REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
July 13, 2021
FROM
CURT HAGMAN, Chairman and Fourth District Supervisor, Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
Appointment of Diana Alexander, Assistant Executive Officer of Department Operations, as the County Director of Public Social Services and Human Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Appoint Diana Alexander, Assistant Executive Officer of Department Operations, as the County Director of Public Social Services and Human Services, consisting of the County departments providing and administering public social services, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 10801 and County Code sections 12.3504, 12.3505 and 12.3506.
(Presenter: Leonard X. Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer, 387-5417)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not result in the use of any Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost), as it is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Pursuant to the requirements of County Code section 12.3502 and Welfare and Institutions Code section 10800, the Human Services Group is the established group responsible for administration of public social services (defined in Welfare and Institutions Code section 10051 as activities and functions involved in providing aid or services, or both, including health care services and medical assistance to individuals in need) within the County. Pursuant to County Code section 12.3505, the Assistant Executive Officer - Human Services will be responsible for the Human Services Group; establishing and administering policy and procedures; coordinating and advising on human services programs with other County organizational units and representatives of business and industry; and will serve as assistant to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on matters related to public social services. Currently, the Assistant Executive Officer - Human Services serves as both the head of the Human Services Group and County Director of Public Social Services.
Homelessness throughout the county is one of our biggest challenges and a high priority for the Board of Supervisors (Board). The newly established Community Revitalization Group will coordinate and oversee the efforts of the Community Development and Housing Department and the Office of Homeless Services. An influx of American Resource Plan Act funding combined with the successes in sheltering the homeless the County achieved during the COVID-19 pandemic present an unprecedented opportunity to make transformational strides in our effort to end homelessness. The dedication of an Assistant Executive Officer position to the Community Revitalization Group is providing focus exclusively on the issue of homelessness. Based on her knowledge experience, and record of success leading the County’s COVID-19 homelessness efforts, on June 14, 2021, Assistant Executive Officer CaSonya Thomas was appointed to lead the Community Revitalization Group, including development and implementation of the County’s Homeless Strategic Plan.
As part of the reorganization that created the Community Revitalization Group and to ensure appropriate focus on and resources for the County’s efforts to end homelessness and achieve other community revitalization goals, the departments that compose the Human Services Group have been placed under the supervision of Assistant Executive Officer of Department Operations Diana Alexander, with the support of Deputy Executive Officers, to ensure continued cross-department collaboration.
Per Welfare and Institution Code section 10801, a “County Director of Public Social Services” must be appointed in each county by the Board of Supervisors (Board), and per County Code sections 12.3503 and 12.3504, the head of the Human Services Group shall carry the title of Assistant Executive Officer - Human Services, and appointment of this position is to be made by the Board. Therefore, it is recommended that the Board appoint the current Assistant Executive Officer of Department Operations, Diana Alexander, to fulfill the role of County Director of Public Social Services and the Human Services Group.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Michelle Blakemore, County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 6, 2021; Finance (Stephenie Shea, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on July 2, 2021; County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on July 2, 2021.