Diego, as well as how we can support and improve our community.”

Her mentor, Justine Kozo, is the County’s chief of the Office of Border Health. Kozo also oversees the County’s Partner Relay, a joint initiative between Public Health Services and the Office of Emergency Services focused on improving emergency communications with non-English speaking communities.

“Many of our partners have told us that the communities they serve often rely on youth to understand what is happening during an emergency and also to translate important health and safety information for family members who may not speak or read English,” said Kozo. “Through her internship research, Nadeen has created recommendations on how to partner with youth to improve this communication pathway.”

Twenty-year-old Beatriz “B” Yumul was excited to bring their diverse background to their internship at the County.

“As a queer, nonbinary, first-generation, Filipinx, going into health care, I was excited to share my perspective and ideas,” Yumul said.

Yumul managed the Live Well San Diego social media accounts and compiled biweekly e-blasts containing resources and opportunities for young people throughout the region, as part of their internship. In addition to Yumul’s internship with the Live Well San Diego Youth Sector, they participated in a separate mentorship opportunity with Samantha Sonnich, a community health promotion specialist.

“My favorite part was getting to connect with B and support their passions and interests and learn from each other’s experience,” said Sonnich. “I learned a lot from my mentee including how technology can help promote diversity and inclusion, how to involve youth in County programs and efforts, and how passionate and creative the younger generation is.”

The two met once a week for an hour to share successes and challenges and discuss topics related to the mentorship goals they had set together at the beginning of the program.

“After my time with the County this summer, I will be a lot more aware of the possibilities of what I could pursue professionally in the realm of public health and with the County,” said Yumul. “I will be sharing these resources and doing my part to increase awareness and familiarity between my peers and members of my communities.”

The Live Well San Diego Youth Sector will begin recruitment for its next cohort of young leaders early next year. Kozo and Sonnich look forward to participating in future iterations of the program.

“There are so many different careers through the County, and I’m hoping that we continue to expand these opportunities to share our love for public service and inspire, learn from, and give space to younger generations,” said Sonnich.

“It’s exciting to incorporate work with youth leaders as their perspective is essential for constructive change and positive impact,” said Kozo.

To learn more about the Live Well San Diego Youth Sector, visit www.livewellsd.org/youth. You can also connect with the Youth Sector on Instagram and TikTok @LiveWell_SD.