(80) Health & Human Services Agency

Recommended Budget FY20/21

Departmental Overview

The Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is responsible for providing access to social services for all eligible individuals and families throughout San Benito County. HHSA has six main divisions that are recorded in five separate special revenue funds. The funds and detailed budget information can be found by clicking on one of the links to the right.

Divisions

Administration
Public Health/Environmental Health
Public Authority
Community Service & Workforce Development
Migrant Center

Strategic Plan Focus Areas

  • Operational Development and Excellence
  • Community Engagement
  • Healthy and Safe Communities
Detailed Information can be found here: Strategic Plan Overview

Staff

Recent Departmental Accomplishments

  • Successfully lead the County’s COVID-19 response efforts, which started in January 2020, with the County having case #11 and #12 in the entire United States. These efforts not only addressed the community’s public health needs, but concurrently worked with neighboring governments and the regional business community to understand and navigate COVID-19 rules and regulations at the local, state, and federal levels.
  • Refreshed the Agency’s fleet by introducing vehicles with contemporary safety features and improved fuel efficiencies.
  • Continued to provide a robust network of services to individuals experiencing homelessness and/or housing insecurity.

Top Departmental Concerns

  • Navigate short-term financial impacts of COVID-19 that include negative impacts to funding streams like sales tax and vehicle license fees while managing access to one-time funding sources from the state and federal governments.
  • Managing the community’s expanding and dynamic needs for social services.
  • Intra-governmental competition for limited funding at the state and federal levels.
  • Staff recruitment and retention.
  • Securing long-term funding for the H.O.M.E. Resource Center.

Long Range Planning Goals (3-5 years) For Department

  • Identify and plan for any long-term financial impacts of COVID-19.
  • Provide the community and staff with a modern facility that allows staff to facilitate seamless access to social services while prioritizing innovative service delivery, workforce efficiency and accuracy, safety, and the responsible use of limited funding.
  • Work with our partners, including the City of Hollister, to identify a long-term funding formula for the H.O.M.E. Resource Center.