TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Christine Briceño, Chief Human Resources Officer
REPORT BY: Joy Cadiz, Staff Services Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution Amending the Departmental Allocation List for the Health & Human Services Agency
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution amending the Departmental Allocation List for the Health & Human Services Agency. (Fiscal Impact: $3,200 Expense; Health and Human Services Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
Non-Management Behavioral Health Requests
The CEO’s Office, HHSA, and Human Resources reviewed all positions allocated to HHSA in Tyler Munis against what was adopted and authorized within the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget. The following requests reconcile three discrepancies:
• Delete 1.0 FTE Alcohol & Drug Counselor III
• Delete 1.0 FTE Supervising Mental Health Worker
• Delete 0.5 FTE Mental Health Counselor - Licensed and add a 1.0 FTE Mental Health Counselor - Licensed
These requests do not have a fiscal impact as HHSA did not include the Alcohol & Drug Counselor III and Supervising Mental Health Worker positions for funding in their budget and the increase in the Mental Health Counselor - Licensed FTE was funded as a 1.0 FTE.
Behavioral Health Management Request
HHSA requested and Human Resources agrees that a 1.0 FTE Staff Services Manager is necessary to provide programmatic leadership, ensure fiscal and contractual oversight, and align programs with state and federal requirements and Behavioral Health goals. The position supports state-mandated transitions to value-based payment and performance accountability and strengthens internal coordination to proactively identify and resolve issues. In exchange, a 1.0 FTE Assistant Deputy Director - Behavioral Health, will be deleted. The current needs of the Behavioral Health Division require a lower-level management position which results in approximately $1,200 in savings for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Child Welfare Services Request
HHSA requested and Human Resources agrees that the administrative needs of Child Welfare Services have increased beyond the scope of a 1.0 FTE Project Manager and instead requires a 1.0 FTE Staff Services Manager. State and federal program mandates related to prevention planning activities, federal case reviews, and quality assurance/continuous quality improvement efforts have increased in complexity. Additionally, this position will assume responsibility for the supervision of a unit of Staff Services Analysts. This request results in approximately a $7,000 increase for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Public Health Request
HHSA requested to add a 1.0 FTE Licensed Vocational Nurse to increase capacity of community health education and outreach in the areas of communicable disease prevention, particularly for vaccine preventable diseases. Human Resources agrees that a Licensed Vocational Nurse will increase the Communicable Diseases program’s ability to investigate infectious diseases, as well as the Immunization program’s ability to provide community vaccinations and fulfill health testing needs. The deletion of a vacant 1.0 FTE Communicable Disease Investigator reflects a shift from community needs during COVID-19 which included disease monitoring and reporting to post-pandemic needs which includes other infectious diseases and sexually transmitted infections. The Licensed Vocational Nurse will allow for flexible programming and service delivery, including the provision of vaccines as part of the Be Well Mobile Services. This request results in approximately $3,600 in savings for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Self Sufficiency Services Request
HHSA requested to add a 1.0 FTE Eligibility Specialist II and delete a 1.0 FTE Screener to improve customer service and efficiency in the Self-Sufficiency Division. Human Resources agrees as a Screener is more limited in scope than an Eligibility Specialist. An Eligibility Specialist will be able to meet client needs at first point of contact and without having to do a hand-off from a Screener to an Eligibility Specialist. Additionally, the Eligibility Specialist provides greater emphasis on payment accuracy which avoids fiscal penalties. This request results in approximately a $1,000 increase for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The approximate $3,200 increase in salary and benefits for these are budgeted.
Requested Action:
Amend the Department Allocation List for the Health & Human Services Agency by deleting 1.0 FTE Alcohol & Drug Counselor III, 1.0 FTE Supervising Mental Health Worker, 0.5 FTE Mental Health Counselor - Licensed, 1.0 FTE Assistant Deputy Director - Behavioral Health, 1.0 FTE Project Manager, 1.0 FTE Communicable Disease Investigator, 1.0 FTE Screener and adding 1.0 FTE Mental Health Counselor - Licensed, 2.0 FTE Staff Services Manager, 1.0 FTE Licensed Vocational Nurse, 1.0 FTE Eligibility Specialist II, effective March 14, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Position reconciliation and aligning the appropriate classifications to fulfill various changing needs across HHSA. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Any increase in salary and benefits for future fiscal years will be budgeted accordingly. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Not approving the requests would cause an artificial inflation in the vacancy rate and positions would not be filled with appropriate classifications to address changing departmental needs. |
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Additional Information |
County Initiative: Elevate County Service and Workforce Excellence |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.