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 Hello team,
It’s spring, and change is in the air.
We've had some mixed news on the budget front. With the governor’s revised budget, some of the worries around IHSS funding have dissipated, although there still exists some concern around funding for CalWORKs. Our own budgets are prepared and we anticipate holding steady over the next year.
With the departures of division heads Maureen Bauman (ASOC) and Rebecca Mellott (Administration), we’ll be seeing some new faces in the coming weeks. I’m grateful to Maureen and Rebecca for their leadership and service over the years, and wish them all the best on their adventures to come.
If there’s any sign that we’re not just equipped to cope with change, but in fact embracing and pushing towards positive change – it’s the six awards our divisions received this year from the National Association of Counties (the most ever!). You can read more about them here, and view videos below from a few of the winning programs. These achievement awards go to the most innovative and collaborative programs across the state, and the six programs are making real change for our residents.
We know there’s other exciting work being done every day, and we want to highlight that. If you have stories to share and inspire others – from the smallest day-to-day interactions with clients, to new programs and beyond – please send us a note via our news submission form. Your work deserves to be celebrated.
Best,
Jeff
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 Adult System of Care
5 Questions with Maureen Bauman
Many people living with mental illness know the signs of stigma too well: shame, social isolation, silent stares, insensitive language. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to spread awareness, stand up to stigma and engage in open, thoughtful conversations around mental health. Maureen Bauman, outgoing director of Placer County’s Adult System of Care, has dedicated her career to serving Placer County residents with mental illness — about one in five adults in any given year. On May 4, Maureen was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sacramento chapter of the American Society for Public Administration , in recognition of her decades of outstanding public service. She answers five questions about her work. READ MORE
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 Environmental Health
County partners with nonprofits to ensure kitchen safety for mass food preparation
When the temporary homeless shelter in North Auburn first opened in 2015, it lacked a kitchen. That presented a problem for the county’s environmental health staff: Without a space for mass meal preparation, how could they ensure food safety for shelter residents? Allowing kind-hearted donors to prepare such a large quantity of food in their own small home kitchens posed a host of risks, from salmonella to E. coli. The solution was a program that creates partnerships with nonprofits and is having an impact far beyond the walls of the shelter. "It’s just a matter of collaboration, communication and a little outreach,” said Environmental Health Director Wesley Nicks. READ MORE
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 Human Services
CalFresh Awareness Month puts spotlight on hunger, nutrition
Every Wednesday outside the Community House in Kings Beach, scores of people line up to receive food: fresh vegetables, fruit, grains and more. The free giveaways are hosted by Project MANA, a nonprofit organization working to reduce hunger in the Tahoe/Truckee region. In an area known for sparkling scenery and luxury vacation rentals, there are deep pockets of poverty and food insecurity. The weekly food distributions have also been a gateway to enroll families in CalFresh, the state’s food assistance program that provides qualified low-income households with consistent access to nutritious food. Placer County staff are on hand, alongside Project MANA staff, to process applications and put families at ease. READ MORE
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 Public Health
Oral health program for young children with screenings, education expands
When a child is extra squirmy or a bit shy, Michele Eastwood knows it’s time to enlist the help of her trusted assistants. She reaches for two stuffed animals with cartoonishly large teeth — a yellow dog and a blue dragon — and starts to examine their gums. The dental professional is passionate about the services she provides for Placer County’s “Dental Days” events. In her regular job at Rockville Smiles, a pediatric dentist office in Roseville, she’s honed the ability to calm down anxious toddlers and get a peek inside their mouths. It’s a skill she now brings to the Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, office on Sunset Blvd. in Rocklin twice a month. WIC serves families with limited resources, encouraging healthy diet and lifestyle choices through education, support and vouchers. At Dental Days, WIC participants with children under five years of age can receive information about oral hygiene, insurance coverage and providers. Children are visually screened for tooth decay, and fluoride varnish applied to their teeth for protection. Eastwood then refers families to local dental providers for follow-up care. READ MORE
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Animal Services
Community partners, innovative programs fuel progress in county’s cat adoptions
Four kittens have taken over the office in Karen Olivier’s Rocklin home, crawling across chairs and burrowing in the carpet. They came to her at two weeks old, tiny and dependent on bottle feeding every few hours. Olivier is a volunteer with Kitten Central, a nonprofit organization that rescues neonatal kittens and places them with trained foster families until they are old enough to be adopted. Placer County’s partnership with Kitten Central is one of a handful of programs that have spurred a dramatic improvement in cat adoptions. Compared to last year, the county’s cat adoption rate has risen by 90 percent. READ MORE
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 Children's System of Care
Youth Impact Awards celebrate students who make a difference
In April, the Placer County Youth Commission recognized four high school students who had made a lasting impact on their school and community. Sixty young people applied for the third annual Youth Impact Awards, and after an arduous selection process, commissioners selected the winners.
This year’s scholarship recipients, by award category, were: Stephanie Lunar—Overcoming Adversity, Tess Bratkovitch—Community Service, Veda Lelchook—Leadership and Apostolos Delis—Applied Knowledge and Talents. Several other students received honorable mention awards for their achievements. READ MORE
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 Administrative Services
Administrative services bids farewell to Rebecca Mellott
Placer County is saying goodbye to Rebecca Mellott, director of administrative services for the health and human services department.
In June, Rebecca will take a new position in Yolo County as assistant director of health and human services. Yolo is a new Health and Human Services Department, and is working diligently on an integration process to bring programs and services under a collaborative umbrella. Working in the sophisticated Placer model for the past six years has been a priceless experience, Rebecca said.
“I’m excited to take what I’ve learned here, and leverage that in my new role,” she said. “I’ve also been privileged to have good leadership and role models while working in Placer County.” READ MORE
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