It’s Taco Time at the COC

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Race over to this fundraiser. The County Employees’ Charitable Organization is offering Rubio’s lunch that can be pre-ordered and picked up Sept. 7 or Sept. 14 during the Amazing Race at the County Operations Center.

This is your opportunity to have lunch delivered to you and support CECO. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the nonprofit. 

Here’s how to get a yummy meal:

  1. Make an order. Entrée options are a chopped salad with chicken, tacos, chicken chilaquiles bowl or a chicken burrito. Side options are chips, churros or cookies.

    a. Order lunch for Sept. 7 here or through the QR code below. The deadline to submit your pre-order is Sept. 6 at noon.

    b. Order lunch for Sept. 14 here or through the QR code below. The deadline to submit your pre-order is Sept. 13 at noon.

  2. Send your payment via PayPal or Venmo. Orders will not be accepted unless payment is received.

    a. Send your payment to CECO via PayPal. Select “Other” to enter your payment.

    b. Or send payment via Venmo @SD-CECO. Please leave a note in the notes portion if the person paying for the lunch is different than the name on the lunch order.

  3. Pick it up. Order will be available for pickup from noon to 1 p.m. on the day you selected – either Sept. 7 or Sept. 14 – at the County Operations Center, inside the Chamber Cafeteria, 5520 Overland Ave., San Diego, CA 92123. 

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

Since forming in 1956, CECO has given more than $7 million back to San Diego County. Contributions from employees and retirees to CECO are awarded to local nonprofits each year, as well as to assist employees in need.

Help CECO provide greater support to local nonprofits and County employees and retirees in need. Make a one-time or reoccurring donation. There’s three easy ways to give: donate through PayPal, set up a reoccurring donation or through automatic payroll deductions.

QR Code for Sept. 7

Don’t Miss Upcoming Virtual Open Enrollment Fairs

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Open enrollment is coming soon!  Learn about what’s new at an upcoming Virtual Open Enrollment Fair. Sessions run Sept. 6 through Sept. 27. Hear from healthcare, dental, and other insurance providers and plan offerings for 2024. 

All Open Enrollment fairs will be virtual this year. Representatives from each insurance carrier are scheduled to give a presentation. There will be time for Q&A after the presentation. See the Virtual Open Enrollment Fair schedule. 

  • Registration is not required. Use the presenter links in the Virtual Fair Schedule to join. 

  • During the Q&A session, submit your questions and the representative will respond to all participants. 

  • In addition, the Employee Benefits team can be reached at 888-550-2203 or DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov for questions. 

  • Can’t attend a session? No problem. Recordings of all Open Enrollment Fair presentations will be available on Human Resources’ Benefits website.  

Open enrollment will look a little different this year due to a PeopleSoft system upgrade, but we’re here to help! If you need a little help navigating the system, you can attend an Open Enrollment Help Session for PeopleSoft Navigation. These group help sessions are new this year! 

For more information, contact the Department of Human Resources Employee Benefits Division at 888-550-2203 or DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov. 

Join CSDFEA’s Administrative Analyst Workshops

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The County of San Diego Filipino American Employees’ Association is hosting a series of Administrative Analyst workshops this September.

The first workshop (Sept. 12) will be an Introduction on the Administrative Analyst series and the second workshop (Sept. 27) will be a panel discussion featuring current Administrative Analysts. Both sessions are 5:30 to 7 p.m. and will be on MS Teams.

These workshops are free for CSDFEA Employee Resource Group members and $5 fee for non-members.

Register now. One registration is needed to attend both workshops.

See the flyer below.

First Employee Resource Group Celebrates 40 Years

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SDCLA members at Chollas Lake HIke in 2015.

The County’s first Employee Resource Group (ERG) will be celebrating its 40-year anniversary on Sept. 29.

San Diego County Latino Association (SDCLA) is a dynamic group that promotes professional excellence, leadership, and awareness of Latino cultures, while serving as a strategic partner for community achievement and the County’s success.

Daniel Izaguirre, the president of SDCLA, said the most significant change that he’s seen over the years is the progress through leadership and membership of the organization.

“To have the first Latina chairwoman for the Board of Supervisors only begins to show where we are at and how far we can go,” Izaguirre said. “There is a bright future ahead and it will be incredible seeing our Gen Z-team take leadership to the next level.”

In 1983, The San Diego Union wrote the article featured below about a group of Hispanic County employees coming together to form SDCLA out of a need to help the County keep, promote and recruit more Latino employees.

Yolanda Rinaldo, who was the group’s interim president at the time, said about 40 Hispanic County employees decided to form the group “in response to the need for an improved communication system for Latinos in County government and from a deep concern about the recent losses of key Latino employees in the County.”

Throughout the years, SDCLA was featured in other Latino community newspapers, as well.

San Diego Union writes article about county’s first lATINO eMPLOYEE rESOURCE gROUP IN 1983.

SDCLA’s collaboration with the County’s 11 other ERG organizations has also grown. This includes the very popular Administrative Analyst Prep Series, Book Club events, Live Well San Diego 5k, ERG holiday mixer, summer bonfires and hikes.

Alexandra Talaro, the vice-president of SDCLA, said in the earlier years a great importance was placed on recruiting interested and talented Latino employees to join County public service.

“We've witnessed a transformation in the composition of the workforce, aligning more closely with the diverse communities we serve as County employees,” Talaro said. “Now, our ERG encompasses not only County employees, but also community members and proprietors of small businesses.”

sdcla mEMBERS AND fAMILY AT cHICANO pARK FOR “wALK THE bLOCK” EVENT IN 2021.

SDCLA looks forward to continuing this collaboration effort for many years to come.

“Now more than ever we are one team who have different demographics we represent,” Izaguirre said. “By enriching people to our culture erases the unknown and fear of who we are and how we can all help one another achieve success.” 

Employee Resource Groups are an important resource to the County and to their respective members. If you would like to become a member, click here.

What’s Post-Traumatic Growth?

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By the Trauma-Informed System Integration team at the County of San Diego

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes after experiencing trauma. It can lead to personal development, greater appreciation for life, increased empathy and resilience, and a sense of purpose.

PTG is not linear and not everyone who experiences trauma will necessarily experience growth.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and expressive writing can foster PTG, and social support is critical.

PTG highlights human resilience and provides hope that positive outcomes can arise from trauma.

By promoting PTG, we can help individuals move beyond the negative impacts of trauma and toward personal growth.

Be a Part of Something Big

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As little as $2 from each paycheck can add up to thousands in donations to the community. Join your colleagues in supporting the County Employees’ Charitable Organization. Donations to CECO help local non-profits and some of our own employees.

Earlier this year, CECO distributed $110,252 in grants to 68 local nonprofit programs and the Employee Crisis Fund at its annual awards breakfast. Your money has helped buy the following items and much, much more:

Pie chart with donations

  • hygiene items and towels for Think Dignity, an organization serving people experiencing homelessness

  • school supplies for the BIPOC Support Foundation’s after school and summer program

  • wheelchairs for St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, which serves adults with developmental disabilities over 50

  • microchips for the Friends of the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility

  • pins and frames for The Elizabeth Hospice’s veterans’ program

  • mattresses and bedding sets for the YMCA of San Diego County

  • laundry detergent, diapers and lotion for Jewish Family Services of San Diego

  • sports equipment including racquets and goggles for Access Youth Academy, an organization serving underserved youth

  • dental equipment and supplies for Cura Smiles Free Community Dental Clinic, a free dental clinic

  • a freezer for Operation Promise, a food and pet food pantry and diaper bank

  • a portable Bluetooth speaker for I Love a Clean San Diego

And that’s just naming a few from this year! Since forming in 1956, CECO has given more than $7 million back to San Diego County.

Help CECO provide greater support to local nonprofits and County employees and retirees in need. Make a one-time or reoccurring donation or encourage another person to support CECO. Be a part of something big.

There’s three easy ways to give: donate through PayPal, set up a reoccurring donation or through automatic payroll deductions.

 

Watch: ISN ERG Accepts Proclamation

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The Board of Supervisors awarded the Indigenous Sovereign Nations Employee Resource Group, the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the California Native American Legislative Caucus a proclamation on Tuesday for their outstanding service, leadership and commitment to the citizens. In addition, Aug. 29 was declared “California Native American Day” throughout San Diego County.

CAO Message: Gender and Use of Restrooms at County Facilities

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A message from Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer:

County colleagues,

At a County-hosted Pride event earlier this summer, one topic that came up concerned gender-neutral restrooms at County facilities – those for employees and for the public.

Specifically: What are we doing to make people aware of policies around restroom usage? And what are we doing when it comes to building design?

It was not the first conversation the County has had around this aspect of inclusivity. But it prompted me to address the topic with all of you.   

Let’s start with where we are. We have nearly 1,700 restrooms at County-owned and -leased facilities, serving both the public and employees. These include 782 gender-neutral restrooms and 901 restrooms designated for women or men.  

Under federal, state and local law, people can choose a restroom based on their gender identity or gender expression, or use a restroom identified as all-gender.

To be clear: County employees and visitors to County facilities are welcome to use the restroom facilities that most closely align with their gender identity or gender expression. No questions asked. 

But there is more we need to do to increase access at our facilities. So I have directed the Department of General Services to take these steps:

  • Review, revise, or establish County policies related to restroom access.

  • Socialize current and any new guidelines.

  • Determine the feasibility of pilot construction projects to increase gender-neutral or universal restrooms within existing facilities.

  • Study the feasibility of incorporating gender-neutral or universal restrooms into new construction design standards.

Since community is always at the heart of our work, community outreach including employee engagement will be a key component of these efforts.   

I want to thank the County staff that put together the event that led to my message today: members of our LGBTQ & Allies Employee Resource Group; Human Resources’ Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Team; and the Planning and Development Services D&I committee. It included a talk by San Diego Pride’s executive director, Fernando Zweifach López Jr., and a panel discussion with LGBTQIA+ County employees. Watch a recording.

Two principles emerged from that discussion. Equity requires intentional consideration. And our workforce is one of our biggest assets.  

Those principles shaped what I’ve shared here. We will best serve our residents when all our employees feel a sense of belonging, and I believe these steps will move us toward that vision.