Hello Health and Human Services colleagues, 

So far, 2017 has been a year of changes and challenges for all of us in HHS. Through it all - from rolling out new programs to rolling with Mother Nature’s punches - you’ve been innovative and adaptable.

I want to particularly extend my gratitude to all of you for the professionalism and dedication you displayed during the Oroville Dam spillway emergency. It was inspiring to see members of our divisions come together with other Placer County departments and with community members to provide a safe haven for our neighbors to the north. 

As we look forward, I know there is some uncertainty about the degree to which federal and state policy changes will impact our programs. We will continue to monitor developments and prepare for a variety of outcomes — but regardless, I know that together we will continue to serve the residents of Placer County with compassion, resourcefulness and efficiency. 

Check out the stories below for some examples of what your coworkers have accomplished over just the last few months, with much more to come as we head into spring and summer!

Jeff

Children’s System of Care

Placer Children's Emergency Shelter closes its doors 

The last two youth left the Placer Children's Emergency Shelter and the facility formally closed its doors Dec. 12. The shelter, which opened in 1989, closed in support of new state legislation that seeks better outcomes for California's children by phasing out institutional environments in favor of family-based care. Placer is the first California county with a shelter to convert to the family model. The Children's System of Care (CSOC) is now partnering with Loomis-based Koinonia Family Services to meet our need for emergency care of children in crisis. READ MORE

Human Services

Employers, CalWORKS customers celebrated for successful transitions to employment

In November, the Human Services division’s Employment Services program and the Business Advantage Network hosted their second annual recognition ceremony. More than 50 customers who received CalWORKs within the last year were honored for successfully gaining employment. Each received a certificate, and many shared stories of overcoming struggles with homelessness, addiction, low self-worth and unemployment. READ MORE

Public Health

New program brings healthy smiles to children

What if all children in Placer County had a healthy smile and regular dental care? That’s the vision of the new Placer County Children’s Oral Health Program.  Funded through First 5 Placer, the Public Health division launched a new program that aims to provide dental education and early prevention strategies to children at Placer County Women, Infants and Children (WIC) sites. 

This new program integrates on-site oral health education strategies with other WIC services, and uses WIC as the entry point for oral health assessment, preventive services and referral for follow-up care. READ MORE

Animal Services

Program provides care for beloved pets at temporary homeless shelter 

The Animal Services division collaborated with nonprofit organizations to construct animal kennels at the temporary homeless shelter in Auburn, and offered veterinary care for pets whose owners do not normally have access to services due in part to their homelessness. 

As part of the program, more than 20 dogs as well as four cats, one bird, and one rabbit have received wellness exams and vaccination services. READ MORE

Adult System of Care

Health 360 clients getting results

The Adult System of Care (ASOC) division’s Health 360 program provides a new service to clients to integrate mental health, substance use and physical health care services focused on increasing wellness and building a sense of community.   

The Health 360 program has over 80 clients, with each person assigned to both a health coach and a mental health professional for assistance. Services include individual and group treatment, medication reconciliation, smoking cessation, nutrition planning, health education and access to healthy activities such as walking groups.

Within the first six months of the Health 360 program, 63 percent of participants lost weight and 7.4 percent were deemed no longer at risk according to their Body Mass Index (BMI). READ MORE

Administrative Services

New guidelines lead to more oversight for federal grant processes

In an effort to deliver more efficient, effective and transparent government and nonprofit services, the federal Office of Management and Budget streamlined eight previous circulars, or guidelines, into one document known as the Super Circular.  The goal of the Super Circular is to improve the administration of federal grants — and, ultimately, the outcomes and results associated with federal grants — by streamlining grant rules to:

• Eliminate duplicative and conflicting guidance
• Focus on performance over compliance
• Encourage efficient use of information technology
• Treat costs consistently
• Limit costs to best use federal resources
• Strengthen oversight
• Target audits to focus on the risk of fraud, waste and abuse

 READ MORE

Environmental Health

Dispatches from the field

Like the antivirus software on a computer, Environmental Health staff work behind the scenes so we rarely have to worry about the food we eat, the water we drink, or chemicals released into the environment. 

Just one example? Over the holiday season, staff responded to a report of a possible fuel release that could contaminate drinking water sources. On Dec. 27, a concerned citizen called into the complaint line to report a fuel spill into Dry Creek. The caller stated that while he was walking his dog near the Dry Creek Community Park in west Roseville, he smelled diesel and saw an oily sheen on top of the creek water. READ MORE