Jean M. Shepard
Jean M. Shepard
Director
Health & Human Services Agency
County of San Diego |
Jean M. Shepard is the Director of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, overseeing an agency with an annual budget of more than $1.4 billion, and a workforce of more than 5,000 employees. The Health and Human Services Agency provides a wide range of health and social services. They include programs to increase access to health care for those without health insurance, child and adult mental health services, welfare-to-work employment assistance, programs to protect children and the elderly from abuse and neglect, alcohol and drug dependency treatment and prevention, immunizations, epidemiology and other public health programs, adoptions and foster youth programs, and operation of the Edgemoor Skilled Nursing Facility in East County.
Prior to becoming Director, Ms. Shepard served as the Chief Operations Officer of the Health and Human Services Agency since 1998. At that time, she led the effort to consolidate the operation of six departments, and more than 50 programs, into the Health and Human Services Agency. The move saved taxpayers more than $29 million. Other major accomplishments include: the opening of San Pasqual Academy, a first in the nation residential/educational facility for foster youth; enhancing the region's public health/emergency medical system capacity to respond to both natural and man-made disasters; development of a financial and operational plan for the reconstruction of Edgemoor; implementing a three-year plan to disburse $30 million in tobacco settlement money to health related programs; expanding alcohol and drug treatment services and reducing waiting times for those programs; expanding the children's mental health care system; and reducing the number of welfare cases by more than half from 1995 to 2000, for a cumulative savings of more than $820 million.
A County employee since 1976, Ms. Shepard brings to the position more than 20 years in Executive/Management level experience in County government, including 18 years in the health and human services field. She initially worked in the administrative department of the Auditor and Controller (1978-1985), and then became a staff assistant to the Chief Administrative Officer and Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (1985-1989). From there she gained valuable experience in the health and human services field through various positions in the Department of Social Services (1989-1995). As efforts to integrate the departments of health and social services were just beginning, Ms. Shepard was tapped to be the Assistant Director of Health (1995-1998). Her outstanding leadership and communication skills, as well as her social services background provided a unique combination of qualifications and experience to lead the integration effort that resulted in the creation of the Health and Human Services Agency. Ms. Shepard is committed to improving the Agency's accountability to the community through the efficient delivery of outcome-driven services. A native of San Diego, Ms. Shepard received her bachelor's degree from San Diego State University.
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