Join Fireside Chat on Mentorship and Mental Health

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Each of us views the world we live in through a unique lens. In a culture that seems more divided than ever before, our ability to empathize with one another and to view the world through someone else’s lens — is integral to finding healing and a path forward.

Join a “fireside” chat on mentorship and mental health from noon to 1 p.m., May 19. This event will feature Behavioral Health Services Director Dr. Luke Bergmann and Sheriff Capt. Nancy Blanco discussing how prioritizing mental health can help with career progression and personal growth.

The Emerging Workforce Association employee resource group will moderate the chat.

These quarterly sessions are moderated conversations with County leadership on the secrets to their career success and are held in partnership with the County’s DHR Equity Diversity and Inclusion team.

Join in the discussion in one of two ways:

  1. Register to get an automated calendar link. (Open in Edge.)

  2. Save the following information to join on May 19.

    Join on Teams
    Or call in (audio only) 619-343-2539, with Meeting ID 255 744 824.

See the flyer below.

41,313 lbs. of Waste Was Collected Thanks to You!

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Almost 400 employees cleaned out their garages and sheds and headed to the County Operations Center recently for a household hazardous and electronic waste collection event. The Department of Environmental Health and Quality event was a perfect way to kick off Earth Month.

If you missed the event, don't worry. You can still find events and information about recycling and sustainability on the County’s Earth month website. 

And, don't miss the Earth Day Fair at the County Operations Center on Friday, April 21. There will be tree plantings, recycling activities, touch tables, electric vehicle displays, touch tables and a scavenger hunt in the community garden.

Support SDCLA and Cheer on the Padres

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Join the San Diego County Latino Association for a Mexican Heritage Celebration during the June 23 Padres game against the Nationals.

Tickets for the game at Petco Park are first come, first served and sell out fast.

Price includes a limited-edition Padres hat, donation to a local community group and a ticket to the game.

Purchase tickets now for $40.50 plus fees.

If you have questions, contact sdcla@sdcounty.ca.gov.

See the flyer below.

Join a Delicious Fundraiser for CSDFEA

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Meet new people, reunite with familiar faces, and enjoy boba and fries with the County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees Association (CSDFEA) at Ice Box in the College Area on April 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Can’t make it to the social event? No worries! Feel free to stop by Ice Box College Area anytime between 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the fundraiser.

When ordering, be sure to mention CSDFEA or show the digital flyer at the register.

Ice Box will donate 15% of sales towards the CSDFEA Larry Itliong Scholarship Program.

RSVP here.

Newest D&I Digest Is Out!

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The 3rd Quarter D&I Digest is out! This interactive newsletter has curated videos, podcasts, webinars, and articles that will help educate, build connections and spark inclusive conversations. It is designed to be used as a learning resource for County employees.

Check out the Connecting the Dots section featuring Director of Human Resources Susan Brazeau.

Explore it now. (The D&I Digest displays best in Chrome or Microsoft Edge.)

Earth Day Fair at County Operations Center Friday, Events this Weekend

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The County will celebrate Earth Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 21 with an in-person fair at the County Operations Center (COC) at 5500 Overland Drive. This event is open to the public.

Attendees can learn about the County’s Apiary Program with displays of beekeeping safety equipment and a live insect display with hissing cockroaches to hold.

Additionally, booths will feature information about recycling, stormwater protection, food waste prevention and ways people can help protect and improve water quality with everyday actions. There will also be electric vehicles on display and information about existing rebates and incentives programs. Giveaway items will also be available.

County parks officials will be there to talk about tree planting, invasive pests and volunteer opportunities.

Attendees can also learn about the County’s Climate Action Plan Update while playing interactive games and getting their photo taken at the photobooth.

In addition to Friday’s event at the COC, a variety of other County Earth Day events are also scheduled to take place on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22 with the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Those include 14 park beautification projects at parks across the County, three nature discovery tables, and three park meetups, which include a ranger-led nature hike at a pond, a yoga class on a ranch, and an Earth Day arts & crafts activity in a community center. See the list below:

Improve your balance, view waterfowl on a scenic walk, or explore your creative side during these staff-led Earth Day activities:

YOGA FITNESS CLASS

8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Los Penasquitos Ranch House

12122 Canyonside Park Drive, San Diego

858-484-7504

EARTH DAY ARTS AND CRAFTS

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Spring Valley Community Center

8735 Jamacha Blvd., Spring Valley

 619-479-1832

RANGER-LED HIKE

3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Morrison Pond in Sweetwater Regional Park

5102 Sweetwater Road, Bonita

619-472-7572

Touch fur, skins, skulls and other animal features at our Nature Discovery Tables. Learn about local wildlife and the unique adaptations that help them survive in a variety of habitats. Our rangers will be on site to answer all of your park-related questions and to help you understand, appreciate and experience ‘the upside of outside’! View our Nature Discovery Tables:

SYCAMORE CANYON/GOODAN RANCH NATURE CENTER

9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

16281 Sycamore Canyon Road, Poway

858-513-4737

RAMONA GRASSLANDS COUNTY PRESERVE

10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

West of State Route 67 on Highland Valley Road, Ramona

760-788-3326

OTAY LAKES COUNTY PARK

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

2270 Wueste Road, Chula Vista

619-482-7361

Join us for a morning full of park beautification projects, including tree plantings, invasive vegetation removal and general trash pickup. Your efforts will improve the environment in and around our waterways — part of the larger Creek to Bay Cleanup coordinated by I Love a Clean San Diego! Materials are provided; come ready in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and wear sturdy shoes and sun protection. Don’t forget your own water bottle and gloves! Register in advance to volunteer at the parks listed below:

North County:

Cole Grade County Park

Hellhole Canyon County Preserve

Rainbow County Park

Rancho Guajome Adobe

San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center

Santa Margarita County Preserve

Valley Center Community Hall and Park

South County:

Otay Lakes County Park

Potrero County Park

Spring Valley County Park

East County:

Flinn Springs County Park

Mountains:

Collier County Park

Dos Picos County Park

Santa Ysabel Nature Center

Know the Code: Records Retention and Best Practices

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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

As employees of the County of San Diego, we deal with a lot of information in all forms – all types of records. Knowing which of your records to keep, and for how long, is essential to ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.

April is Records and Information Management Month, a celebration of the value of organizing and maintaining records and data, and that is why this month’s Know the Code is Records Retention Best Practices!

Please take 15 minutes to do a little records management spring cleaning, and to help you get started, here are some records management spring cleaning tips!

  • Review your department’s Records Retention Policy and Schedule annually and update as needed.

  • Identify and classify the records your department holds.

  • Delete record/data once it is no longer required or after the record retention period has been met.

  • Clean-up physical (desks, desktops, file cabinets, shelves) and electronic (emails, desktop, shared drives) records.

  • Consistency – make sure everyone knows the records retention requirement and consistently follows the requirements.

If you have questions about policies and procedures, you can contact management, or in cases of records retention you can contact DPC Records Services:

And, of course you can report concerns to Office of Ethics and Compliance - oec@sdcounty.ca.gov or Agency Compliance Office (for HHSA staff) or contact the Ethics Hotline (webform) https://sdc.callsplus.net/ or (phone)  866-549-0004.

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 at oec@sdcounty.ca.gov, 619-531-5174. HHSA staff may also contact the dedicated HHSA Compliance and Privacy team at compliance.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov, 619-338-2807.

CAO Message: Autism Awareness Within the County

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A message from Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer:

The County regularly supports awareness events on a variety of issues and causes. It’s currently Autism Awareness Month, and I’d like to put an inward focus on the observance and talk about how autism affects many of our own employees and our operations.

You may be aware that in recent years, separate types of autism were consolidated into one diagnostic term known as “autism spectrum disorder.” Within that spectrum, some people need a great amount of support with daily living. Others live independently and have thriving careers.

A recent UC San Diego study found about 1 in 22 children in California has been identified as having autism spectrum disorder. That tells you that among our nearly 20,000 County employees, a lot of families have a member with autism.

Parenting of any kind is demanding. That effort can step up dramatically for parents and caregivers with a child on the spectrum. Depending on the child, the care might need to be constant and may continue for many years – even throughout their lives.

There will likely be numerous appointments with a whole slate of professionals, especially in the phase following a diagnosis. A team of specialists or a therapy session may be available only at specific times. Parents will need to arrange a variety of resources. They have to become persistent advocates for their child, which turns into a job of its own. It’s mentally and emotionally taxing for the caregivers.

So I’m asking that we offer our support to those parents in our workplace. Through our acknowledgment and understanding, and by affording them as much flexibility as we can for their particular situation. When schedules are rigid on their end, let’s try to adjust things on ours.

Know that milestone moments in school or other activities can take on outsized importance. An achievement that may seem routine in many families might be a can’t-miss cause for celebration. 

For any parents just starting out on this journey, there are many organizations and resources to help you. The San Diego Regional Center is a good place to start.

I’m by no means setting this apart from the medical and personal challenges of all kinds our employees and their families face. But for those who aren’t living with autism, it may not be apparent just how much of an impact it can have, and I want no less accommodation than we’d offer in other deserving circumstances.

I also don’t want anyone to think it’s only work for the parents of an autistic child. They also have the joys of parenthood, and if you’re swapping kid stories with co-workers, they’ll have theirs to share.

(Side note, because I know many of you are attuned to this. Feedback we’ve gotten is that autistic people generally prefer identity-first language.)   

But my message is not just about parenting. I want to talk about autism as a facet of inclusion in our workforce.

Brian Lafferty was diagnosed with autism when he was 12. He started working at the County about 10 years ago and has held a variety of records management positions in different departments. Currently he’s with the Medical Examiner’s Office.

He said what people often associate with autism are the most noticeable, and negative, behavioral aspects of the disorder. What gets missed are the skills and many ways they can contribute.

Brian said his mom’s strategy in raising him was to always focus on his strengths. That’s what he’d ask of employers or society at large.

“If we’re given a chance, we can succeed,” he said.

We are now looking at ways we can build more of those opportunities to succeed within the County. For autistic people and for anyone under the broader umbrella of neurodivergence, which refers to all the variations in how the brain operates.

One example has been Jay’s Program, which provides internships in County offices to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We started it a few years ago and recently had a celebration when our five latest interns wrapped up their six months on the job.

We want to expand on that. We recently ran a survey to get an idea of employees’ understanding of neurodivergence. Results will help us shape trainings and other processes that can help neurodivergent people into our workforce. For example, they may have behaviors that don’t fit what we expect from candidates in person-to-person interviews, causing us to overlook the skills they do bring. If we build that understanding, we’re opening up opportunities and may get a perfect fit for a position.

That’s the pattern that underlies all our diversity and inclusion efforts. The more we open up, the stronger we get, and the better at serving all San Diegans.

I want to thank Brian for sharing his experience. And thanks also to Caroline Smith, director of our Office of Economic Development and Government Affairs, and mother of an autistic child, for sharing her insights.

Thank you, everyone, for increasing your awareness, for your support of our colleagues, and for making the County a place where everyone belongs.