HCA 2020 Steve Ambriz Award Nominees

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STEVE AMBRIZ

team excellence award cer emony

Meet the

STEVE AMBRIZ

award nominees

Get to know the 9 nominees who are up for this year’s Steve Ambriz Awards. One winning team will be announced during the Awards presentation.

Save the date November 4, 2020 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

virtually through WebEx (or Zoom)

Don’t forget to mark your calendars!

Community and Nursing Service Division

Adolescent Family Life Program and Cal-Learn

Back row from left to right: Luiza Cole, Rhena Carusillo, Elvira Navarro, Francisca Moreno, Denisse Carrillo, Natalie Nguyen. Front Row, Left to right: Susanna Onofre, Amalia Lam, Gerri Lynn Arias, Tammy Nguyen, Karla Campos, Ana Gallardo. Not pictured: Pauline Bui, Agnes Im.

The Adolescent and Family Life Program (AFLP) and Cal-Learn are home visiting programs, providing case management services to pregnant, parenting and expecting (males) youth under 19 years of age. AFLP helps prevent the repeat of pregnancies in youth and continued support of client’s high school diploma. AFLP is a nationwide, voluntary, strength-based case management program designed to support pregnant and parenting with integrated life planning. The program emphasizes building adolescents’ strengths to help Cal-Learn program’s primary requirement which is the participant “learn” versus CalWORKs’ primary requirement that the participant look for “work.” Cal-Learn participants may volunteer to remain in Cal-Learn after their 19th birthday if they are actively pursuing their high school education.

The team has provided support to the Public Health Services and Covid-19 response team. Staff has taken additional job roles while maintaining their caseloads. Social workers assist with answering the County of Orange’s Health Referral Line (HRL), providing translation to Case Contact and Investigation (CCI). Nurses while they speak with Covid-19 positive patients, providing resources and referrals to community members affected by the pandemic, assist in the evacuation of sites with a Coronavirus outbreak, as well as representing the County of Orange’s Public Health Communicable Disease Control Department (CDCD) when securing isolation and quarantine locations for patients who cannot safely quarantine or isolate at home.

Adult and Older Adult Behavioral Health

Anaheim Clinic

Row 1 from left to right: Dolores Castaneda SCI, Dr. Jeffrey Forrest, Cherie Azodi, Em Bui, Octavio Cruz, Kevin Ewinger. Row 2 from left to right: Sandy Rosen, Brian Tuason, Carol Triplett, Dr. Angela Yu, Chayanne Gonzalez, John Parmenter. Row 3 from left to right: Dr. Michael Wexler, Jill Lubarski, Jade Wilson, Jenalie McCollam, Camilo Medina, David Cedeno. Row 4 from left to right: Rhonda Cruz, Linda Young, Katherine Boelts SCI, Sang-Patty Tang, Jazmine Fisher, Catherine Shreenan SCII, Not pictured: Mark Shugarman, Dr. Khang Nguyen, Salvador Barrios, Dr. Laila Akhbarati, Jeannie Meyers

The Adult and Older Adult Behavioral Services Anaheim clinic team provides comprehensive mental health services to predominately low-income and state-insured citizens of northern Orange County, especially to residents of Anaheim, Atwood, Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia and Yorba Linda, to clients ranging from 18-60 years of age. The program focuses on assisting consumers that have experienced hospitalization, incarceration, other significant functional impairment as the result of mental health conditions (Severe Persistent Mental Illness, SPMI). Despite significant challenges in care provision created by a necessary decrease in direct client contact as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as significant shifts in personnel roles and responsibilities, the Anaheim team has evolved to traverse barriers to clinical care with innovative, and collaborative tactics. The team focuses on providing quality mental health support to consumers who frequently have no other place to turn to, with services both in-clinic and out in the community. The program continues to evolve and adapt to improve services despite difficult and novel barriers to care to serve a large population base. Many innovations (e.g. expansions of roles for mental health workers and peer specialists, virtual platform utilization by psychiatrists and intake counselors, strategies for incorporating telecommuting employees) are certain to endure and become a permanent part of our operations in future years.

Adult and Older Adult Behavioral Health

Pacific Asian Unit Santa Ana Clinic

Top row from left to right: Tiffany Tran, Huong Ngo, Jennifer Vu. Bottom row from left to right: Kimberley Sligar, Lai Dorman, Tommy Nguyen.

Not pictured: Chrisina Trinh

Provides outpatient behavioral health services to approximately 80 adults age 18-60 with severe and persistent mental illness. Often referred after psychiatric hospitalization or incarceration longer than 7 days or at least 2 times a year. The target population is the unserved, or under-served adults whom are monolingual Vietnamese, Chinese, and other Asian Pacific Islanders, often times struggling with chronic homelessness, undocumented, and unfunded (no health insurance). The clinic provides an acute level of care to our clients in order to stabilize them with the ultimate goal of linking the clients back to lower level of care community based services such as private psychiatrists, non-profit mental health treatment, and county contract programs. The goal of Adult and Older Adult Behavioral Health Pacific Asian Unit Santa Ana Clinic is to meet the clients where they are currently at and to build upon each client’s unique, individual strengths in order to assist each client on their path to recovery while decreasing hospitalization and assisting them working toward living an independent and productive life.

Adult and Older Adult Behavioral Health Services/ Substance Use Disorder

Westminster Clinic

Staff listed: Emily Belford, Angel Cabello, Josh Corsby, Ti-An Huang, Melissa Kusler, Blanca Mendoza, Nita pegadiotes, Deana Scarberry, Krystle Torres, Catherine Zubia

The program is an outpatient alcohol and drug program that engages individuals who are struggling with a substance use addiction and seeking support to obtain or sustain sobriety. Services include group & individual therapy, drug testing, case management, crisis intervention, and linkage to community resources. Clients who enroll in the SUD program are primarily referred by the Probation Department or Social Services, with a portion of clients who are self-referred. The Westminster SUD clinic is a part of the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC ODS) which allows our program to better assist clients who may need a higher or lower level of care.

The clinicians at the Westminster SUD clinic understand the addiction and recovery process and take an active role in teaching effective coping/life skills to encourage a drug free lifestyle.

Administration/Procurement and Contracts Services

Covid-19 Strike Team

Staff list: Maria Pirona, Juan Corral, Monica Gutierrez, Janinne Boutte, David Rodriguez, Kristine Mariscal, Kurt Nelson, Debbie Box, Daniel Garza, Edward Perkins, Walt Cadena, Tommy Bui, Brittany Davis, Kevin Work, Albert Diaz, Nicole LeMaire, Christian Loyola, Brian Greene, Silvia Bonilla

The team is composed of 18 results-oriented individuals within the Health Care Agency Procurement and Contract Services Division be nominated for the 2020 TEA Award. The team continues to contribute subject matter expertise pertaining to contracts, procurements, operations, fiscal and logistics in response to the COVD-19 global pandemic. The team was strategically developed to efficiently and effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency to support all the Health Care Agency with COVID-19 specific Human Services Contracting, Commodity and Professional Service purchasing, asset tracking, warehouse management, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) sourcing, logistics and distribution. Lead the County with inter-agency and external purchasing for emergency response needs, accepting donations, and creating innovative solutions to procuring and managing resources needed for HCA and the County to respond to the emergency pandemic. Supports HCA, all County agencies, hospitals, first responders, and Skilled Nursing Facilities by providing all necessary resources for the County to serve its citizens. They also staffed the County’s Emergency Operations Center with the HCA embedded purchasing staff and staffed HCA’s Agency Operations Center, that is specifically geared to support the health and safety needs of the County and its residents. The team has effectively and efficiently supported the County by developing and executing hundreds of contracts that include Testing Services, COVID-19 media campaigns, Emergency Management Services, Housing Agreements, Medical Staffing to hospitals and Skilled Nursing Facilities, restaurant relief programs, and Food Delivery services for those struggling with food insecurity.

Children and Youth Behavioral Health

Crisis Assessment Team

A 24/7 mobile crisis team that responds to behavioral health emergencies in the community for minors aged 17 and younger.

The team is comprised of masters-level clinicians that are designated to conduct level of care evaluations for minors under the California Wlefare and Institutions Code 5150 and 5585.

Clinicians work to deescalate the crisis situation and determine an appropriate level of care, which can include writing an involuntary 55/85 hold, facilitating W6000 voluntary inpatient psychiatric admission, or referring to an outpatient program for follow-up. They provided over 4,000 evaluations to children and youth experiencing an emotional or behavioral crisis.

Even with the additional challenges of the current COVID-19 pandemic CYBH CAT clinicians have continued to provide their services throughout the County without hesitation, prioritizing the wellbeing and safety of both the minors and families they serve, as well as the community at large.

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Photo 1, Back row from left to right: April Hutchinson, Anthony Ragazzo, Elizabeth Guerrero, Karen Fung, Lisa Follmer (retired), Maaria Shaikh, Suzanne La Placette. Front Row, Left to Right: Michielle Garcia, Matilde Bongato, NancyGarcia, Janise Zayas.

Photo 2, Back row from left to right: Ashlee Weisz, Caitlin Suggs, Jesse Martinez, Veronica Grimes, Ryan Froelich, Gayana Berry, Robert Cormier (retired).

Front Row, Left to Right: Crystal Swart, Claudia Garcia, Teri Williams (retired), Jennifer Durbin.

Additional staff: Maeve Diehm, Yesenia Cortez, Anny Bishop, Matthew Akers.

Amy Bailey, Emily Aihara, Kathleen Tran, Kenny Craik, Priyanka Sharma, Sabrina Ayoub, Seneca Negrete, Grecia Palacios and Hugo Ramirez.

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Childrens and Youth Behavioral Health

Clinical Evaluation Guidance Unit Probation

Back row from left to right: Dr. Andrew Hadden, Gabriel Kassaseya, Megan Davis, Elizabeth Roskos, Dr. Ashley Brown, Ruben Guerrero, Ivan Rapalo, Elvia Duran; (sitting down) Maggie Ibarra, Dr. Juliet Rankin, Paola Bautista, Aracely Roque and Stephanie Huff. Not pictured: Dr. Wendy Steiner, Lizbeth Esparza, Cynthia Miranda, Doreen Fino, Dr. Justin Lutz Not pictured: Dr. Wendy Steiner, Lizbeth Esparza, Cynthia Miranda, Doreen Fino, Dr. Justin Lutz

Part of the Specialized Services with Children and Youth Behavioral Health. The team consists of a mental health specialist, menthal health workers, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and a psychiatrist. The team provides comprehensive mental health services to incarcerated youth (ages 45-20) and their families during their detainment at Orange County Juvenile Hall, based on their individual and unique needs. The teams biggest accomplishments is the continued and successful collaboration with the Probation department nad Collaborative Courts, most notably with the new Youth Development Court established in June 2019. The Collaborative Court is intended to serve our juvenile justice youth who have served a commitment for serious charges, and are in need of transitional services for a successful re-entry and referral to outpatient programs, and therapeutic services. The team has four Mental Health Workers to assist our clinical team with aftercare linkage and discharge planning for clients who are preparing for release from Juvenile Hall custody, and whom may also be identified as a Youth Development Court client.

Office of Care Coordination

OFFICE OFFICE OFFICE OFFICE OF OF OF OF CARE CARE CARE CARE COORDINATION COORDINATION COORDINATION COORDINATION OFFICE OF CARE COORDINATION

James James James Nguyen James Nguyen Nguyen Nguyen Jocelyn Jocelyn Jocelyn Gaspar Jocelyn Gaspar Gaspar Gaspar LisaLisa Alford Lisa Alford Lisa Alford Alford Lisa Alford James Nguyen Jocelyn Gaspar Jason Jason Jason Austin Jason Austin Austin AustinJason Austin Karen Karen Karen Betances Karen Betances Betances Betances Karen Betances

Ada Ada Clark Ada Clark Ada Clark Clark

Staff list: Jason Austin, Natalie Dempster, Zulima Lundy, Karen Betances, Jocelyn Gaspar, Emily Burgos, James Nguyen, Ada Clark, Lisa Alford.

Not pictured: Juanita Preciado, Paul Duncan, Jan Parsons, and Rebecca Emily Emily Burgos Burgos Emily Burgos BurgosEmily BurgosZulima Ada Clark Emily Natalie Natalie Natalie Dempster Natalie Dempster Dempster Dempster Zulima Zulima Lundy Zulima Lundy Lundy LundyZulima Lundy Ricketts.

Natalie Dempster

Engages across Orange County, with various types of government, private and community-based organizations to coordinate the delivery of services to prevent and address homelessness, coordinate public and private resources to meet the needs of the homeless populations in Orange County and promote integration of services throughout the community to improve the countywide response to homelessness. Oversees the implementation of homeless services programs funded by federal and state grants, the four County-operated shelters and participates in strategic planning and development of the System of Care. The Office of Care Coordination has primarily been responsible for implementing the County’s COVID-19 Homelessness Response System in providing technical support and assistance to homeless service providers across Orange County.

Communicable Disease Control

Long Term Care Facilities aka Pirates

The team was pulled together in mid March due to the Covid-19 outbreak in response to ongoing concerns with Long Term Care Faclilities (LTCF) and the at-risk elderly population. The LTCF team was initiated with the mind set of identifying early episodes of Covid infection, containing outbreaks and preventing the loss of life. The LTCF team has worked hard to promptly identify COVID positive cases in both the LTCF resident population as well as among staff, conduct contact tracing, and mitigate targeted interventions to isolate positive residents, quarantine contacts and further protect unexposed residents.

Staff list: Helene Calvet, Kathleen ODonnell, Cherry Fontella, Trav Ichinose, Erica hargis, Mauricio Prado, Kristin Jones, April Anderson, Deise Tirol, Maria Collins, Blanca Franco, Donna Tran, Desiree Mares, Keila Gonzales, Liz Kryger, Maria Scott, Tammy Nguyen, Yessica Munoz-cervantes, Thuy Huynh, Bianca Garcia, Matt Zahn, Arlene Marten, Danielle Jaramillo, Lorena Hermogeno, Alissa Dratch.

The team has to be very creative in recommendations of how to isolate and quarantine patients due to the facility’s layout and environment. There is no standard solution and we have found some creative ways to deal with real challenges. Think of the group as a band of pirates, each pirate coming from a distant place, not being familiar with the world of LTCF and unsure how we all fit in or for how long we will travel together. Yet through the rough waters we have had days of terrible storms as well as triumph, and hidden treasures. No two Pirates are alike, just as no two LTCF are alike but together we find the energy to continue rowing forward through the Sea of Covid.