To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Interim Health Services Director
Report Title: Add one Senior Public Health Nutritionist Position and one Public Health Nutritionist position, and cancel one Public Health Nurse position in the Health Services Department. (Represented)
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Position Adjustment Resolution No. 26477 to add one (1) Senior Public Health Nutritionist (V9TE) position at salary plan and grade TC5-1526 ($7,463 - $9,071), add one (1) Public Health Nutritionist (V9WB) position at salary plan and grade TC5-1430 ($6,786 - $8,248), cancel one (1) vacant Public Health Nurse (VVXA) position # 9516 at salary plan and grade LT2-1832 ($13,632 - $17,025) in the Health Services Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Upon approval, this request will result in an annual cost increase of approximately $5,671 with pension costs of $826 already included. (100% Women Infants Children Funds).
BACKGROUND:
Currently, the Brentwood Women Infant Children (WIC) site is the smallest locations by-volume WIC site in Health Services and the staffing structure does not align with the other WIC sites. It is the only site in Health Services operating without a Senior Public Health Nutritionist and also does not have a Public Health Nutritionist to provide Lead and Registered Dietitian (RD) equivalent services. As a result, the burden of serving all high-risk participants has fallen entirely on the site manager, who is also responsible for managing site operations and coordinating the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program. This has significantly reduced their capacity to balance critical functions in supervision, audits, staff observation, and identifying training and mentoring needs. The addition of a Senior Public Health Nutritionist at the Brentwood site would ensure delivery of high-quality services offered to the vulnerable population in the community.
The Pittsburg WIC site supports the second largest volume of the WIC site in Health Services and is currently experiencing a critical staffing shortage. The addition of a Public Health Nutritionist at the Pittsburg site would help offset the immediate staffing shortage, improve service delivery, and ensure the continuity of care for participants. Without additional support, the Pittsburg site risks reduced client engagement, longer wait times, and a drop in participant satisfaction and outcomes.
The department has identified that by canceling one Public Health Nurse (Pos #9516) and adding one Senior Public Health Nutritionist and adding one Public Health Nutritionist, WIC will be able to offer more administrative oversight and patient support at the WIC sites in Brentwood and Pittsburg.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the positions are not approved, the county would be at risk of the Brentwood WIC site continuing to operate at a reduced capacity as they would be unable to balance critical functions in supervision, audits, staff observation, and identifying training and mentoring needs. The Pittsburg WIC site also risks reduced client engagement, longer wait times, and a drop in participant satisfaction and outcomes.