These Donations Were Made for Walking

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HCA staff shown sorting shoes at HCAD, are From left: Alejandra Gutierrez, Esther Aranda and Roma Estrada from HHSA’s Health Care Coverage Access are shown sorting footwear donated for clients of the Third Avenue Charitable Organization.

HCA staff shown sorting shoes at HCAD, are From left: Alejandra Gutierrez, Esther Aranda and Roma Estrada from HHSA’s Health Care Coverage Access are shown sorting footwear donated for clients of the Third Avenue Charitable Organization.

HHSA’s Health Coverage Access (HCA) staff oftentimes serve Medi-Cal and CalFresh customers in nontraditional venues, such as hospitals, jails, food banks and community based organizations.  HCA works with these entities to coordinate various outreach events.

One of these groups is the Third Avenue Charitable Organization (TACO) in downtown San Diego. TACO offers breakfast for homeless/low-income folks every Friday. HCA staff is on hand at TACO to offer and process CalFresh applications onsite.

The event offers other services, including having a selection of donated clothes and shoes available to clients. This gave the HCA employees the idea to create the “100 Shoe March” effort to gather donated footwear for TACO clients.

HCA staff began cleaning out their closets and soliciting donations from other HHSA Family Resource Centers and programs.

Soon the donations began rolling in. They had set a goal of gathering 100 pairs to donate by April 30. But the response was so overwhelming that they exceeded their goal and delivered over 100 pairs by April 13.

County Vehicle Maintenance Due? Take it to Shop on Your Schedule

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What with meetings, projects and deadlines, it’s tough to take time out to get the County vehicle serviced too. With customer service in mind, Fleet Services now has a new one-hour preventive maintenance program that lets you schedule that appointment online at a time convenient for you.

So if you have a meeting coming up at the County Operations Center, you can go online and schedule the routine maintenance for the car during the same time slot. When you arrive, drop the car off at the fleet garage and then head to your meeting. One hour later, your car is done and you didn’t lose any time out of your work schedule.

The new program is convenient for you and for Fleet Services too. Prior to the program, employees would call the garage for an appointment the next day, the same day or even just drop it off when there wasn’t sufficient staff available.  

The new program saves time and money because putting off maintenance can cost more in the long run and take longer to fix.

"Performing routine preventive maintenance on County vehicles helps to ensure they run at optimum performance and decreases the potential for equipment failure and costly repairs," said General Services Fleet Manager Sharyl Blackington.

The new program is available for heavy and light vehicles at the County Operations Center. The one-hour service can also be scheduled for light and some medium duty vehicles only at the County garages at Santee and San Marcos. The service includes an extensive safety check list, oil changes and more. If technicians find a problem that will require more time, a fleet team leader will call you.  

If you have questions about the one-hour service, call (619) 578-6262.    

Give the Gift of Life

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Supervisor Greg Cox does it every time he can. You should, too.

Donate blood that is.

“Over the years, I have donated more than 16 gallons of blood to help people in need in our community,” Supervisor Cox said. “I would like to encourage you, my fellow County employees, to participate with me in this year’s drive.”

The month-long County Blood Drive kicks off April 6 and supports the Live Well San Diego vision of healthy, safe and thriving residents and communities. All employees are encouraged to donate blood and, if they qualify, to register to be a bone marrow donor at Be The Match.

Donating blood and bone marrow is safe, costs nothing and could save a life. Bloodmobiles will be at 20 sites across the county throughout April. You can make an appointment, or just walk in.

Last year, 455 County employees donated more than 411 pints of blood; 73 were first-time donors. Together, they helped countless people in need of a transfusion.

The San Diego Blood Bank must collect 400 pints of blood every day. Although 80 percent of us will receive a blood transfusion during our lives, only 5 percent of the U.S. population donates blood.

If you can donate blood, do it. If you can’t, try to get a family member or friend to take your place. All blood types are needed.

Be the perfect match

In August of 2013, Supervisors Bill Horn and Cox launched the County’s campaign to also get employees to register to be bone marrow donors.

Since the campaign began, dozens of County employees have registered at Be The Match, including 18 who joined last year. Many more are expected to join during this year’s month-long push.

Registering for Be the Match is easy and pain free. All you have to do is swab the inside of your cheek and you can do it at one of the 20 blood donation sites.

Be The Match is especially looking for donors in the 18-44 age group because doctors request them over 90 percent of the time. This is because medical research has shown that cells from younger donors lead to better long-term survival for patients after a transplant. Registration is completely free.

People between the ages of 45 and 60 can also join the Be The Match Registry®, but will be required to make a $100 payment at the end of the online process.

Be The Match is also looking for members of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds because patients are most likely to match someone who shares their ancestry.

What Inspires You?

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We do amazing things here at the County. But it’s tough work. We tackle some of society’s most daunting issues. We often deal with people going through difficult points in their lives.

And that’s not to mention one of the most demanding things we do: constantly push ourselves to improve.

I know we’re up to the task. We have so much talent and commitment in our ranks. Sometimes, though, it helps to have a little spark to release all the energy. That spark comes in the form of things that inspire us.

We can all use a regular dose of inspiration as we head out there and take on the world. Things we carry in our hearts and minds that give us a boost when confronting challenges or lifting ourselves to new heights.

Inspiration can come from so many sources. You’ve probably gathered I enjoy quotes, like the ones posted on InSite every week. And I love TED Talks. If you haven’t joined me at one of the viewing events we’ve had, I hope you’ll be able to at a future one. I always walk out pumped up with new knowledge and ideas.

One way to find inspiration is by asking other people what motivates them. It gives you a good insight into their character, and you may take away new fuel for your own fire. So I put the question to a few members of my leadership team: What inspires you?

Ebony Shelton, Financial Policy and Planning Director

I’m very lucky to be surrounded daily by many sources of inspiration.

The most influential are my daughter’s passion for her studies as well as her kind and gentle nature, my husband’s commitment to volunteering and seemingly unlimited amount of energy to do so, and the wonderful women in my family that have shown me the importance of resilience, faith and family.

And last but not least, I’m inspired by all of the good-hearted and intelligent people that I have the honor of working and collaborating with on a daily basis.

Picture by Tom Montgomery while on Salkantay Trek in Peru.

Picture by Tom Montgomery while on Salkantay Trek in Peru.

Tom Montgomery, County Counsel

I set out on my career path of environmental/public lawyer inspired by the mind blowing beauty of nature.  Over time my sources of inspiration have grown.  While I still find inspiration being afoot and afield, it is tough to top the CECO Breakfast.  Meeting and hearing from the many grant recipients who dedicate their lives to serving others in this community is the ultimate inspirational moment for me each year.

Holly Crawford, Director, Office of Emergency Services

I am inspired by underdogs. I’m motivated by people who’ve faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles and moved mountains to achieve success. These people are represented in my family and friends and their discipline and determination inspires me. It inspires me to see people who have little… give much. I’m encouraged by people who display grace and grit in the face of adversity and pain. And while I’m paid for my pessimism (as in, what’s the worst disaster we could face?) I’m inspired by positivity and humor. Life, after all, really ain’t all that serious!

USS Jeannette

Debra Zanders-Willis, Director, Child Welfare Services

Once or twice a year I get to meet with and talk to former foster youth. I hear about their experiences in foster care and what made a difference in their lives, what helped them thrive and prevail. While I know a long journey through any foster care system is filled with pitfalls, I am routinely amazed and inspired by the stories that reflect perseverance and the incredible life changing work of social workers who dedicate their careers to making connections and making a difference.   

Alfredo Aguirre, Director, Behavioral Health Services

Music and its messaging inspires me every day. From songs that help me appreciate the goodness and potential of humanity while seeking social justice, for example the Isley Brothers’ "Harvest for the World;" or songs that remind me of the need to stop and appreciate the day to day trivialities like Los Lobos’s  “Little Things;” or songs that anchor me by reminding me of love for family like Stevie’s “Isn’t she Lovely;” or songs that remind me of why I come to work every day to help our community overcome behavioral health challenges like addiction (“Fast Train” by Solomon Burke) or suicidality (“Till the End” by James Hunter). 

Helen again here. You read the thoughts shared here and you can’t help but have the positive vibes rub off on you.

OK, my turn. I am inspired by people who are selfless. Those who always think about the needs of others rather their own. Those who face each day with a positive spirit and commitment to make someone smile. Those that can see beauty and goodness in everyone. Those that never give up on any challenge.  And those that spread hope and encouragement wherever they go.

I say that – then I realize so much of what I describe there is what I see every day from County employees. I hope you’ve found some words and ideas here that will help drive you forward. And know that your work and dedication to service truly inspire us all.

Employees Kick Asphalt in 120-Mile Race

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A member of DA team running in the relay.

County law enforcement took off in hot pursuit of a different kind this month. Members of the District Attorney, Probation and Sheriff’s departments were not in a footrace chasing criminals, but competing in the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay run.

The 120-mile race, held the weekend of March 19-20, started north of Baker and traversed the desert out to Las Vegas. The annual fun run is all about fitness, camaraderie, teamwork and tradition.

The relay began in 1985 with 19 teams. The race now hosts 264 teams from across the U.S. and abroad, including our County competitors.

County Probation teammates smile during the race.

Deputy Chief Probation Officer Dan DeLeon said Probation participated in the relay for the 18th time this year. The department ran in the “mixed” division—where five of the 20 runners on the team had to be women, and all had to be sworn officers.  Probation’s team came in second place in their division and 24th place overall with a time of 15 hours, 26 minutes and 3 seconds.

Turn your speakers up and watch this Probation video.

The Sheriff's Department set a new "PR" or personal record as a team this year. They finished in 15 hours, 2 minutes and 6 seconds for an overall finish of 12th place. They ran in the open category for runners of any gender or age that are sworn personnel.

A Sheriff's Department teammate hands off the baton.

“We are getting better every year,” said Sheriff’s team captain Sgt. Denese Deal. “I enjoy the competitiveness, the comradery, the fact that it is all law enforcement, and that there is no prize other than bragging rights.”

The Sheriff's Department team

Meanwhile, the DA’s Office had two teams with 20 runners in each, among them DA investigators, deputy district attorneys and support staff.  Each team member ran between 4 and 10.7 miles.

The first DA Team finished 226th place overall with a time of 19 hours, 49 minutes and 40 seconds. This team ran in the “Invitational Mixed” category, which includes at least five female and two non-sworn runners. 

A member of one of the DA's two teams.

The DA’s second team finished in 57th place overall with a time of 16 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds. They took second place in the category of “Invitational Mixed 800,” which includes a minimum of five female and two non-sworn runners with a combined age minimum of 800 years. See more photos from the DA teams here.

Other local law enforcement teams to participate in the race included the San Diego Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s San Diego sector, FBI’s San Diego bureau, Oceanside Police, Chula Vista Police, and California Highway Patrol out of Oceanside, Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations’ San Diego field office, and Carlsbad Police.