We Are the Life of the Party

You could be at a party. Or maybe an event for your kids. Or on social media. Or any place where you’re meeting new people.

Someone says, “Hi! It’s nice to meet you, what do you do?”

You say proudly, “I work for the County of San Diego!”

Maybe there’s a slightly blank look, maybe a pause. Then you might hear, “Oh, how do you like the mayor?” (Actually, that’s the one I always get.) Or, “Oh, uh, yeah, I, uh, don’t live in the county.”

(Ahem… throat clearing… awkward silence.)

I know. It’s not their fault. We can be confusing for outsiders.

They’re not talking geography. They’re talking services, government.

But we know — OF COURSE they live in the County! And we’re talking services. They just need someone to tell them about it!

The fact is it’s practically impossible to live in our region and not be protected and served by us. Just take any normal day as an example. If you get up and drive to work and stop to get gas, you’ll see a County seal on the pump. County inspectors are the ones who make sure that pump dispenses the full gallon you’re buying — no matter where you are, in a city or one of our beautiful unincorporated communities.

Maybe you stop at the store to pick up something to eat for lunch. Well, County inspectors are the ones who make sure the price scanners at the checkout counter are charging you accurately and that the deli is clean and safe.

Maybe you decide to head to a restaurant for lunch instead. That’s right. It’s the County that regularly inspects the 12,000-plus restaurants and food facilities countywide to make sure they’re meeting state health and sanitation guidelines and earning the “A” food grade they need to have. (Oh, and you can check those grades online before you head to the restaurant!)

Maybe it’s not a work day. You decide to head out to one of our world famous beaches. And it’s us again! The County monitors beach-water quality at the 80-plus beaches in our region and warns the public when there are pollution problems. (And, if you’re heading to a public pool, we inspect those to make sure they’re safe too!)

Maybe you just want to read a good book or magazine? Who needs Barnes and Noble? I think there are only like 12 of those countywide — we have 33 branch libraries! And you can browse their stacks right online!

But all of this is just a small slice of the services that we provide that serve almost everyone in our region.

We provide billions of dollars of health and social services for the region. We conduct all the elections — federal, state, local — held in San Diego County. Sheriff’s deputies not only patrol our unincorporated areas, they serve as law enforcement for nine of the 18 cities! (We also run the jails — in case that party gets a little rowdy! ☺)

We also manage probation services regionwide, prosecute crimes through the District Attorney’s Office and help people who cannot afford court representation to defend themselves through the Public Defender’s office.

We provide vector control for the entire region to make sure mosquitoes and other animals that transmit diseases to people are monitored and controlled. We also provide animal control services to the unincorporated areas and in six of the 18 cities.

In addition, the state recognizes us as the region’s disaster-response coordinator when large emergencies strike. We make sure that businesses, whether they’re in cities or the unincorporated areas, don’t pollute the air or mismanage hazardous waste.

We manage the program that protects foster kids throughout the region. We handle adoptions and child support.

And again, there’s so much more, it’s really hard to name it all: public health, disease surveillance, parks, even weddings!

So, the next time you hear that, “uhh, yeah, I don’t live in the County.”

Just remember, of course they do!

There doesn’t have to be any awkward pause. Just tell them the part about the gas stations, the stores, the beaches, the restaurants — all that stuff! And you can tell them we’re the government known by #StrongReserves, #AAABondRating and #BestEmployeesEver!

Heck, you’ll be the life of the party! 

Pop Quiz: How Financially Literate Are You?

What do you know about County finances? Take the three-question quiz below to find out. Don’t worry; we let you guess a second time. Did you get one answer correct? Two? Or all three?

The questions were part of a longer informal quiz given at a County Financial Literacy Training held last week at the County Operations Center.

The course was designed for County employees at every level of the organization to gain a better understanding of how public finance is conducted. The curriculum covered the County’s financial planning process, terms and policies, and how to read useful reports and graphs.

Andrew Pease, Finance Director for the Health and Human Services Agency, called the class “financial literacy for non-financial folks.” Participants from each of the five groups attended the engaging training session.

“It’s an opportunity to get an overview. It’s an opportunity to ask questions,” Pease said. “And it’s an opportunity to learn and contribute.”

The Finance and General Government Group plans to hold the Financial Literacy Workshop quarterly. Keep your eyes open for an email announcing that registration is open. Anyone interested in a basic knowledge of financial planning or interest in working in public finance will benefit from the short session.

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Employee Wild About PCT

Jeff Johnson, HHSA, has been hiking segments of the PCT for 16 years.

When he’s at work, he’s known as Jeffrey Johnson, senior epidemiologist. But in the hiking world, where everyone gets a trail name, he goes by Compass.

“I’ve always got the map. I know exactly what direction we need to go in,” said the avid hiker whose life goal is to blaze the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, or the “PCT.”

He’s completed a portion of that goal already. Unlike “thru-hikers,” who typically start right at the U.S.-Mexican border and take four to five months to hike continuously up to Canada, Johnson is taking a different approach to the ambitious trek.

“I’ve been at it for 16 years… It’s a life-long goal,” Johnson said of the now-popular trail, thanks to the book and film Wild. “I first wanted to achieve it as fast as I could, but I knew I needed to pace myself and just enjoy the hiking.”

And so that’s what he does. Johnson takes any opportunity he can to complete new segments of the trail. He started at the southernmost end of the trail, in Campo, 16 years ago with a quick, one-mile hike to see how the terrain was. Then, a couple weeks later, he hiked 13 miles and ended at Lake Morena County Park. 

Johnson stands at the PCT entrance in Campo with his son 16 years ago.

Johnson usually drives out to his starting point and has a friend pick him up at the end of his journey and drive him back to his car. But as the segments he’s trekking get further and further away from home, it’s a little trickier finding time to hike and someone to who can go with him to drive him back to his starting point, which is sometimes 50-70 miles away.

“About 5 years into it, I was out by Warner Springs,” Johnson said. “It was harder to get out there and I needed someone to go with me and pick me up.”

The red lines indicate, roughly, the parts of the trail Johnson has trekked.

Still, Johnson said that’s just part of the fun. He’s hiked from Campo on up to Big Bear and parts throughout the Sierra Nevada near Yosemite. The San Diego native said he’s hiked about 350 miles of the PCT so far, sometimes alone, other times with his sons or other hikers on the trail.

The most challenging thing about Johnson’s stretches on the PCT hasn’t been the physical exertion or even the snow he hit in San Jacinto. It’s water – a rare commodity along the desert parts of the trail. 

“There’s a section by Tehachapi that’s really dry and hot. There’s just no water. It’s extreme,” Johnson said. “I work for public health, so it’s especially important I make sure I’m purifying water I get from a stream. So I carry a water filter that removes the bacteria.”

Because he’s not constantly on the trail, the epidemiologist keeps in shape by hiking around town – specifically County parks. 

“I’ve been able to really discover the backcountry of San Diego County,” Johnson said. “Once a year, I do the El Capitan Preserve or Volcan Mountain – they’re pretty aggressive. I love Oak Oasis Preserve – it’s quick and I can do it in about two hours and get some training in.”

Johnson plans to continue his climb up the PCT this year toward the end of April, starting where he left off in Big Bear. It will be a nine-mile journey, uphill the whole way. His other life goal is to climb the highest point in each state. He’s checked off eight of the 50 so far, California included. He plans to reach the highest points in Maryland and Virginia later this year.

“Part of my job here is ‘Live Well San Diego’ – [hiking] has helped me keep in good health, it’s helped keep me mobile and active,” Johnson said. “Keep hiking on.” Johnson keeps in shape by hiking various County trails and parks. Here, he stands on top of Stelzer Peak at Louis Stelzer County Park.

Johnson stops and takes pictures of the wild poppies on the PCT near Warner Springs - one of his favorite parts of the trail so far.

Johnson hit snow on a stretch of the trail near San Jacinto.

A Potluck of Cultures Celebrates Black History Month

The purpose was to celebrate Black History Month, but nearly 150 HHSA employees enjoyed food, fellowship and fun from many cultures at the first annual A Taste of Black Heritage event held last week in El Cajon.

East Region Child Welfare Services and Aging & Independence Services employees planned the celebration as an inclusive event that would highlight African-American culture while embracing the cultures of fellow employees.

“A team of African-American social workers planned the menu and contributed to making dishes,” said Lillian Asoera, protective services program manager for HHSA’s East Region. “There were also contributions from ethnic dishes from Ethiopia, Kenya and the Caribbean.

“Co-workers were encouraged to bring a dish that would normally be served in their own homes to embrace diversity.”

Employees dined on chicken, greens, sweet potatoes, cornbread, macaroni and cheese, and several desserts like sweet potato pie and peach cobbler. Some of the other dishes contributed included Asian lettuce wraps and Swedish cookies.

Jemison Benita, protective services supervisor, entertained event goers with music and everyone participated in a sing-along. The celebration also highlighted black history through the years during a presentation with inspirational quotes and photos.

New ERG Launches with Waterfront Party

The County's newest Employee Resource Group (ERG), the Emerging Workforce Association (EWA) held its launch party on Feb. 27 at the Waterfront Park, with guest speakers CAO Helen Robbins-Meyer, Human Resources Director Susan Brazeau and Office of Ethics and Compliance Director Joe Cordero.

Check out some scenes from the event below.

Interested in joining the EWA? You can fill out a membership form online.

Let’s Get Ethical!

With St. Patrick’s and Cesar Chavez days this month, we don’t want you to forget that it is also Ethics Awareness Month.

Joe Cordero, Director of the County’s Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC), said he hopes employees show their support for this fundamental value by taking the time to participate in some of the educational activities planned for March.

“Let’s reaffirm our commitment to a high standard of ethics—let’s make it our personal cause this month and every month. After all, doing no harm, treating others appropriately and doing the right thing is important all-year round,” said Cordero.

An Ethics Awareness Month Information Fair will be held noon to 2 p.m., March 10 in the plaza area outside the Commons at the County Operations Center. There will be music, prizes, free goodies, information about County departments and other resources available for employees. More than 20 exhibitors will be present. Some of the participating departments include Animal Services, the Department of Human Resources’ Wellness Division and Veterans Outreach Program, and the County Library. Representatives from the County’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) as well as representative from the County’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force will also be present providing information.

If you bring proof of completing the online Ethics 101 training, you’ll be entered into a raffle.

Then later in the month, former Chief Administrative Officer Walt Ekard returns to speak about public service and ethics in a talk titled “Character is King.” That will be at 12 noon, March 18 in the COC Chambers.

If you cannot make it to the COC events, there’s still an opportunity to get in on the action! Employees can participate in the following ways:

• Take the Ethics 101 online training. Head over to LMS and search for “Ethics 101.” The video is just 8 minutes long.

• Request that OEC conduct an on-site ethics training or speak at your March all-hands department meeting.

• Sign up your department for an information table at the Ethics Awareness Info Fair in March at the COC.

• Check out the "Ethics In-a-Box” training resources for managers/supervisors.

If you have a question about what is ethical in the meanwhile, don’t wait to get answers. The first place employees can turn if they have a concern about possible unethical, illegal or unsafe activity is their department’s chain of command.

If an employee isn’t comfortable going to a supervisor or other manager, or if their concern relates to a supervisor or manager, they can call OEC or the County’s Ethics Hotline at (866) 549-0004. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is operated by a third party. So employees can report concerns anonymously. Employees can also report concerns online.

Get pumped for Ethics Awareness Month with this short video parody from “The Office.”

Happy Ethics Awareness Month!