Human Resources
Mary Jaquish
Azusa Pacific University
MLOS/51
Professor Rose Murillo
February 25, 2015
The Children and Families Commission of San Bernardino County is a quasi-county department which originated as a result of the 1998 tobacco tax initiative. The department is governed by the County of San Bernardino and is responsible for contracting approximately $32 million annually in direct service programs and services for families of children birth to age five (first5sanbernardino.org. 2014). The Commission of the Children and Families Act (First 5 San Bernardino) commenced as a quasi-county department in 1998 with very few employees. At the onset of establishing the Commission the County of San Bernardino emphatically wanted the Commission to act independently from the County. In as much as the county was glad to receive the tax revenue, they were cautious to set up a new department considering tax revenue can subsequently be redirected under the provisions of the law. Henceforth, First 5 San Bernardino commenced administration with an executive director and four staff. Fifteen years after establishment of the quasi-county department the Commission now employs an executive director, four supervisors and twenty-two line staff. The quasi-county department originally managed their human resources department in-house. In 2005 after the firing of a director and, at the direction of the County Board of Supervisors, the Commission Chairperson mandated that all future hiring and human resources be managed by the county seat. Prior to 2005, the Commission possessed an unhealthy work environment and could not resolve human resource differences because of fragmented policies and procedures. One of the first changes the County of San Bernardino Human Resource Department inaugurated was the restructuring of all employee contracts. This process enabled the department to better align with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)...