Have a Safe Halloween at Work and Home

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The Sheriff’s Security Assessment Team wants to remind employees to have a safe Halloween at work and at home with a few simple tips.

  • If employees are in costume, make sure you still verify your identity when entering secured County facilities.

  • All wigs and costumes should be fire resistant.

  • When trick or treating at night, children should wear reflective gear if possible.

  • When walking through neighborhoods, put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk – don’t run – across the street.

Get more information to help keep you safe at work on the employee security page, and check back often for updates.

So, There’s an Office of Equity and Racial Justice. Great! What Now?

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By the Office of Equity and Racial Justice 

The newly established Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) has hit the ground running to develop and implement several Board initiatives and priorities, and to fulfill the mission and vision that were created for the Office through extensive community feedback. We are looking forward to engaging and working with County staff, residents, and equity and racial justice advocates to successfully progress on the journey toward reaching these goals and hope that you will follow along as OERJ features this work on InSite in the months to follow. 

For now, here is just a snippet of what we’re up to:  

There is plenty more to come from the Office of Equity and Racial Justice in the future, and of course our success won’t be possible without all of YOU and the work that you do to ensure that all County residents are equitably healthy, safe and thriving. 

See Your Donations at Work

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Join the tradition of giving. Become a contributor to the County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO) during its fall campaign that kicks off this month.

Donating to CECO has a huge impact on the communities that we work and live in. As the charitable arm of the County that is employee-managed and volunteered-based, CECO has distributed more than $7 million to local nonprofit programs and County employees experiencing a financial crisis since forming in 1956.

Just this year, $128,271 in grants were awarded to 86 nonprofit programs. Charitable organizations receiving grants included Alzheimer’s San Diego, Blind Community Center of San Diego, Coastal Roots Farm, Crisis House, Developmental Services Continuum, MANA de San Diego, NAMI San Diego, Solutions for Change and Union of Pan Asian Communities.

See your donations at work.

The Chicano Federation of San Diego County received a grant for home improvement equipment.

The Emilio Nares Foundation, which provides free transportation to medical treatments and other free family support programs to underserved children with cancer, received a grant for a new laptop.

Elizabeth Hospice received a grant for audio equipment for their veterans programs.

Southwestern College Foundation received a grant for a portable sink.

Resounding Joy, a nonprofit music therapy organization, received a grant for musical instruments.

Altrusa Club of Chula Vista received a grant for children’s books.

Bayside Community Center received a grant for gardening supplies.

Kitchen for Good, a nonprofit which prepares people with barriers to employment for work in the culinary and hospitality industries, received a grant for kitchen appliances.

North County Lifeline, whose mission is to build self-reliance for youth, adult and families, received a grant for recreational equipment.

Foundation Matthew 633, which offers food assistance through food distribution and a pantry, received a grant for a freezer.

Promises2Kids, a nonprofit for current and former foster youth in San Diego County, received a grant for school support care packages.

MANA de San Diego, a nonprofit which empowers latinas through education, leadership development, community service and advocacy, received a grant for calculators.

See CECO pledge instructions or reach out to your CECO Department Representative or sdceco@sdcounty.ca.gov for any questions.

Don’t Miss Frighteningly Fun Flicks at Parks

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This is no trick. Summer Movies in the Park continues with Halloween and Día de los Muertos films at parks across the county. They are sure to be a ghoulishly good time!  

Pack your own treats and bring along chairs or a blanket for the family. All movies are free and start 15 minutes after sunset. There is a $3 charge for parking at Flinn Springs and Otay Lakes County parks. 

This is the 14th year that County Parks and Recreation and sponsor cities have coordinated the event.  

*Be sure to sign up for the virtual event ahead of time. A code will be emailed to you to participate! 

Find more fall events, including star parties, ranger led hikes and a Dia de los Muertos celebration at Guajome Adobe, in Parks’ October Program Guide. 

Share the Harvest—Submit Your Garden Photos

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many vegetables laid out

We’re well into harvest season, and we want you to see what you had growing this year. Share a picture of fruits, veggies, herbs or other foods you grew in a home or community garden.

A little celebration of your cultivation helps support the County’s sustainability goals. Planting your own food instead of buying it leads to reduced packaging waste reduced transportation emissions from fewer trips to the grocery store.

Another way to support the environment is eating seasonal produce. Eating seasonal produce means that you're more likely to be eating local produce from farms, gardens, and markets in your community - this also means that the food didn’t have to travel as far to get to your plate, leading to lower transportation emissions.

Gardens also promote sustainability by helping to alleviate the impacts of climate change, as plants are a natural filter where they take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through their process of photosynthesis.

On top of that, gardening is a great way to get outside, live an active lifestyle, and connect with nature.

Send a pic of your homegrown harvest to communications@sdcounty.ca.gov and we’ll share the bounty with employees!

Joycelyn Bernardo, Staff Accountant, grew bittermelon and eggplant.

Joycelyn Bernardo, Staff Accountant, grew long beans and tomatoes.

Michelle Mowad, Communications Specialist, grew cucumbers and jalapenos.

Christina Gall-Gonzalez, Supervising Human Services Specialist, is growing jalapenos, serrano peppers, yellow peppers, mint, peppermint, two kinds of grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers, blueberries, rosemary, basil, raspberries, nectarines, plums, apples, lemons, limes, avocados and oranges.

Liza Sarmiento, HHSA-Adoption, grew guava.

Florence M. Keitel, Protective Services Supervisor with Child Welfare Services, grew Cucumbers, Japanese eggplant, cherry tomatoes, Cherokee purple tomatoes and garden peach tomatoes.

Florence M. Keitel, Protective Services Supervisor with Child Welfare Services, grew Japanese eggplant, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, orange mini peppers and candy cane pepper.

Nancy Wickus, Senior Agricultural/Standards Inspector, grew apriums and blueberries.

Issa Quiogue, AIS Office Assistant, grew dragonfruit.

Liza Sarmiento, HHSA-Adoption, grew dragonfruit.

Liza Sarmiento, HHSA-Adoption, grew Calamansi.

Liza Sarmiento, HHSA-Adoption, grew Oranges.

Carey Riccitelli, Director of the Office of Strategy and Innovation, planted 27 different fruits and veggies this year.

Carey Riccitelli, Director of the Office of Strategy and Innovation, planted 27 different fruits and veggies this year.

Gwyn L Reed, Administrative Analyst I, Auditor and Controller, grew Zucchini, Carrots, Beets and Sugar Peas.

Laura A. Terry, Administrative Secretary II at Probation, grew peaches.

Gwyn L Reed, Administrative Analyst I, Auditor and Controller, grew Zucchini, Carrots, Beets and Sugar Peas.

Patricia Laffiton, Social Worker III, Office of Homeless Solutions, grew fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Patricia Laffiton, Social Worker III, Office of Homeless Solutions, grew fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Sharmin Ferdous, Library Technician, grows many plants.

Jescel Esteban, Environmental Health Specialist III, grew chilis, tomatoes, cucumber, moringa, hyacinth beans, Lavender and chili pepper.

Jescel Esteban, Environmental Health Specialist III, grew chilis, tomatoes, cucumber, moringa, hyacinth beans, Lavender and chili pepper.

TEgan Glasheen, Communications Manager, grew butternut squash.

Maria Victorio, Supervising Public Health Microbiologist, grew corn, roma and cherry tomatoes, poblano peppers, nopales and figs.

Sharmin Ferdous, Library Technician, grows many plants.

Sharmin Ferdous, Library Technician, grows many plants.

Yvette Urrea Moe, Communications Specialist, and her son grew carrots.

Justin Aquino, Senior Agricultural/Standars Inspector, is growing mangoes.

Anne Ulm, Supervising Office Assistant with Youth Development and Community Support Services, grew pears.

Kerri Matheson, Physical Therapy Consultant, grew tomatoes for canning.

Dario Lombardo, Agricultural Scientist, replaced half his front yard with lettuces.

Debbie Ordonez, Revenue & Budget Manager with HHSA, grew giant lemons from a dwarf lemon tree.

Yvette Urrea Moe, Communications Specialist, grew tomatoes and Jalapenos.

Know the Code: What Is PII?

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By the Office of Ethics and Compliance

Know the Code is a monthly series highlighting different sections of the County of San Diego Code of Ethics. The mission of the Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC) is to assist in fulfilling the County’s commitment to the highest standards of ethics and compliance. This month, in recognition of Cyber Security Awareness Month, we are highlighting the Code of Ethics requirements regarding protecting confidential information and some of the tools that are provided by the County to help educate staff and keep County data secure.

TechBlog – What is it, and is it for someone like you?

The County of San Diego strives to provide you with all the resources you need to be successful in your role serving our residents. 

Since handling County data is a component of all our roles, we want to ensure you have the knowledge and awareness necessary to successfully protect the data entrusted to us.  

In addition to policies on InSite, security awareness training modules in the Learning Management System, communications like OEC’s Know the Code microlearning “What is Personally Identifiable Information,” the County Technology Office highlights information security in their TechBlog.

Although it may sound like it, TechBlog is not just for techies. It is a resource for all County employees to learn about technology initiatives, review tips and tools to safeguard County of San Diego data and network infrastructure, learn about communication and training opportunities, and provide input and feedback.

  • Stories in the TechBlog highlight the different ways you can protect your data and the County’s data and some of the common vulnerabilities for both.

  • Monthly security awareness newsletters provide topics that are timely and of interest.

  • Users may also submit department implemented new or emerging technologies to showcase on the TechBlog. The ideas should already be implemented or in production status.

Visit TechBlog

Also, check out the OEC webpage on InSite for information about upcoming Ethics & Compliance Program events, training and resources including monthly “Know the Code” articles and micro-training videos.

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If you have questions about Ethics & Compliance training or how to access the training and other Ethics & Compliance resources, please contact the OEC team at oec@sdcounty.ca.gov or 619-531-5174. HHSA staff may also contact the dedicated HHSA Compliance and Privacy team at compliance.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov or 619-338-2807.

Celebrating Our County Pharmacy Team

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The Board of Supervisors recognized the County’s pharmacy workers with a proclamation at Tuesday’s board meeting. The proclamation coincided with National Pharmacy Week, an annual celebration that acknowledges the invaluable contributions pharmacists and pharmacy technicians make to patient care in hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, and other health care settings.

As many other County divisions, the County’s pharmacy department stepped up its efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, working extended hours to ensure medications and COVID-19 vaccines are available to patients seven days a week. 

The County is grateful for its hardworking pharmacy team this week and every week!