Key Appointments Made to County Health and Human Services Team

County Chief Administrative Officer Ebony Shelton announced interim appointments today for two key positions in the County's Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).

Dr. Elizabeth Hernandez, Ph.D., will step into the role of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of the Health and Human Services Agency as Dr. Kim Giardina prepares to leave the position Nov. 6 to pursue other opportunities. Dr. Alberto Banuelos will serve as Interim Director of Self-Sufficiency Services effective Nov. 29. Current Director, Rick Wanne, will retire in December.

"We wish our departing colleagues well and thank them for their decades of leadership," Shelton said. "This transition will ensure we can continue our commitment to providing services that support the health and well-being of the community."

Dr. Elizabeth Hernandez, Ph.D., will step into the role of interim Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of the Health and Human Services Agency. She has been serving as Director of Public Health Services and will begin her new role on Oct. 17.

Dr. Hernandez joined Public Health Services in 2016 as Assistant Director. In 2021, she was named Director, overseeing 775 employees as part of the department's operations and administrative functions, which include Tuberculosis Control and Refugee Health, Preparedness and Response, Maternal, Child and Family Health Services, California Children's Services, HIV/AIDS, STD and Hepatitis, as well as the Epidemiology and Immunization Services.

She serves on the Executive Committee for the County Health Executives Association of California, is a board member for the Public Health Institute, is co-chair of the Public Health Alliance of Southern California, represents the County on the California Department of Public Health Office of Binational Border Health Advisory Group, and serves on the San Diego State University School of Public Health Advisory Board.

Dr. Alberto Banuelos will serve as Interim Director of Self-Sufficiency Services, after previously serving as Assistant Director since 2016. Self-Sufficiency Services provides resources that include CalFresh, Medi-Cal and CalWorks.

Dr. Banuelos' accomplishments include centralizing eligibility services during the COVID pandemic and the integration of the Office of Military and Veteran Affairs and the Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs.

His earlier experiences include 17 years with the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency.

County Health and Human Services provides vital health, housing, and social services to more than 3.3 million residents across 18 cities, 18 federally recognized tribal reservations, 16 major naval and military installations, and the unincorporated areas of the County. About one in every three county residents is a direct recipient of its services each year.

The County will pursue a recruitment process for both roles.