CAN meetings are in blue and Issue Area Group meetings are in red. Other community events are not colored.

Category: C.A.N. Events Calendar
Date: Monday, February 28, 2011 - 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

City officials have rescheduled a community input session to help define the characteristics/qualifications for a new Health and Human Services Director.

The meeting will be at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St.

Comments will be taken about the preferred leadership skills, knowledge, experience and expectations for the new HHSD Director.

Feedback from the community, including human services organizations, will be used in developing a recruitment brochure for the position vacated by the retirement of David Lurie. Shannon Jones, formerly Assistant Director, is the interim Director.

The Director supervises a staff of more than 500 in a department that offers a broad range of programs and services including disease surveillance and epidemiology; environmental health -- for example restaurant inspections; graffiti abatement; operation of Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics; management of birth/death records; and refugee health screenings.

The department also delivers self-sufficiency services to the community through a network of neighborhood centers and contracts with community-based social services agencies. The nationally recognized department was chosen to participate in a pilot public health accreditation test that will set standards for health departments throughout the United States. A review by a national panel of health experts gave high marks to the department for its effectiveness and organizational practices. Those unable to attend can provide comments to edna.santos@ci.austin.tx.us.

The City of Austin’s Human Resources Department is coordinating the nationwide search for the position. The community will be invited to meet finalists and provide input before a person is hired.

Contact: David Matustik, Communications and Public Information Office, (512) 974-2406