issue 06-07
issue 06-07
July, 2006
Inside this issue...
Event celebrates Mental Health
Services Act plan approval and funding - Page 1
Health Educator noted for dedication to community - Page 1
Shaping the Health Care Agency's future - Page 2
Watch out for potential conflict of interests - Page 3
New PH Lab Manager announced - Page 3
Travel: Mileage Claim Tidbits
- Page 3
Albright named Ambassador of Peace - Page 4
Hill receives Red Cross Hero Award - Page 4
HCA staff walk the runway at UW Fashion Show - Page 5
Holly Veale appointed to Director's Office - Page 5
World No Tobacco Day celebrated at Civic Center
- Page 6
August Health Observances
- Page 6
TFC celebrates five years of service - Page 7
Physicians honored for community contributions
- Page 7
ACS adoption and services presented to BOS in May
- Page 8
HCA's Health Promotion & ACS participate in OC Fair
- Page 8
State Mental Health Director Stephen Mayberg, PhD, presented a symbolic check to Orange County in the amount of $25 million to implement the services contained in the plan for the first year. Pictured (left to right) are Behavioral Health Services Deputy Agency Director Mark Refowitz, Agency Director Julie Poulson, Supervisor Bill Campbell and Dr. Stephen Mayberg.
An event was held on June 7 at the Sisters of St. Joseph facility in Orange to celebrate the April 1, 2006 approval by the State Department of Mental Health of Orange County's Three Year Strategic Plan for the use of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Community Services and Supports funding.
State Mental Health Director Stephen Mayberg, PhD, was on hand at the event along with Supervisor Bill Campbell, Agency Director Julie Poulson and Behavioral Health Services Deputy Agency Director Mark Refowitz.
Dr. Mayberg offered celebratory remarks about Orange County's plan and commented that it was among the best received. He later presented a symbolic check in the amount of $25 million to the County to implement the services contained in the plan for the first year. A total of approximately $75 million will be presented to Orange County to carry out the three-year plan.
The Plan is the product of a year-long countywide community involved planning process and is designed to improve the lives of those adults afflicted with serious and persistent mental illness, and children with serious emotional disturbances by transforming the public mental health system. It further identifies the needs of the target population and the best information available about the types of strategies and services that are effective in improving mental health outcomes.
Anabel Garcia, a Health Educator within HCA's Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP) lends her skills as a bilingual, bicultural educator to the Hispanic community through educating monolingual parents, promoting cessation services and making community presentations on the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke.
She is responsible for monitoring some of the contracts funded through the Tobacco Free Communities (TFC) Project and provides technical assistance to the project's lead agencies to help them achieve their objectives.
Anabel's dedication to the community is reflected through her work with
the program's Youth Coalition, which con
sists of middle and high school youth volunteers who participate in
tobacco prevention activities. She serves as a mentor and encourages members to
be the best advocates they can be.
As noted by her colleague Sherryl Ramos, "Anabel supports the youth by encouraging them to attend college and to apply for scholarships. She is often writing letters of recommendation for the seniors in our program to demonstrate the outstanding work and dedication they have contributed while being members of the Coalition."
Anabel began her career with the County five years ago as an intern for TUPP, then was hired as a Health Education Associate where she began to coordinate the program's Youth Coalition.
HCA Managers convened at two off-site meetings during the month of March to review and define the Agency's Strategic Plan for 2006-2010. The goal for HCA's Plan is to guide activities and operations of the Agency for the next five years, as well as assist employees with defining their annual Performance Incentive Program (PIP) and Management Appraisal Plans (MAP).
Day one of the meetings took place at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point where managers had the opportunity to review results of the Employee Survey, identify the Agency's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and define the core business of HCA. They also confirmed the Agency's current vision, "Working together for a healthier tomorrow," and current mission of "We are dedicated to protecting and promoting the optimal health of individuals, families, and our diverse communities through Partnerships, Community Leadership, Assessment of Community Needs, Planning & Policy Development, Prevention and Education, and Quality Services."
The second off-site meeting was held in Costa Mesa at the city's Neighborhood Community Center, which provided a follow-up from day one where managers engaged in small and large group discussions regarding primary outcome indicators and strategies.
During the process, managers were provided with homework to ensure that their programs and services were represented in the Agency's overall plan. A copy of the full report will be sent out to all employees in the next few weeks, as well as the results of the HCA employee survey.
Regulatory Health Services Deputy Agency Director Mike Spurgeon, Environmental
Health Director Steven Wong, IT Security Officer Ron Moskowitz and Assistant Director Dave
Riley discuss primary outcome indicators and strategies.
Mental Health Services
continued from page 1
To view a copy of Orange County's plan, visit the County's MHSA website at www.ochealthinfo.com/prop63. In November 2004, California voters approved Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act, which became law effective January 1, 2005. The new law imposes an additional 1% tax on that portion of a taxpayer's taxable income in excess of one million dollars to fund the MHSA.
As members of the HCA team, we should act in the best interests of the County's citizens. This includes avoiding conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest between our personal interests and the best interests of the County or our clients. The best way to prevent conflicts is to recognize potential conflicts before getting involved.
To help spot potential conflicts, a few examples are listed below:
1. Using County property for private advantage.
This could be as blatant as stealing office supplies for home use. Or it might be using software which is licensed to the County for private consulting work.
2. Using prestige or influence of County employment for personal gain.
This could include using your position with the County to steer business to a supplier who offers you a discount on future purchases for personal use. Another example could be overseeing a County contract or agreement with a company that employs your spouse or other close relative.
3. Using confidential information acquired through employment for private gain or advantage.
An example could be sharing a vendor's pricing information to get a lower price from another vendor. The second vendor would have an unfair advantage with confidential information available to a County employee.
4. Accepting money or other consideration for performing an act required for your job.
For example, in appreciation for receiving assistance from HCA, a person or a business may offer an expression of gratitude such as a reward, gift certificate or other item of value.
Conflicts of interest are not always clear cut and often require careful analysis. Report any concerns or potential conflicts of interest to your supervisor, manager, HCA Human Resources or the Office of Compliance so that appropriate solutions may be implemented. For additional details on Conflict of Interest please refer to the HCA Code of Conduct or contact the Office of Compliance at (714) 834-3154.
HCA welcomes Lydia Mikhail who will serve as Public Health Laboratory Manager, a newly created position within the Agency. Under the direction of the Laboratory Director, Lydia will be the lead for laboratory operations including facilities, personnel and the implementation of Cerner Pathnet - the new laboratory information system.
Lydia has worked at the Public Health Laboratory for almost 16 years. She started as a Laboratory Assistant in September 1990, became a Public Health Microbiology Trainee in 1992, and obtained her Public Health Microbiologist certificate six months later.
She then rotated through all laboratory sections as a Microbiologist I and was promoted to Microbiologist II in 1998 and to a Supervising Public Health Microbiologist in 2000. In 2002, Lydia became the Administrative Supervisor for the Laboratory and also obtained her MBA in Health Care Management the same year.
The HCA Compliance Program offers a
confidential telephone hotline to voice your concerns about
any situation that may conflict with Compliance
Program principles. You may call the hotline 24 hours a day, 7
days a week at:
(866) 260-5636
Gold Star
continued from page 1
"She eagerly took on her new role as project coordinator for the coalition and attended yearly camps with our youth members and provided transportation to them while they attended events and meetings throughout the County," said TUPP Program Supervisor Barbara Brashear.
Anabel attended UCLA and received a Masters in Public Health and a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology with a minor in Spanish Linguistics. She became motivated to pursue a career in healthcare because it was important to her to make a contribution in some way to enhance the quality of life in her surrounding community.
She enjoys the teamwork between her colleagues and managers at TUPP and notes that each work well together in promoting the goals and philosophies of the TUPP program.
"We are all familiar with each other's projects and in knowing each other's responsibilities, we increase our skills and our ability to multi-task, " said Anabel. "We also appreciate what each of us brings to the team and have good rapport with each other."
In her spare time, Anabel enjoys volunteering at her church where she coordinates a leadership group of high school youth who provide community service and train their peers. She is also a member of the church's young adult group where they have the opportunity to chaperon youth on retreats.
"I had the opportunity to visit a Baja orphanage for a day, and it really opened my eyes to the needs that exist in so many places and the need for more people to contribute their time to different causes," said Anabel.
The Violence Prevention Coalition of Orange County (VPCOC) named Alan Albright, Children & Youth Services Division Manager, as a 2006 Ambassador of Peace for his leadership in the field of violence prevention during the 10th Annual VPCOC Ambassador of Peace Luncheon held at the Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa on June 2.
During the Awards luncheon, Alan was presented with a crystal "Angel of Peace" statuette as he was recognized for his active engagement in the prevention of violence in the Orange County community.
Each year in June, VPCOC presents the Ambassador of Peace Award to honor leaders in the field of violence prevention for their outstanding contributions and for their commitment to preventing and reducing violence in Orange County communities.
VPCOC has presented these awards to representatives from education, public services, business/media, and community agencies, as well as outstanding individuals and students working to promote peace in their communities. Some of this year's other winners include Erin Runnion, Chief Matt Vadala and Debbie Magnusen.
For more information about the Awards or to view a listing of past winners, visit the Violence Prevention Coalition of Orange County website at www.vpcoc.org.
Hill receives Red Cross Hero Award
Congratulations to Mari Hill, a
Registered Nurse in HCA's
Office of Patients' Rights & Advocacy Services, on receiving
the American Red Cross Hero Award during the Orange County Chapter
American Red Cross "Bravo for Bravery"
breakfast ceremony held at the Balboa Bay Club on June 7.
Mari was acknowledged for her work at the Houston Astrodome in Texas after Hurricane Katrina. While on duty as a nurse, she was instrumental in helping to save the life of a one-month old baby near death from respiratory obstruction.
Mari noticed the baby lying on her back on a cot with no adults around. The baby felt cold to the touch and was barely breathing. Mari quickly took the baby to the only neonatal nurse present where that nurse cleared the baby's airway.
The awards ceremony also recognized several other individuals from Orange County as "heroes" for their demonstration of extraordinary acts of courage.
What's UP is a newsletter for employees
of the County of Orange, CA, Health Care Agency.
Editors
Tricia Landquist Landquist
Howard Sutter
Anne Fialcowitz
Phone (714) 834-6644
E-mail TLandquist@ochca.com
FAX (714) 834-7644
Pony Bldg. 38-S, 4th Floor
—Joe & David Brown
HCA staff walk the runway at UW Fashion Show
HCA and County employees walked the runway at a United Way Fashion Show coordinated by HCA's Medical Services for Indigents (MSI) Program on June 29th at the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room to help raise funds for this year's campaign.
Staff donned clothing from Weekenders, purses and bags from Mama's Got a Brand New Bag, jewelry from Cookie Lee and make-up by Mary Kay cosmetics. Regulatory Health Services Deputy Agency Director Mike Spurgeon served as emcee as Jeff Nottke, from Quality Improvement & Program Compliance played his keyboard and provided background music for the event.
Escorts Jose Santos, HCA Purchasing; Ryan Drabek, Animal Care Services (ACS); and Greg Clark, Publishing Services lead each participant down the runway as they modeled their outfits. Agency Director Julie Poulson was escorted by her husband Randy and ACS Director Jennifer Phillips brought along her dog Montreaux.
Thank you to the following models who helped to make the event a huge success: Sharron Anderson, CEO's Office; Lisa Bauer, HCA Human Resources; Joann Bowland, HCA Facilities Operations; Thea Bullock, Office of Compliance; Rosemary Dey, CEO's Office; Sandra Fair, HCA Behavioral Health Services; Melva Gipson, HCA Purchasing; Marlene Gomez, HCA Accounting; Dorothy Hendrickson, HCA Behavioral Health Services; Latanya Mitchell, HCA Financial & Administrative Services; Maria Nofal, DA Child Support Services; Natalie Anastasi-Perrea, HCA Management Services; Jennifer Phillips, Animal Care Services; Andrea Portenier, HCA Public Health Services; Julie Poulson, HCA Director; Dana Schultz, HCA Budget Technical Unit; Teri Schultz, HCA Information Technology; Laura Sudlow, CEO's Office; Prity Thanki, HCA Director's Office; Sue Warnke, Custodian of Records; and Diane Washington, HCA Correctional Medical Services.
HCA welcomes Holly Veale to the new position of Manager of Municipal and Community Relations for HCA's Director's Office.
In this capacity, Holly will be working to build partnerships and foster relationships between HCA and the many communities it serves including community organizations, nonprofit agencies, city councils and other government entities. Her position will help to ensure that the Agency's efforts on health related issues are coordinated and communicated in an efficient and effective manner.
Holly has 20 years of experience in creating effective collaborations among business, government and community interests, as well as program creation and direction. She began in local government and subsequently worked for Senator Marian Bergeson. For the past 10 years, she has served as Chief of Staff for Supervisor Tom Wilson.
Holly began her new position at HCA on July 7 and her office is located at the 405 W. 5th Street building on the seventh floor. She can be reached at (714) 834-4553 or by e-mail at hveale@ochca.com.
Jim Walker, Founder of STAMP addresses attendees at the World No Tobacco Day
event held at Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana on
May 31st. Pictured next to him is a resolution
from the Board of Supervisors declaring May
31st World No Tobacco Day in Orange County.
To celebrate World No Tobacco Day on May 31st, the Orange County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition (TUPC) held an educational event at Civic Center Plaza in Santa Ana to raise awareness of how destructive tobacco is to one's health, others and the environment.
This year's theme, "Tobacco: Deadly in Any Form or Disguise," focused on the many forms of tobacco, not only in cigarettes or cigars, but also in products designed under healthier names, fruity flavors or more attractive looking packaging.
Many health and educational organizations hosted booths at the event to showcase information and resources including HCA's Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP), the Earth Resource Foundation, Orange County OnTrack, Stop Tobacco Abuse of Minors Pronto (STAMP) and the UCI Student Task Force to name a few.
TUPP celebrated the day with a booth on how Orange County cities have protected their citizens by providing smoke-free ordinances. Their world map "report card" displayed tobacco related laws from nations around the world. A display of worldwide cigarette package health warnings was also available for viewing.
The event's keynote speaker, UCI's Shahrad Lotfiour, gave scientific findings about brain damage of teens that smoke. Other speakers included event organizer, TUPC Vice President, and founder of STAMP, Jim Walker; Phil Falcetti, President of TUPC and CEO of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Orange County; and several students from Century and Serrano High Schools.
Cataract Awareness Month
Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
Psoriasis Awareness Month
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Month
World Breastfeeding Week 1-7
National Health Center Week 6-12
—Leroy Paige
An event was held at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana on June 19th to celebrate the fifth year that the Tobacco Free Communities (TFC) project has been providing free cessation services to the Orange County community.
The lead agencies involved in the project including the American Lung Association, Anaheim Memorial Medical Center, Orange County On Track and Cal State Long Beach to name a few, celebrated its second cycle of the project, while the cities of Orange, Laguna Niguel and Fountain Valley celebrated its first year participating.
Tobacco Free Communities is a project funded by the Health Care Agency's Tobacco Use Prevention Program and focuses on tobacco education, prevention and policy work in three funded cities in Orange County. It provides cessation services to teens and adults free of charge. For more information about TFC, contact Barbara Brashear, TUPP Program Supervisor at (714) 834-3232 or by e-mail at bbrashear@ochca.com. For free help in quitting smoking call 1-866-New-Lung.
The theme "Flower Power—Year of the Garden" resonated throughout this year's 114th Orange County Fair as attendees visited the annual event which featured a variety of Fair-themed foods, rides and entertainment.
Joining in the Fair's festivities were HCA's Health Promotion Program and Animal Care Services (ACS) as they hosted a booth inside the Orange County Building to inform fair visitors of the many available resources, services and programs HCA offers.
Both HCA booths featured an interactive component to engage visitors. Health Promotion featured an educational healthy eating and lifestyles game, while ACS incorporated information about dog bite prevention, exotic animal care and responsible pet ownership into their booth activity.
Also participating along with HCA were other agencies including the Orange County Sheriff's Department, Registrar of Voters, Department of Fish and Game and Orange County Vector Control to name a few.
Thank you to all the friendly and helpful employees who volunteered their time to staff the Agency's booth during the fair.
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