Sonoma County Grand Jury
• 2016-2017
Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Caring for the Most Vulnerable
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 4 findings
F1
Miscommunication related to retirement benefits in the Public Health Division contributed to the resignation of experienced Public Health Nurses.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
To avoid a rise in financial and social costs associated with ACEs, the Director of Department of Health Services should develop a plan for maintaining or increasing adequate staffing levels of MCAH Public Health Nurses. It is recommended that the improvements be implemented no later than October 31, 2017; and it is requested that information on the plan be submitted to the Sonoma County Grand Jury by that date.
F2
Poor communication between the upper management of Department of Health Services and the staff in the trenches has resulted in poor morale.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Because the prevention of ACEs deserves to be the among the highest budget priorities of the Public Health Division in Sonoma County, the Board of Supervisors should provide increased funding to MCAH.
F3
The policy of reducing PHN outreach to at-risk populations creates the appearance of efficiency by failing to count these clients, and thus creates a false impression of achievement.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Directors of Department of Health Services and Public Health Division develop a plan to improve communication between all positions within Department of Health Services.
F4
MCAH’s ability to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences has been seriously undermined by the reduction in Field Nursing staff from eleven to six.
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 5The misunderstanding about retirement benefits that resulted in losses of experienced staff is an example of the disconnect between management and front-line employees. Poor communication has resulted in low morale and a lack of knowledge of DHS long- term strategy. Preventing ACEs with upstream investments pays long-term dividends, and yet it appears that DHS is reducing its commitment to the effort.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office