Introducing InService: Video Profiles of County Employees

/

Message from Helen Robbins-Meyer, Chief Administrative Officer

County Team,

In these messages, I’ve often talked about the variety of work we do here at the County. Well, let’s do one better. I want to start showing you.

Today we’re debuting the first in what will be a series of video profiles of County employees. The idea is to feature one person a week. They’ll be short, with each employee sharing a little bit about themselves and what they do.

Keeping with our InSite, InTouch, internal theme, we’re calling the series InService. It also captures the fact that everything you’re doing is in service of our customers.

We’ve gotten feedback before that many of you would like to see what employees in different roles do. Here you go! Our plan is to keep these going through at least the end of the year, giving us a good sampling of the many jobs at the County.

I’m really looking forward to seeing these myself. As I work on big initiatives, strategy, budgets, I know they turn into reality only through the combination of all the individual efforts you’re making. This is an opportunity to highlight a few of those pieces that make up the whole.

And an important note: I know very well you’re all part of teams. Picking one person at a time makes for more relatable storytelling, but these are meant to be in celebration of everyone who makes the County work. Thank you for everything you do.

Let’s get started. Our first profile is from our Public Safety Group. I’ll let her introduce herself.

Enjoy!

Trucker Builds Community and Connections Online

/

Get inspired. Watch this PBS video of a long-haul trucker who turned to YouTube to combat loneliness and social isolation. Under the handle “MsDivaTrucker43,” she discovers a supportive community of women who share her struggles of life in the margins. It is difficult for women in an industry that is 96% male to see themselves succeeding. Tamara's words of wisdom and encouragement offer women a model and a path forward. Watch now.

AAACE to Receive Proclamation

/

Join the virtual Board of Supervisors meeting at 9 a.m. on Feb. 8 to watch the African American Association of County Employees (AAACE) receive a proclamation in honor of Black History Month and the work the employee resource group has done with the community.

Watch online:

See flyer below.

You (Yes, You) Need to Register for 2-Step Verification

/

Every County employee needs to have a registered device for the multi-factor authentication (MFA) process the County has rolled out to improve internet security. This is true regardless of where you work or your job duties.

The new process directly affects staff who use Microsoft tools (e.g. Outlook, TEAMS, Word, etc.) while working remotely. Most of them have taken the actions they need to.  

But by Feb. 28, all employees need to have a registered device that can display a code needed to log in. That device can be:

  • A County desk phone: to receive a call with the code

  • County-issued cell phone, to use with an app or text message

  • A token: a small device the County will provide to you to receive a code

  • A personal cell or home phone, to receive a call or text message with the code

  • A token that is auto-assigned to you and retained by Peraton

Even if you never touch a computer for your job, you need to have one of these registered by the end of the month. Having a registration matched to each employee is necessary for the overall security of the system.

Talk with your supervisor to determine which option is best for you.

If you take no action by Feb. 28, a token will automatically be assigned to you and billed to your department. The token will not be delivered to you. Peraton will keep the token.

If you need help during set-up, contact the County Service Desk at 858-573-3938.

More Employees Needed to Count People Experiencing Homelessness

/

More County employees are needed to help count people experiencing homelessness in the San Diego region.

Due to the rise of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the annual count has been postponed for about a month.

The Point-in-Time Count will now take place from 3:45 to 8 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Volunteers are being asked to arrive at their deployment location by 3:30 a.m. to allow time to become familiar with a mobile app that is used for counting. The app helps to conduct a more accurate count.

If you had already signed up for the earlier count, you should still report to your assigned location. All volunteers will be getting N95 masks to protect themselves and others they encounter that morning. 

This is the eighth year the County has supported the annual count, which did not take place last year due to the ongoing pandemic.  

Employees who participate can do so on County time since the Board of Supervisors approved the policy last November.

Once again, the count, as directed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will entail an “engaged” survey-based approach, where people on the streets will be surveyed as they are encountered rather than just an observational count that was done in the past. To learn more about the engaged count, please watch this 3-minute video. 

The 2020 Point-in-Time County identified 7,638 people who said they were homeless or in shelters throughout the county.

The count helps the region identify the scope of the problem, apply for federal and state funding, and find solutions on how to best serve this vulnerable population.

The Regional Task Force on Homelessness is leading the local point-in-time effort with the WeALLCount campaign. Last count, approximately 550 County employees participated and employees are again encouraged to participate in this important undertaking.

The deadline to sign up is Monday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Review the FAQs and then obtain approval from your supervisor via the supervisor approval form if you are interested in participating.

Once you get approval, please sign up here. After you have signed up, you will receive an email receipt for this event. In the email there will be a link to a training from The Regional Task Force on Homelessness for you to review.  

Members of the public can also join the count. If you know family or friends who would like to participate, they can sign up to volunteer.

Know the Code for Data Privacy Awareness Month

/

By the Office of Ethics and Compliance

This month, in recognition of Data Privacy Awareness Month, is a good time to remember how to stay “cyber” safe and knowing the importance and difference between Privacy and Security is a good start.    

So, what’s the importance? The importance of Privacy and Security comes down to: 

  • how data is being collected,  

  • how data is being used,  

  • how and with whom data is being shared, and  

  • the type of safeguards that protect the data.  

Some people regard privacy and security as pretty much the same thing. That’s because the two sometimes overlap in a connected world. But they aren’t the same and knowing how they differ will help you to protect yourself and our clients and customers in an increasingly connected world. 

Privacy relates to the rights a person has to control their personal information and how it’s used. Privacy notices are an example of a data subject’s right to know how data will be used by an organization. 

Security, on the other hand, refers to how a person’s personal information is protected.   

Because personal data—different details about individuals—may live in a lot of places, both privacy and security are key. 

Security is about protecting data from malicious threats, whereas privacy is about using data responsibly. 

When it comes to privacy and security, it’s a good idea to have both. Each can impact cyber safety. 

If you have concerns about safeguarding confidential or personal information 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 staff 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. 

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. 

If you have questions about Ethics & Compliance training or how to access the training and other Ethics & Compliance resources, please contact the OEC team! 

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.