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County of Santa Cruz - Human Services Department
Winter 2008
A new resource recently became available that offers a wealth of information about safety net needs in Santa Cruz County. The Santa Cruz County Community
Data Mapping Project was developed by Healthy City in collaboration with the
Human Services Department and other local partners with funding from the David
& Lucile Packard Foundation.
Healthy City is an organization that works to promote social change and its website, HealthyCity.org, provides data and mapping tools to help communities better assess safety net needs.
Access to Health Insurance
The project goal was to create a comprehensive pool of local data and to be able to visualize safety net needs geographically. The project focused on four safety net need areas, including
Financial, Safety, Health, and Education and analyzed data by North, Mid, and South county geographic areas. This article includes examples of infographics from the mapping project that were developed to better understand the safety net needs in our county.
Poverty in Santa Cruz County
Darkest areas on map represent highest percentage of people without health insurance
30% of the County’s residents live on less than 200% of the Census
Poverty Threshold
Identifying community needs by geographic regions can help us better assess the safety net needs of all county residents and ensure that critical safety net services are available to people in need.
Visit HealthCity.org to find out more about safety net needs in our county and check out the website’s innovative technology. Explore the local data, analyze community indicators, and visualize the results of your analysis by creating charts, maps, and graphs. The website’s mapping tool allows data to be analyzed by zip codes, census tracts, school districts and supervisorial districts! HealthyCity.org provides a tool to better inform us about the needs of residents in Santa Cruz
County.
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From Cecilia’s Desk...
County departments are already working on budgets for the 2012-13 fiscal year and I am sad to say that we are facing another lean budget year. As we prepare for another tough year ahead, we must look for every opportunity for cost savings and ways to do business differently with fewer resources. These are challenging times and I ask for your help in supporting our Department’s efforts to maximize resources and improve efficiencies in the upcoming year. I also want you all to know how much I appreciate what you continue to do every day to meet the needs of our clients under extraordinary conditions. Just as you work hard to serve our clients, please remember to take care of yourselves. I am confident that by working together and supporting each other we will successfully meet the challenges of the year ahead.
In January, the Governor released the state’s FY 2012 -13 budget proposal which included further budget reductions to human services programs. The budget proposes deep cuts to the CalWORKs program and would reduce time on aid for Cal-
WORKs families. The cuts would impact families already living in poverty who struggle every day to get their basic needs for food and shelter met.
These families turn to us for assistance and we will continue to advocate for them at the state level.
Cecilia Espinola, Director
Human Services Department
As tough economic times persist, please remember to share information with your clients about other resources available to help people struggling to make ends meet. It’s tax time and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can give working families a much needed financial boost. Information about free tax assistance sites located through out the county is posted on our public website and volunteers are available to help people file for the EITC. United
Way’s 211 information and referral phone line also has trained professionals ready to help people in need 24/7.
Promoting these resources can make a real difference for people who have fallen on hard times. Thank you for doing your part to help preserve the safety net for individuals and families in our community!
Community Partnerships .................................................................... Page 3
Human Services News:
............................................................ Page 4
Adult & Long Term Care .................................................................. Page 5
Planning & Evaluation ..................................................................... Page 6
Employment & Benefit Services ........................................................ Page 7
Administrative Services ................................................................... Page 7
Workforce Investment Board Services ............................................... Page 8
Staff News .. .......................................................................... Pages 9 - 12
Kudos Corner ................................................................................. Page 13
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Community Partnerships
The Roots and Wings program promotes security, stability, and permanency for all children in foster care. Program goals focus on helping children in foster care stay rooted in their own communities, neighborhoods and schools. Roots and Wings staff work collaboratively with individuals, families, community-based organizations, businesses and neighborhood groups to create a network of familiar supports for foster care children in the communities where they live. To raise awareness about the program, over the past several months staff have stepped up efforts to engage community partners in a variety of ways to recruit more resource parents and work to establish lifelong connections for all children in foster care, regardless of age.
Community Outreach Efforts
Roots & Wings staff have committed to 20 outreach efforts per month looking for opportunities to provide recruitment presentations to schools, churches, service clubs and local businesses. Outreach efforts also include distributing program brochures, and Resource Parent Orientation flyers throughout the county to get “find” potential foster families willing to open their hearts and homes to change the life of a child in foster care.
Thirteen local independent coffee shops participated in the Coffee Sleeve
Campaign to support the Roots & Wings Foster Parent recruitment efforts.
Local book stores and public library branches throughout the county helped distribute bookmarks and resource parent orientation flyers and posted artwork by foster youth.
The Sheriff’s Department and the Live Oak Family Resource Center offered their community meeting rooms for Resource Parent Orientation meetings and former foster youth are participating in orientations to tell their stories about how their lives were changed by foster parents who provided nurturing home environments and supported them while in the foster care system.
Support from Local Businesses
Local businesses have also provided generous support to foster children and resource families. Assist International donated five pallets of new Adidas clothing and shoes for children in foster care and Driscoll’s donated funds for tutoring and to help cover miscellaneous expenses. The Nickelodeon and Del
Mar Movie Theatres set aside a day just for foster kids for a free showing of the 3-D movie Cars complete with popcorn and other snacks to provide a special fun-filled day for foster children.
The Rittenhouse Building on the Pacific Garden Mall donated window space for a display promoting Roots & Wings and community support for children in foster care and materials for the window display were donated by Kelly Moore
Paints and ProBuild . Pacific Land Company also donated space in its office building for a “clothing room” for foster families and the Carpenters Union
Local 505 built and installed shelving to store clothing and other supplies which are available to foster parents when they have a need for clothing for child in their care.
Roots & Wings staff are grateful for the support received from the community and the many contributions from community organizations and businesses that have made a difference for resource families and children in foster care.
Santa Cruz County
Sheriff’s Department
Community Bridges
Live Oak Family Resource Center
Local Businesses
Kelly Moore Paints
ProBuild
Kings Paint Marquee
Food Bin Marquee
Assist International
Driscoll’s
Del Mar Theatre
Nickelodeon Theatre
Pacific Land Company
Carpenters Union Local 505
Book Shop Santa Cruz
Logos
Literary Guillotine
Capitola Book Café
Rittenhouse Building
Public Libraries
Santa Cruz
Scotts Valley
Felton
Aptos Library
Freedom Library
Watsonville Library
Coffee Shops
Café Ella
Second Street
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Department Highlights...
An important new law went into effect on January 1, 2012 giving foster youth the option to remain in foster care and receive services and supports until age
21 thanks to landmark legislation called the California Fostering Connections to
Success Act (also known as AB 12). Family & Children’s Services (FCS) staff have been busy preparing for the implementation of this new voluntary program making sure that foster youth are aware of the program eligibility requirements and what they need to do if they want to receive extended services and support.
Social Workers are helping youth develop transition plans including where they will live and which services and supports they will need to transition gradually into independence. FCS staff are also helping establish permanent connections for youth by identifying caring adults who will continue to be there for them when they leave the foster care system.
In 2012, Santa Cruz County currently has 24 dependent youth and three probation youth who are eligible for extended services and supports under AB 12.
Santa Cruz County’s Second Annual Adoption Day on Friday November 18, 2011 was absolutely fantastic! The Forever Families Team (FFT) of Mary Greenham, Kristy Castro
Paige Baldhosky, Carol Gossett, Claudia Herrera-Sandoval, Melissa Klein, and Mockalee
McDonald truly outdid themselves! Fourteen children had their adoptions finalized, which represented more than a third of the average number of 40 adoptions occurring annually.
The FFT created a party atmosphere for families and their guests in the Jury Assembly Room. Festive decorations included flowers for the parents and balloons for the kids. There were delicious refreshments and families each received a commemorative framed photo provided by the Cabrillo College Mentors and Kinship Support Group. FFT social workers talked with the families, entertained the kids with balloons and cupcakes, and joined in a great deal of picture-taking all around. Families went into the courtroom at twenty minute intervals all day. Judge Guy did a beautiful job with the adoption ceremonies, getting up close and personal with each family, talking warmly with the parents, kids, and relatives, and making it a wonderful experience for all. Each new adoptee took home a beautiful quilt made by Judge Guy’s mother’s quilting group.
All in all, it was an amazing day-long celebration of our children finally getting their forever families! The Forever Families
Team worked incredibly hard to get these fourteen families ready to have their adoptions finalized on this special day, and they went above and beyond to make the day truly wonderful for those families!
Judge Guy’s Courtroom - 2011 Adoption Day
Local media provided great coverage of the 2011 Adoption Day.
In case you missed it, click on the links below:
Santa Cruz Sentinel
KION Central Coast News
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Department Highlights...
During the past several months, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program staff have been kept busy as they moved forward with the implementation of new initiatives geared to improve service delivery and response times for referrals.
Referrals & Intake
A fresh approach is being piloted for accepting IHSS referrals and screening applicants.
When a referral is made, a telephone appointment is immediately scheduled with an intake social worker. The social worker contacts the applicant to explain how the IHSS program works and the types of services that can be provided. The social worker also explains the rights and responsibilities of IHSS consumers and how the Medi-Cal share of cost is applied in IHSS. This helps people better understand the program and provides an opportunity for them to ask questions to determine if the applicant wants to proceed with an assessment home visit. The social worker can also obtain information by phone before the home visit which helps expedite the referral and intake process.
IHSS Staff Implement New
Provider Enrollment System
Karina Aragon, Magda Gomez, and Eva
Gomez
Not pictured: Gloria Luna & Marivel Castillo
In-Home Supportive
Services Program
New Provider Enrollment
IHSS has also implemented a new on-line enrollment process for IHSS providers. The new system is called REVA (Registration, Enrollment,
Verification, and Appointment) and was recently purchased by our
IHSS Public Authority (PA). REVA enables applicants to meet most of the state-mandated requirements at their own convenience from any location where internet service is available.
IHSS provider applicants can log into the system and review required documents, watch the mandatory video, and make an appointment to bring the required identification documents to the PA office where they also provide an electronic signature on the forms that were reviewed on line. REVA also stores all care provider documents electronically, eliminating the need for paper files. Staff members Karina Aragon,
Eva Gomez, Gloria Luna, Magda Gomez, and Marivel Castillo will use the new program to enroll providers and they expect that it will be a time-saver for both staff as well as prospective providers.
Provider Registry Moves In-House
A year-end surprise by a community partner resulted in the IHSS provider registry coming in-house as of January
1 st . This was a major undertaking for the IHSS PA staff due to the very short deadline to contact and interview providers from the previous registry and get them entered into the program’s internal registry data base. The PA team is working hard to update the database and staff are hoping to sign on all of the interested providers from the community agency registry to the new HSD registry. IHSS consumers needing providers and providers looking for additional jobs will be matched using CareTracker software with support from the PA staff.
News Flash - Court Injunction Halts 20% Service Reduction!
On January 19 th , a California Appeals Court Judge upheld an injunction preventing the California Department of
Social Services from moving forward with the proposed 20% across the board reductions in IHSS service hours that would have affected the majority of IHSS clients. A 3.6% reduction implemented last year remains in force until June 30, 2012.
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Department Highlights...
A central component of our Department’s Strategic Plan for FY 2010 2013 is “Improving Access to Information and
Data”. As part of a more “data driven” approach to decision -making, the Planning and Evaluation (P&E) team has been charged with streamlining reports and creating targeted dashboards for managers.
The P&E team has been working with managers to identify “Key Indicators” that measure critical aspects of our business. In addition to identifying key indicators, goals (aka benchmarks) were negotiated providing a framework with which we can assess what we do, and how well we’re doing it. Once this framework was established, P & E analysts and programmers set about identifying data sources and working on ways to collect the data, which come from a multitude of systems. We now have a catalog of over one hundred indicators for which we collect data points each month to include in monthly dashboard reports to support a data driven decision-making process.
As a new feature of the H Files, each newsletter will include one or two of these indicators and discuss some of the implications. Below are two examples from the December 2011 Dashboard Report:
You can see that the benchmarks or goals are set at 90%, the mandated performance standard for both these measures. Child Protective Services (CPS) social workers must respond within the allotted time to allegations of child abuse or neglect for at least 90% of referrals; and Employment & Benefits Services Division (EBSD) eligibility workers must either approve or deny 90% of CalWORKs applications within 45 days.
The graphs below show how well we have done on a monthly basis for the past year. Emergency Response
Teams have made steady progress in working towards the goal of 90% timeliness for all referrals. Nice job! EBSD
Eligibility Workers have also done a great job in processing CalWORKs applications timely.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
CPS ER Response
Timeliness benchmark
Linear (CPS ER
Response Timeliness)
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Timely CalWORKs
Application Processing benchmark
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CPS Emergency Response Timeliness Timely CalWORKs Application Processing
While some months are harder than others, EBSD and FCS staff have done well to meet their targets!
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Department Highlights...
Several Employment & Benefit Services (EBSD) staff attended the National Eligibility
Workers (NEW) Association Training Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in
Monterey in January. A variety of workshops were offered on CalWORKs, CalFresh,
Medi-Cal, Welfare Fraud, CalWIN and much more. Presentations were designed to provide insight into current programs and upcoming changes that will impact the work that Eligibility Workers do to make a difference for our most vulnerable population.
The event also offered opportunities for networking with human service professionals throughout the State.
Front: Maria Bauer, Sydney Crable. Second Row: Gustavo
Gonzalez, Monica Aguilar, Minnie Ramirez, Claudine Wildman.
Back Row: Rosie Gonzales, Sandra Carter, Juan Magana, and
Rebecca Carter.
Several Human Services Department (HSD) staff had key roles in the 2012 training event. Sydney Crable ,
HSD Staff Development Trainer, kicked off the three-day event by welcoming everyone to the conference and providing the opening remarks as the President of the
California State Chapter of NEW: Professionals Associated Through Human Services (PATHS). Randy Fedak ,
HSD’s Chief Welfare Fraud Investigator, conducted a workshop on “Web Based Fraud Prevention”. Rebecca
Carter , Staff Development Trainer, facilitated workshops on “Tracking Time On Aid’ and “Exemptions &
Extenders for CalWORKs and Employment Services”. At the conclusion of the conference, Claudine Wildman ,
EBSD Division Director, provided the keynote closing address.
Other HSD staff attending the conference included Maria
Bauer, Gustavo Gonzalez, Monica Aguilar, Juan Magana,
Minnie Ramirez, Rosie Gonzales, Sandra Carter, Rebecca
Carter, Lucia Gong, Griscelda Vazquez, Irma Marquez,
Katie Limas, and Andrew Stewart.
The card access system is completely installed and has been up and running for a few months now. Considering the size and scope of this project, there have been very few problems with the system. There were a couple of hardware problems and some software tuning was necessary to accommodate the varied requirements we need the system to perform to account for total furloughs, staffed furloughs, partners working on furloughs, holidays, door schedules, etc. Overall the system has been performing very well and we are pleased with the outcome of this project.
A lot of work and time was involved in the installation of this system, much of it done during business hours. No building was untouched and HSD staff were very accommodating, understanding and patient which was very much appreciated!
The next phase of this project is the re-keying of the buildings. Currently, inventory of the different keyways is underway and the physical re-keying will begin in the near future.
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Department Highlights...
Last August, as part of its “Rapid Response” services to help avert and reduce the impacts of layoffs, the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) implemented an Early
Alert System to learn about businesses that are struggling and at risk, in order to try to save the business and the jobs that might otherwise be lost.
The Early Alert System is a voluntary communication and information network that informs the WIB of potential and actual job loss in the community due to business closure or scaled back operations. With this information, the WIB and its resource partners can plan for and confidentially offer job retention services to employers which might help the business through a crisis and prevent the loss of jobs.
Establishing the Early Alert System is consistent with the WIB’s goal to provide resources to businesses and workers facing layoffs in order to keep jobs in our community. By providing timely resources such as worker training, business services, or employee acquisition of the business, jobs can be saved. When closure and layoffs cannot be avoided, access to information on job training, skill upgrade services, and existing job opportunities can reduce the time on unemployment insurance, and get people back to work more quickly.
Key Components of the Early Alert System
Key components of the Early Alert System include: (1) an effective communication network, (2) the ability to evaluate the information gathered, and (3) the capacity to act on the information received, confidentially and discretely, if requested. Once the WIB receives information about a business at risk, it can make a confidential referral to one its Early Alert partners, such as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Cabrillo College, or the City Economic Development agencies or the local Chamber of Commerce. The Early Alert System started seven months ago and there have already been tangible results.
When the University Inn and Conference Center in Santa Cruz closed, WIB staff met with their employees to offer Rapid Response transition services; the WIB has attempted to contact the new owners to assist in re-staffing the hotel if and when it reopens.
With the Early Alert System, WIB staff became aware of a local engineering company that was closing as a result of the Solyndra Plant in Fremont declaring bankruptcy. WIB staff offered transition Rapid Response services to 26 workers, and facilitated the submission of a Trade Adjustment Act petition to the Dept. of Labor which was approved and greatly expanded retraining benefits for the laid off workers.
The WIB recently learned that a local nonprofit agency will be laying off 40 workers due to loss of government grant funding. Although SBDC was not able to prevent the layoffs, some of the workers were interested in starting their own business, and SBDC will offer a workshop to assist them with their business start ups. Rapid Response workforce services will also be provided.
The Early Alert System has had promising results, providing a way for WIB services and workforce development partners to operate more effectively to preserve jobs in our community. If you have information on businesses at risk or closures, contact Gary McNeil, WIB Analyst, at 454-7543 or email to gary.mcneil@hsd.co.santa-cruz.ca.us.
Early Alert System Partners
Small Business Development Center WIB Board Members & WIB Staff
Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce City & County Economic Development Staff
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Staff News...
Five years ago, a group of HSD employees decided to take advantage of all the
State Parks and other great outdoor opportunities that Santa Cruz and all the surrounding areas have to offer. Over the years, the hiking group has grown to include former county employees, Health Services and 701 Ocean staff, friends, relatives, and children of the hikers. After a few years the hikers decided they needed a name and after an exhaustive process they settled on the “Hot Toemales” referencing that feeling you get in your hiking shoes when you have been going downhill for awhile and your toes are starting to heat up! The hiking group’s only rule is that they don’t talk about work since many of the participants use the hike as a way to relieve stress.
Once a month the group plans a hike that can range in difficulty from easy to strenuous, depending on the length of the hike, terrain, or weather conditions.
These past few years the hikes have been scheduled on Furlough Fridays to turn a negative situation into a positive outdoor experience. The degree of difficulty of a hike is measured by the number of bananas needed to accomplish the hike. Eating bananas relieves leg cramps so if a hike has a “zero” banana rating then it’s just a nice long walk. Hikes in the two to three banana ranges are a bit more challenging.
Besides the health benefits of hiking, participants get a close up view of nature and many of the hikers never realized the wide range of wildlife that live in our local mountains and beach areas. Some months we search for waterfalls and other times we look for bats in caves or condors flying over head. During the summer we typically take a road trip to some destination that is outside of the area. Last June we hiked the Mist Trail in Yosemite and this year we are planning a trip in September to hike Bryce and Zion Canyons in Utah.
Pinnacles Boulder
Although the group hikes year round, we typically mark the end of summer with a long hike from Big Basin State Park to Waddell Creek Beach. The hike is about 11.5 miles long but the views are spectacular! The hike ends with a picnic/BBQ on the beach where we rest our tired feet and watch the waves against a beautiful sunset. It’s a real sense of accomplishment and when your toes have heated up you know you have become a Hot ToeMale!
Berry Creek Falls
Brian Pereria considers what lies ahead!
To find out about future hikes or to join the Hot Toemales,
Contact Randy Fedak at:
Randy.Fedak@hsd.co.santa-cruz.ca.us
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Año Nuevo (Left to right): John & Juanita Ragsac, Francie Newfield,
Daisy Alfaro & Esmeralda Alfaro, Lupe and Larry Luna, Randy Fedak,
Brian Pereira, Gerry Fasth, Gary McNeil, Adam Fedak, and Micki
Coca Buss
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Staff News...
Francie Newfield, Director, Adult & Long Term Care Division
Francie began her career with the county in 1988 when she was hired to serve as the agency’s Multi Purpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) Supervisor. A few years later, she became the MSSP Program Manager and in 1995 she became the Adult Services
Program Manager for MSSP, In Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and Adult Protective
Services (APS). Francie left the County for a year to serve as Director of Aegis, Life’s
Neighborhood - Dementia Care and returned to the county in 2000 as a Senior Analyst working on a project that resulted in establishing the IHSS Public Authority. When the
Adult & Long Term Care (A&LTC) Division was established in 2000, Francie once again became the Program Manager for IHSS and MSSP. In 2004, Francie became the A&LTC
Acting Director and in 2006 she was hired to serve as the A&LTC Division Director.
Francie also served on many state committees over the years, including the Olmstead
Advisory Committee which focused on improving the state’s long term care system.
After a 22 year career with the County, Francie’s last day with HSD was December 20th.
In her retirement Francie looks forward to having more time to spend with her Mom who recently moved to Santa Cruz.
She also looks forward to experimenting with new
(healthy!) recipes, vegetable gardening, lunching with friends and former co-workers, and taking an anthropology class with Kathryn Maurer! Francie also plans to do some traveling — with Paris at the top of the list! Bon voyage, Francie!
Francie Newfield
Adult & Long Tern Care
Division Director
Wendy Russell
Administrative Services
Division Director
Wendy Russell, Director, Administrative Services Division
Wendy’s first day on the job as Administrative Services Division Director for the Human
Services Department (HSD) was September 30, 2005. Prior to coming to Santa Cruz
County, Wendy worked in Sacramento as the Senior Fiscal & Policy Analyst for the County
Welfare Director’s Association (CWDA), a position she held for 15 years. During her time with HSD, Wendy was responsible for overseeing Facilities, Fiscal, Program Integrity, and
Information & Technology. In addition, Wendy also played a key role in Disaster Planning making sure that staff were always prepared in the event of a disaster to assist with staffing shelters if needed and ensuring that HSD’s most vulnerable clients were safe. In fact, Wendy had multiple opportunities to activate the Emergency Disaster Plan and mobilize staff due to wild land fires, winter storms, and flooding! After more than six years with Santa Cruz County, Wendy has moved on, accepting a position as the Administrative Services Director with Monterey County Department of Social and Employment Services. Wendy’s last day with the Department was December 23rd. We miss Wendy but wish her well in her new job with Monterey County.
Joanne Montana, Eligibility Worker III, Employment & Benefit Services
Joanne began her career with the County as an Eligibility Worker I in November of
1986. She served for 25 years helping people access public assistance benefits in her role as an Eligibility Worker. After being hired as an EW I, Joanne was later promoted to an EW II position. For many years, she was out stationed at Families
In Transition where she worked closely with staff to assist numerous families obtain housing. For her last 12 years with the Department, Joanne served as an EW III.
Her coworkers say Joanne always had an optimistic attitude. She was very client oriented and worked hard to help families achieve their goals. After her long tenure with HSD, Joanne will be missed by all of her coworkers in Employment & Benefit
Services. Her last day of work with the Department was December 30th.
Joanne Montana
Employment & Benefit Services
Eligibility Worker III
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Staff News...
Andrew Stewart was recently promoted to serve as the new Program Manager for Staff Development. Andrew has worked for Santa Cruz County government for over ten years. Before joining the Human Services Department in 2007, Andrew worked for the Parks and Cultural Services Department. While working for the
Parks Department Andrew developed innovative educational and social outreach programs which were recognized throughout the state as exemplary models to serving our most vulnerable communities.
When Andrew came to work for the Human Services Department, he was hired to serve as the Staff Development Program Coordinator. While serving in that role, his accomplishments led to the implementation of the department’s first Online
Learning Center (OLC) and video training library offering staff a flexible learning environment. In 2009, Andrew served as the project manager for the new Human
Services Department website, and collaborated on a the development of a marketing video for
, a Child Welfare collaborative. Andrew has contributed to a multitude of intra-department initiatives and he is also a teacher of open source technologies, organizational development, and training video production.
Andrew Stewart
Program Manager
Staff Development
Andrew serves on the Bay Area Human Resources Committee and is a facilitator for this year’s Bay Area Social
Services Consortium Development Program. Last year he was one of the featured presenters for the National Staff
Development and Training Association (NSDTA). Andrew holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Portland State
University, Oregon; and Business & Technology Education Diploma from the City of Bath College Bath, England.
Andrew’s is honored to serve with his colleagues in Staff Development who take great pride in HSD’s mission and value of partnership as the catalyst to confronting our most challenging problems.
Karina Aragon
Director
IHSS Public Authority
Karina Aragon moved into the role of overseeing In-Home Supportive Services
(IHSS) Public Authority (PA) and Quality Assurance (QA) at the end of November
2011. As the Public Authority Director Karina is responsible for overseeing all day-today operations of Quality Assurance and the Public Authority as well as monitoring contracts with local home care agencies and vendors for provider trainings and supplies. Karina serve as the liaison to State agencies, including the Department of
Health Care Services Medical Fraud Investigation and the California Department of
Social Services Quality Assurance unit as well as to the local IHSS providers union.
She also provides support to the IHSS Advisory Commission and is a member of the
California Association of Public Authorities for IHSS.
Prior to becoming the new Public Authority Director, Karina was an IHSS Social Work
Supervisor for six years and a IHSS Social Worker II for 3 years. She also served as the Representative Payee with the Public Guardian. Karina has worked for the county for 16 years and she served as an Eligibility Worker for her first four years with HSD.
Karina has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a Masters Degree in Public Policy from California
State University Monterey Bay. Karina is proud that she was able to participate in classes on politics and policy and the Federal Budget taught by Leon Panetta before he was called to Washington D.C. to serve in President
Obama’s administration.
In her new role as IHSS PA Director, Karina enjoys working with other community agencies and she is keeping busy learning all there is to know about the IHSS PA and Quality Assurance programs!
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Staff News . . .
Jane Batoon-Kurovski, Personnel Technician, Administrative Services
Jane began her career with the Human Services Department (HSD) as a Payroll Clerk in December
2000 and was promoted to Personnel Technician in July 2001. Jane is knowledgeable, organized, approachable, and a valuable team player.
In the spring of 2010, HSD’s Associate Personnel Analyst and Senior Personnel Analyst simultaneously resigned. As the only remaining personnel staff, for the next several months Jane continued her consistently solid performance and accepted new duties to address HSD’s personnel needs. She helped facilitate placements during layoffs, processed employee's requests for leaves, managed continuous recruitments, oriented new employees, and other duties she was asked to do. In her role as HSD’s key Personnel contact, Jane fields calls from over 400 HSD employees and helps guide staff through complex personnel policies and procedures. Jane is acknowledged for her excellent service and for her exemplary commitment to the staff of the Human Services Department.
Lorena Vazquez, Veterans Services Representative, Adult & Long Term Care
Lorena was hired in 1991 to serve as an HSD Eligibility Worker and she transitioned to Veterans
Services Representative in September 2000. In 2010, when Veterans Services moved to the
Emeline campus, with only six hours notice due to the closure of the Veterans Memorial Building,
Lorena assumed responsibility for tasks involved in the move in her usual calm, decisive, and cheerful way. She performs all aspects of her job in an exemplary fashion. She is the model of grace under pressure and her dedication to her clients is an example to all with whom she comes in contact. Lorena is able to analyze complex legal issues to effectively represent her clients when presenting claims and appeals to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the results she obtains are remarkable given the difficulties inherent in the practice of veteran’s advocacy. She is recognized for her commitment and dedicated service to Santa Cruz County veterans.
Eric Kollars, Departmental DP Coordinator, Administrative Services
Eric started working for HSD as a Typist Clerk in May 2006 and was promoted to Departmental DP
Coordinator in March 2007. Eric is a ‘people person’ dedicated to helping staff navigate the complexities of eligibility computer systems to aid the vulnerable in our community. Eric is a dedicated team player who is always willing to go the extra mile. Although he works ‘behind the scenes’, he plays a critical role helping Employment and Benefits Services Division staff. His ability to resolve issues in the CalWIN computer system ensures that clients receive the benefits in a timely manner and his technical expertise and positive attitude are greatly appreciated by HSD staff. He is always willing to look into complex technical situations and help resolve problems quickly. His ability to be a "Magician" and make problems disappear are qualities that are admired by his peers. Eric is acknowledged for the excellent service he provides and for his exemplary commitment to HSD staff.
The Low Income Health Program Eligibility & Outreach Committee
HSD Committee Members: Dee Ann Coulson, Irene Ruiz, Kimberly Petersen, & Julia Sheehan
The Low Income Health Program Eligibility & Outreach Committee members are recognized for their collaborative efforts to develop and successfully launch the Medi-Cruz Advantage, Low Income Health Program for residents of
Santa Cruz County. Committee members, including staff from the Health Services Agency (HSA) and the Human
Services Department, worked to blend required eligibility regulations with local needs and align regulations when possible with Medi-Cal, conducting data matches between different computer systems across the two departments.
HSA staff were cross trained on HSD’s CalWIN system, and an MOU was developed to define department roles and establish business processes for both departments. As a result of this extraordinary interdepartmental team effort,
Medi-Cruz Advantage will provide health insurance to approximately 2200 county residents who previously did not have comprehensive health care coverage.
Congratulations to the 2011 award winners!
Thank you for your outstanding contributions to the Human Services Department and the community.
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Kudos Corner
The results are in for the 2011 Holiday Food Drive and once again, HSD employees stepped up to help people struggling to make ends meet in our county.
HSD collected 856 pounds of food and $9786 which equals a whopping 30,215 pounds of food! The money alone will provide 39,144 meals for people in need in Santa Cruz County.
Kudos to all who planned, donated gifts, created crafts, cooked, set-up, cleaned-up, donated food, brought books, rented tables, wrote checks, played
BINGO, bought raffle tickets, bought food, and drank coffee to donate to the cause!
HSD Employee Recognition Award Nominees
Kudos to HSD’s Employee Recognition Award Nominees for outstanding service to our clients and our community!
Employment & Benefit Services 1020 Clerical Team
Carmen Chapman, Maria De Leon, Teresa Gonzalez,
Lourdes Hernandez, Silvia Felix, Emma Reyes, and
Doreen Prieto.
Family Preservation Court Team
James Cook, Trevor Davis, Briana Kahoano,
Janet Moncrief, and Rosie Murillo
Individuals
Brian Pereira
Bradley Richter
Debi Schmedes
Elizabeth Seher
Mick Settles
Patty Perez-Ruiz Demarest
Cheryl Deraiche
Jun Ding
Nan Hudson
Lydia Y. Lopez
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10
Service Years
Joyce Albright
Mary Ellen Ambriz
Lisa Bisby
Marilyn Dyson
Maribel Gomez
Joan Grewohl
Joan Lopez
Joan Macdonald
Sara Paz-Nethercutt
Noemi Quintano
LeAnne Raphael
Eusebio Vazquez
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Service Years
Katie Limas
Sean Mc Adam
Nancy Rodriquez
Sandor Rodriquez
Veronica Trujillo
Eligibility Professional Recognition Week
The week of January 23 - 27 was designated as a time to acknowledge our Department’s Eligibility Workers for their dedicated efforts to help individuals and families obtain benefits and resources to meet their basic needs. HSD’s
Eligibility Workers are on the front lines every day helping people in need of assistance. The work they do has a positive and lasting impact on many lives promoting selfsufficiency and strengthening individuals and families.
Employment & Training Specialist Recognition Week
HSD’s Employment & Training Specialists (ETS) provide support to individuals and families as they strive to achieve their employment and training goals. They provide specialized services to job seekers and help meet the workforce development needs of our community by working with local businesses to promote job opportunities. During the week of February 2024, HSD’s ETSs were honored for the work they do and the valuable services they provide to help lift individuals and families out of poverty.
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