The Agency Director shall administer programs of health and human services through the departments, divisions, and geographic service regions which comprise the Agency in a manner which integrates the administration and delivery of these services to assure efficiency, effectiveness, accessibility, and quality. The Health and Human Services Agency succeeds to, assumes and shall function as, and may be referred to as, all of the following organizations as these organizations are referenced in County, State or federal statute, ordinance, or regulation: County Mental Health Department; County Health Department; County Public Health Department; County Alcohol Program; County Drug Abuse Program; County Behavioral Health Department; County Agency and Department for the Administration of Public Social Services; County Welfare Department; the Area Agency on Aging; and Housing and Community Development Services. The Agency Director shall provide proper planning, coordination and direction for:
(1) Services for senior citizens. The Agency Director shall delegate to a separate administrative unit the functions of the Area Agency on Aging. This separate administrative unit shall be a department of the Agency and shall be referred to as "Aging & Independence Services." The Agency Director shall administer programs to provide proper planning, coordination and direction for activities and services provided by the County for senior citizens. Such activities may be authorized by federal, State or local laws, and shall be governed by those laws as well as applicable rules, regulations, guidelines, agreements and policies made pursuant to said laws. Those activities shall include but not be limited to the following:
(a) Preparation of an Area Plan and any other plans necessary to ensure that legal mandates for planning are met, and the service needs of senior citizens are identified and documented.
(b) Establishment of a network of comprehensive and coordinated services for the elderly through contracts and other working agreements with service providers, as well as through direct services where appropriate and authorized by laws or waivers of laws or regulations.
(c) Provision of support and technical assistance to individuals and groups desiring to develop the capacity to provide services to senior citizens.
(d) Other activities which may from time to time be required by laws, rules, regulations, guidelines, agreements or policies.
(e) The provision of all necessary administrative and clerical support to the Aging and Independence Services Advisory Council, and other advisory boards as directed by the Agency Director.
(2) Health services activities provided by the County to respond to mental health, physical health, public/community health, and alcohol and other drug abuse service needs. The Agency shall enforce all County ordinances and State laws pertaining to health matters, and all orders, quarantine regulations and rules prescribed by the State Department of Health Services and all statutes pertaining to public health and vital statistics. Those activities shall include but not be limited to the following:
(a) The administrative supervision and control of the following:
(i) Edgemoor Distinct Part Skilled Nursing Facility;
(ii) County behavioral health programs, including alcohol and drug abuse;
(iii) Provision of medical care to qualified individuals;
(iv) Medical and nursing services for other County departments.
(b) The maintenance of complete records of all persons admitted to or treated by facilities operated by the Agency. Such records shall be confidential and their contents shall only be disclosed in compliance with State and federal laws and regulations.
(c) The provision of emergency care consisting of measures to that are episodic or acute in nature to any person brought to any emergency facility established within the Agency for such purposes.
(d) The admission of patients to institutional care under the following circumstances:
(i) Any person falling within the provision of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(ii) An emergency patient whose condition does not permit a patient being moved to private care.
(iii) Any person who requires care not available through private facilities in the community for financial or other reasons.
(iv) Any person falling within the provision of contracts established between the County of San Diego and another agency.
(v) Wards of the juvenile courts.
(vi) Any person presented in compliance with a court order.
(vii) Prisoners confined in a county jail or any city jail within the County.
Provided, however, that no patient will be admitted to any facility of the Agency when the Agency Director or his agent finds no medical justification for such admission.
(3) Social services programs of welfare relief and other services required by and in conformity with State and federal statutes and regulations and as may be authorized by the Board in this code, and other applicable ordinances or regulations, including aid and relief to indigents. The Agency will perform such functions as may be assigned to it, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Determination of eligibility for cash assistance, nutrition assistance and Medi-Cal under applicable federal and State laws.
(b) Preparation of individuals for jobs and coordinate training programs to help clients back to self-sufficiency.
(c) Provision of protection and related services to children and adults who are abused, neglected or exploited, or otherwise cannot care for themselves.
(d) Contract with community agencies for a broad range of human care services and integrate the efforts of private organizations into a comprehensive service network.
(4) Identifying and addressing the needs of children, youth, and families who are in the public charge as well as children, youth and families whose safety may be at risk.
(5) Identifying and addressing the needs of military veterans.
(6) Housing and Community Development Services will provide professional and technical services in the administration of the County's federally-assisted Community Development Block Grant and Rental Assistance programs to meet the needs of low and moderate-income families; and shall monitor, and implement, if directed, the economic development policies and related economic development strategies adopted by the Board of Supervisors. The programs will be carried out in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. In providing such services, the Department will perform such functions as may be assigned to it including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Prepare the necessary grant application for federal assistance for Community Development and Housing.
(b) Administer and coordinate the Community Development program among County Departments and participating cities.
(c) Administer housing assistance programs.
(d) Plan and administer Residential Rehabilitation and site acquisition activities.
(e) Prepare and implement plans and programs necessary to provide adequate housing and community development activities for the County's very low, low, and moderate-income families and to coordinate and monitor the affirmative fair housing marketing plan.
(Added by Ord. No. 8835 (N.S.), effective 11-6-97; amended by Ord. No. 8870 (N.S.), effective 3-5-98; amended by Ord. No. 9522 (N.S.), effective 1-9-03; amended by Ord. No. 10430 (N.S.), effective 6-21-16; amended by Ord. No. 10431 (N.S.), effective 7-28-16; amended by Ord. No. 10454 (N.S.), effective 2-9-17; amended by Ord. No. 10689 (N.S.), effective 12-17-20)