Know the Code: Conflicts of Interest

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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. 

By the Office of Ethics and Compliance

Every public servant, elected, appointed, or hired, enters into an agreement with the people: that as a public servant they will act ethically and seek to promote the public interest in the work that they do.

County employees should avoid becoming involved in activities that improperly influence their actions or job functions. This includes taking outside employment or engaging in activities where an employee’s judgment could be impaired in performing their duties for the County.

Reporting these and other potential conflicts having to do with relatives working in the same department or relationships with clients, contractors, and vendors must be disclosed so they do not compromise the County employee’s objectivity, accountability, or judgment.

list of policies

If It’s Disclosed, It Can Be Managed!

Be Proactive – ask before acting. This is one of those times when it is better to ask for permission, than to have to explain what went wrong.

  • Maybe you’re thinking about starting a business or doing some consulting because you’re an expert, or

  • Maybe you have been invited to join a professional association or Board of Directors that may ask you to participate in fundraising for the organization, or

  • Maybe you’re a newly assigned COR and you recognize a friend’s name in the list of vendors whose contracts you’ll be managing.

Ask before acting to make sure these activities and changes in circumstances do not create a conflict between your personal interests and professional responsibilities.  Remember if it’s disclosed, then it can be managed properly to avoid the conflict.

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.

OEC logo

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, 619-531-5174. 

HHSA staff may also contact the dedicated HHSA Agency Compliance team at compliance.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov, 619-338-2807.

Join AIS Book Discussion

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Book cover of "Minor Feelings" by Cathy Park Hong

Aging and Independence Services is holding a book discussion this month. The book selection is “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning” by Cathy Park Hong. The virtual event will be held on Teams from noon to 1 p.m., May 31.

RVSP by emailing wilfredo.perez@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Book Description:

Poet and essayist Cathy Park Hong fearlessly and provocatively blends memoir, cultural criticism, and history to expose fresh truths about racialized consciousness in America. Part memoir and part cultural criticism, this collection is vulnerable, humorous, and provocative—and its relentless and riveting pursuit of vital questions around family and friendship, art and politics, identity and individuality, will change the way you think about our world.

Join on your computer or mobile app

Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only)

+1 619-343-2539,,371238938#  

Phone Conference ID: 371 238 938#

Nearly 500 Employees Participate in 38th Annual Blood Drive

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“Amazing!”

Man sits in chair with Blood Bank nurse

Gabe Gutierrez, Program Coordinator with the Office of Strategy and Innovation, giving blood at the San Diego Blood Bank.

That is how the San Diego Blood Bank described the number of pints received and employees who participated in the County’s 38th Annual Blood Drive.

A total of 492 employees donated blood at 22 different County locations in April; 111 of those were first-time donors. According to the blood bank, one pint of blood can save three lives, meaning your donations helped to save the lives of 1,476 people.

April is not the only time County employees can donate blood. You can do it year-round.

To keep track of the number of County employees donating blood and pints donated, the San Diego Blood Bank has set up a special appointment link and code to keep track of donations.

You should use this referral link when making an appointment: www.sandiegobloodbank.org/sandiegocounty.

On the day of your appointment, you should provide this code when you check in: SDCY.

There is a critical need for blood donations, and all blood types are welcome.

The blood drive supports the Live Well San Diego vision for a region that is building better health, living safely and thriving.

bloodmobile parked outside the CAC

 Get To Know AAACE Secretary Nikki Horton

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The County has 10 great Employee Resource Groups (ERG). They are each led by a respective board who all demonstrate commitment and stewardship of its members to the various sectors of our community.

Get to know African American Association of County Employees (AAACE) Secretary Nikki Horton, an operations support manager with Probation.

Q: How long have you worked for the County and what departments have you worked for?

A: I have worked for the County of San Diego for 17 years. I have had the pleasure working for both Health and Human Services, as well as Probation.

Q: What do you do in your role/what are your job responsibilities?

A:  I am an operations support manager with San Diego County Probation. I manage 30 professional staff who provide administrative and operational support to our department, working closely with sworn personnel, our clients and collaborative partners.

My specific role is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the operational activities of all adult and juvenile site offices and/or facilities.

Additionally, I am responsible for formulating and implementing policy and procedures related to service operations.

Q: What’s your workplace superpower?  

A: Engaging with my co-workers, staff.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself outside of work.

A: I enjoy reading and am an avid sports fan.

  • Football: Los Angeles Chargers

  • Favorite Quarterback: Justin Herbert

  • NBA: Los Angeles Clippers

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: Equitable treatment and opportunities for the community we serve, as well as our County workforce.

Q. What is the best advice you’ve received from a mentor?

A: Cultivate relationships and continue to learn, grow and strive to be the best you can be.

Q: What are some resources that you find useful and recommend to others?

A: I recommend employees review the D&I Digests. They provide a wealth of useful information.

Q: Tell us about your ERG.

A: AAACE, under President Dr. Keisha Clark, is an employee resource group for employees of the County of San Diego. Membership consists of County employees, students and members of the community with an interest in diversity and a skilled work force as well as promoting the African American culture on a local level.

Q: Why are ERGs important?

A: ERGs are important as they provide great networking opportunities for all County employees. ERGs promote personal and professional growth and assist in providing a wealth of resources in equity, diversity and inclusion.

Q: What is your ERG looking forward to this year?

A: Increasing our membership, engaging with the community and collaborating with the County in our student outreach efforts.

Also Read:

Get To Know MEERG President Mehdi Khalili

Get To Know EWA Board Member Diana Eid-Chammas

Get To Know SDCLA Secretary Alex Talaro

Get To Know LGBTQ&A ERG Board Member Ryan Trabuco

Get To Know APACE Vice President Annamarie Hernandez

Get To Know PISCE Treasurer Isobel Kinsang

Get to Know DiverseAbility ERG Secretary Valerie Prado

Get To Know VALOR Secretary Thomas Velasquez

Get to Know CSDFEA Vice President Kathleen Mendoza

Get to Know INS President Maria Whitehorse

Join Anti-hate Townhall for Employees

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Blue name tag with "Anti-Hate" as the topic

Mark your calendars for an Anti-hate Townhall to address hate speech, recent hate incidents and how to remain resilient.

The virtual event is sponsored by the D&I Executive Council in partnership with the Asian Pacific Alliance of County Employees. It will be held from noon to 1 p.m., May 18 on Teams.

Speakers

  • Abigail Dillon, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office

  • Dante Dauz, API Coalition

  • Charles Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune

  • Matthew Brown, Anti-Defamation League

Employees are invited to submit questions ahead of the event.

Join this event online through Teams or by calling 619-343-2539 with event ID 944491323.

See the flyer below.

StoryPods: Growing Mentorship

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Grab your headphones for the second StoryPods podcast featuring “stories of us.”

In this episode, connect with individuals from the Department of Child Support Services to hear about the secret sauce of their thriving student worker program.

Get inspired as you listen in on a talk about the evolution of the program driven from the personal experience one human resources specialist had as a student worker herself. Then hear from a current student worker and the department’s assistant director on being mentee and mentor.

Voices You'll Hear

  • Narrator: Thesala Jones, group program manager, DHR Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Division

  • Host: Taryell Simmons, HR services manager, DHR Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Division

  • Guest: Daisy Choreno, HR specialist, Child Support Services

  • Guest: Maria Pacheco, senior departmental human resources officer, Child Support Services

  • Guest: Shyanne Shanley, student worker, Child Support Services

  • Guest: Steve Lujan, assistant director, Child Support Services

StoryPods is a County podcast that highlights stories around the County that create spaces for belonging and connection. If you missed the first episode, have a listen to episode one.