DPSS News May 2020

DPSS NEWS MAY 2020

DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS CENTER HELPS NAVIGATE CRISIS

VOLUNTEERS FROM ADULT SERVICES DELIVER FREE MEALS TO VULNERABLE ADULTS IMPACTED BY COVID-19

After six weeks of working in Phase One overdr ive to help DPSS navigate the emerging coronavirus p a n d em i c , t h e D e p a r t me n t Operations Center (DOC) began scaling back to Phase Two activities in late April. “In short time, the DOC team transitioned 75 percent of our 4,300- m e m b e r w o r k f o r c e t o telecommuting. The team monitored for potential employee exposure and –most importantly--ensured we were able to continue uninterrupted service to our communities at a time of unprecedented need” said DPSS Managing Director Jennifer Claar.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left some seniors and vulnerable adults isolated and struggling to put food on their tables. Volunteers from the Adult Services Division are helping to meet the need by delivering free meals. Riverside County’s Office on Aging is offering seniors, veterans, and adults with special needs free meals for pick-up or delivery. Office on Aging recently asked the Adult Services Division for help making emergency meals deliveries

ANGEL JAIMES, DPSS Adult Services, making deliveries

HARRY FRIEDMAN, CSD representative for the DOC

in desert communities. The emergency meals program offers three days of food to fragile adults and seniors. Nearly a dozen ASD employees stepped up to volunteer, including Regional Manager Angel Jaimes. “I felt a responsibility. If I can do something about it, why not?,” said Jaimes, who transferred to ASD in mid-March after serving 20 years in the Children’s Services Division in the Coachella Valley. On one of his Friday’s off and with mask and gloves ready, Jaimes drove from Indio to UC Extension in Riverside where he picked up prepared and frozen meals from a food supplier. ‘While I was there, I saw another manager I recognized. It felt great to know I’m on the right team,” Jaimes said. Jaimes loaded two coolers of items and a dozen meals into his family’s van and spent two hours delivering meals in Palm Springs, Thousand Palms and Indio. “I was going to hotels mostly, and I was mentally prepared that I would be helping those really in need, including the homeless or those in transitional housing,” Jaimes said. In light of the no-contact public health order to protect customers and employees during the COVID pandemic, Jaimes knocked on doors, dropped off food and left. “On my way out, customers would stick their head out of the window, including a man in his 90s, who said thanks,” Jaimes said. “They were so genuine.” “The fact that Angel did this on his day off is a tremendous example of not only caring, but leadership,” said Deputy Director Ryan Uhlenkott with ASD.

“We’ve also experienced a significant reduction in employee absences and a low number of reported COVID-19 cases as a result of our efforts to get staff working remotely early in the crisis,” she said. During Phase One, appointed representatives from each DPSS division convened daily in the Dodge Room to solve challenges such as equipment distribution, shortages of personal protective equipment, relocation of vehicles and developing a system that allowed for timely, high-level decisions to be carried out. Shawn Ferris, chief of the Special Investigations Unit continues to serve as incident commander of the DOC, with support from Deputy Director Scott Bruckner and Administrative Services Manager Nancy Chung. Ferris said the DOC is prepared to return to Phase One if needed. As it moves into Phase Two, he said the DOC will be working to support the timely processing of customer applications, improving the quantity of personal protective equipment and training, establishing standard operating procedures and increased support for the new telework model. “I would like to commend everyone on the DOC team,” Ferris said. “They’ve demonstrated how DPSS can break down silos, improve teamwork and accomplish unimaginable tasks under the most difficult of conditions. They played a significant role in keeping people safe, keeping operations moving, and providing critical systems and support to deal with a very serious public health crisis.” Email questions to the DOC at: dpssdoc@rivco.org

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES