To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Departmental
SUBJECT:
title
Temporary Employment of Retired Annuitant as Senior Substance Abuse Counselor - Department of Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health.
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the employment of Bridget Bush as a temporary retired annuitant Senior Substance Abuse Counselor - Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Behavioral Health (BH) (class 0492, salary range 381, step E); and
2. Adopt the attached Resolution for an exception to the 180-day wait period for post-retirement employment.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Behavioral Health Fund (1180)
DISCUSSION:
Bridget Bush, Senior Substance Abuse Counselor - BH, retired from county employment on Aug. 27, 2021 with 20 years of experience working with DHHS. Most recently, Ms. Bush has been providing substance use disorder services at the Community Corrections Resource Center (CCRC), which is a collaborative program between the Humboldt County Probation Department and DHHS that serves individuals recently released from prison on AB109 probation. A replacement Senior Substance Abuse Counselor - BH has not yet been appointed, and Ms. Bush has graciously agreed to stay on in an extra help capacity to assist DHHS during the transitional period and so as to provide uninterrupted operation of critical programs within DHHS and to ensure continuity of services to this vulnerable population until a new Senior Substance Abuse Counsel - BH is assigned.
Government Code section 7522.56 requires that Ms. Bush’s post-retirement employment commence no earlier than 180 days after her retirement day, which is February 27, 2022, unless your Board, in a public meeting, certifies the nature of the employment and that the appointment is necessary to fill a critically needed position before 180 days have passed. Accordingly, DHHS is seeking your Board’s approval of Ms. Bush as a temporary retired annuitant Senior Substance Abuse Counselor - BH and the adoption of the attached Resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Upon approval, the extra-help assignment of Senior Substance Abuse Counselor - BH for Ms. Bush will be funded through Behavioral Health Fund 1180. Cost reimbursement of this extra help position will be funded from Public Safety Realignment AB109. The additional cost of FY 2021-22 extra help hours is estimated to be $28,186.92. There is sufficient appropriation in DHHS-Behavioral Health Substance Use Disorder (SUD) budget unit 1180-425 due to salary savings from vacant positions.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing community-appropriate levels of service and protecting vulnerable populations.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board may choose not to approve the retention of Ms. Bush as extra help to perform the job duties of a Senior Substance Abuse Counselor - BH, however this is not recommended because leaving the position vacant, even in the short term, will likely result in CCRC experiencing reduced efficiencies and less-than optimal levels of services.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution for Exception to the 180 day wait period
Attachment 2: Government code sections 7522.56 and 21224
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: 21-1419