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Working Together for the KidsSouth Region Kicks Off a New FosterFamily Recruitment Campaign

S outh Region Childrens Services introduced a newfoster family recruitment campaign at theDecember 14th meeting of the Chula Vista

Community Collaborative (CVCC). The CVCC bringstogether multiple sectors of the community (e.g.,schools, government, community-based organizations,and residents) to share information and resources, andcoordinate efforts to improve the health and well-beingof Chula Vista residents.

At the kick-off event, South Region ChildrensServices staff gave a presentation to CVCC partnersabout new strategies the Agency is employing to pre-vent the need for children to enter the foster-care sys-tem, increase the recruitment and retention of foster-families, and minimize disruptions in the lives of childrenwho are placed in foster-care.

A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) map wasused to show the locations (zip-code origin) of foster-care cases that occurred in the region during the pastyear. The map revealed which South Region communi-ties are most in need of foster families. CVCC partici-pants were informed about the importance of keepingfoster children in their home communities, so schoolingand extra-curricular activities are not disrupted, and chil-dren can maintain supportive relationships with friends,teachers, their faith community, and others. Experienced foster families in all county regions havebeen recruited to serve as "way stations," i.e. short-termfoster homes until children can be reunited with theirbiological families or placed in long-term foster homes intheir own communities. Children are transported to theirown schools while they stay in way-station families,regardless of where the family resides. The use of way-station families reduces the need to place foster childrenin institutions like Polinsky and increases the likelihoodthat children will be kept in their home communities.

CVCC partners, especially schools, were encour-aged to become more active in efforts to recruit andretain foster families. For example, schools can partner

with HHSA to host foster-family recruitment events.School workers can volunteer their support to local fos-ter children and their families. These new strategies arealready helping to decrease the number of SouthRegion children who must be placed in foster homesoutside of their communities.

The HHSA ConnectionTheThe

DECEMBER 2004 SAFE, HEALTHY AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES

HHSA Connection

A Message from Jean ShepardAgency Director

This time of year tends to bring aflood of memories to mind. It’s a

natural time to get in touch with fami-ly and friends, to reach out withwarm wishes. It’s also a good time toreflect on the year gone by.

This year has been especially rewarding for me.For one thing, I had the honor of being appointedDirector of the HHSA. It was a position I acceptedwith enthusiasm, given my long tenure with theCounty, and my dedication to the Agency and its pro-grams. I have been continually fortunate to work withtalented and committed staff, who do great things forthe people of San Diego County.

Along with the celebrations of the season, I wouldlike to acknowledge the results of our efforts, andlook forward to the coming year with equal pleasure.I wish each one of you joy and peace.Jean Shepard

Working for Kids and Communities!

The foster family recruitment campaign kick-off event atthe Chula Vista Community Collaborative included anexhibit of expressive art created by foster children residingat Polinsky Children's Center.

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A Healthy PartnershipStudent Nurses Experience Public Health

E very year the Public Health Nurses (PHNs) atthe North Central Region Public Health Centerhave taken an active role in mentoring student

nurses from San Diego State University andPoint Loma Nazarene University. The relation-ship has created an excellent opportunity forthe students to go beyond the walls of thehospital into the "real world" of public healthto observe what PHNs do to promotehealthy lifestyles. The students learn how toteach and encourage mothers about infantand child health, promote immunizations,well baby care, and growth and develop-ment. Other experiences for the studentsmay include time with the PHNs working in theTB control program, the foster care system, andthe bioterrorism program. The students are alsoexposed to other programs offered at the PublicHealth Center, such as well baby care and immu-nization clinics.

The relationship not only benefits the students, butalso helps the patients. The clients benefit from thestudents’ visits and teaching. The students attendcommunity collaborative meetings in the region andlearn about the role of HHSA and the PHNs in theoverall health of San Diego County residents.

Many of the PHNs see theirmentoring role as a way of intro-ducing the students to new profes-sions in the field of public health.

As a result of this program someof the students have applied tobecome PHNs. Mentoring stu-dents keeps the nurses “ontheir toes," because they modela standard of practice and

answer many questions duringthe course of the day. In addition,

the PHNs and students learn fromeach other. It's a partnership that

equally benefits the community, thestudents and the nurses.

North Central Region Working for Communities!

A Registry by any Other Name ...Rosey Technology Still Keeps Immunization Records OrganizedYou may have heard the famous quote from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, a "roseby any other name would smell as sweet." HHSA’s Immunization Registry, formerlycalled All Kids Count (AKC), now has a new name: the San Diego RegionalImmunization Registry, or SDIR for short.Besides the new name, this rose has developed a new branch - sharing information

with the Imperial County Public Health Department. SDIR is also now web-based, or "live" on the Internet.To view the actual login page, go to: http://www.sandiegoimmunizationregistry.org/index.htm.

San Diego's immunization registry was started in 1997 with an "All Kids Count" grant from the Annie E.Casey Foundation. Since that time, all public health centers, the CalWORKs and Medi-Cal programs andalmost all community clinics in San Diego County have joined. SDIR is one of nine regional immunizationregistries in California and the folks involved are proud to say it is the largest in terms of patientrecords - more than 800,000 to date.

Immunization registries help providers increase their immunization coverage ratesby merging all of a patient's shot records from all sources and forecasting a per-son's needed vaccines up to the age of 110! These electronic systems alsohelp parents, schools and childcare providers by printing out a copy of theCalifornia Immunization Record for school and daycare. HHSA employees canencourage their own health care providers to join the registry by having themcall the SDIR Provider Services Manager at (619) 692-8492 to find out what ittakes to participate.

Public Health Services Working for Kids!

HHSA Events Calendar - click to check out goings-on, or, advise your web contact to post events.

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D uring this special season, A gencyemployees have been spreading goodwill, onthe job, and off! Here are just a few exam-

ples.

The San Diego County Latino Association holdsan annual Christmas party to collect toys and

then distributes them at Washington Elementary andthe Monarch High School, which is dedicated to pro-viding homeless and at-risk children with an accred-ited education while caring for their basic needs.This year's event will be held on December 11 atthe Mission Valley Hilton.

The 22-year old Association also runs a mentor-ship program with students from grades 4 - 6, andvisits classrooms to promote Hispanics in local gov-ernment. For more information, call: Vice PresidentElainerose Lontoc, Office Support Specialist,Health Services, (619) 409-3599; or Sylvia Bugiel,Supervis-ing Clerk, Parks and Recreation, (619)498-2237.

Ocean Beach volunteers get together each yearfor a three-month long effort to raise funds to

spread the holiday spirit into the community. Usingcreative partnerships with local merchants, civicorganizations, and a few local government dona-tions, the Ocean Beach Tree Festival Committeeorganizes a string of nine events. This is the 25thyear. Three years ago the Committee adopted 80families and a battered women's shelter. Two yearsago the number rose to 100, and last year theyeven reached outside the local community and adopt-ed 10 families from the Harbison Canyon fire area.

Slated events include: Santa and Elf Ashley visit,December 11 and 18; Santa Claws Dog Beachevent, December 12; Family Food and Toy Drive,December, 14 - 17; and Holiday Homes Contest andChristmas Caroling, December 15.

For more information or to contribute to the foodand toy drive, contact George Gonzales (619) 692-8071, Facilities Management Admin Analyst III.

D ehl Lorenzo, Social Worker, has been contact-ing our community partners in East Region and

has obtained generous donations for our families inour Neighborhoods for Kids clusters. The EastRegion will have a Parents Holiday Shopping Spreein the office at 151 Van Houten Ave., El Cajon on

December 17 and 20 where 65 families will chooseand wrap Christmas presents for their children withthe help of staff.

On December 11, Centre City is distributing toysfrom the Toys for Tots drive to approximately

1,000 Central Region children. Reba BaldwinCentre City FRC District Manager, is the contact, at(619) 338-2016.

South Region FRC is also participating in theToys for Tots drive. They are currently going to

receive toys for 268 children ages 0-14. JosieFrelke, Health Services HHS Admin III, is the con-tact, at (619) 409-3248.

The Mills Childrens Office set up a toy store withdonations received through Polinsky, staff dona-

tions, and a large donation of school supplies fromWal-Mart. They made it available to relatives withchildren in placement as well as our FamilyMaintenance cases. The adult can come in andchoose from a variety of items, use provided wrap-ping paper and leave with a wrapped gift. For moreinformation, contact Lucia Colmenero (619) 338-2220.

Thanks to all those who sent in news about thegenerous donations of time and gifts given to

the people of San Diego.

HHSA Holiday Cheer Volunteering for Communities!

County of San DiegoHealth and Human Services Agency

Chief Administrative OfficerWalter F. Ekard

Health and Human Services Agency Director

Jean M. Shepard

The HHSA Connection is produced by theOffice of Media and Public Affairs, a section of

the Health and Human Services Agency Strategy and Planning Division

EditorJennifer MallorySection Editors

Aging & Independence Services:Denise NelesenAlcohol & Drug Services: . . . . . . . .Ron YardleyCentral Region: . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elise LorentzChild Welfare Services: . . .Debra Zanders-WillisEast Region: . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eve Leon-TorresFinancial & Support Services: . . .Marion MorrisInformation Technology: . . . . . . . . .Maria TellezMental Health: . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bonita MaglidtNorth Central Region: . . . . . . . .Kirk BloomfieldNorth Coastal Region: . . . . . . . .Carey RiccitelliNorth Inland Region: . . . . . . . . . Carey RiccitelliPublic Health: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pete SisonResource Development: . . . . . . . .Denis McGeeSouth Region: . . . . . . . . . .Sharney McLaughlin

Board of SupervisorsGreg Cox, District 1 Dianne Jacob, District 2Pam Slater-Price, District 3 Ron Roberts, District 4

Bill Horn, District 5

Have Some News?Please submit article ideas toyour section editor listedbelow, or to Jennifer Mallory,via Outlook e-mail.

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T he Office of Resource Development (ORD),headed by Deputy Director Georgia Tate, wasformed in 2001 with the goal of increasing

funding for building, improving, and sustaininghealth and human services within San DiegoCounty. ORD researches funding opportunities andforwards that information daily to representativesfrom faith-based and community-based organiza-tions, and County departments. In fiscal year 2003-04, ORD played a role in securing more than $9million dollars in grant funds.

Other services provided by ORD include techni-cal assistance, consultation on funding strategies,identifying new sources of government and founda-tion funding and assisting in the preparation and/orreview of applications. In addition, ORD administersfunds to procure the services of grant writers forHHSA regions and divisions.

In May 2003, ORD joined with the Land Use andEnvironment Group (LUEG) to expand the County'sability to research, and apply for, grant funding. Stafffrom LUEG played a key role in securing over $40million in grants funds for fire mitigation efforts fol-lowing the October 2003 firestorms.

For more information about ORD, or to beincluded in the database to receive funding notices,please contact Denis McGee at (619) 685-2291 ore-mail at denis.mcgee@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Each month, the HHSA Connection will feature theservices of the Agency’s different divisions, toprovide a broad overview of the Agency. Thismonth, the series continues with the Office ofResource Development.

HHSA Overview - ORD Working for Operational Excellence and Communities!

Compliance Office: (619) 515-4244 Toll-Free Hotline: (866) 549-0004

An ethical workplace is your right...and your responsibility.

Employee Kudos

E arlier this year, the planningtools used by Public Health’s

Tobacco Control ResourceProgram (also known as the County Local Lead Agency) were recog-nized by the California Department of Health Services-Tobacco ControlSection on its Web site. Besides providing this information to other agen-cies in the state, the Web site said “The San Diego County Local LeadAgency (LLA) has created Communities of Excellence (CX) PlanningTools to help other LLAs with the CX planning and their 2004-2007Comprehensive Plan development. The sample tools include a snapshotof indicators and assets, a CX process graphic…” and more. All 61 coun-ty and city health departments receiving Proposition 99 funding arerequired to complete the CX assessment process.

C ongratulations to Whitney Pinto, PublicHealth Nurse (PHN) Case Manager at North

Central Public Health Center for completing theFrontline Leadership Program. She successfullycompleted a final project on Public Health Nurseproductivity. As a result of the project, PublicHealth Nursing Administration will explore evalua-tion methods for PHN activities. Whitney's careergoal is to work in a nurse manager position.

HHSA Shining Stars Working for Operational Excellence!

Whitney Pinto, PHN

Remember to send in kudos! Pleasesend text (and photo) to: your section edi-tor, or Jennifer.Mallory@sdcounty.ca.gov.