The County of Santa Cruz on Friday named Jennifer Herrera the interim director of its Health Services Agency (HSA), effective June 4.
Herrera is currently the agency’s assistant director, and has also served as chief of public health and director of nursing over nearly 10 years with the agency. She also played an important role in the county’s COVID-19 response.
She will replace director Mónica Morales, who suddenly resigned on April 25, one day after Lookout reported that the county’s largest department planned to propose laying off 12 employees, cutting services and reducing its staff by more than 74 positions as part of the upcoming county budget process. The county’s announcement of her resignation did not mention the department’s financial challenges or whether her resignation was related to them.
Morales, who became director of the county’s HSA in January 2022, will remain with the agency through budget hearings in early June. She will be moving to Yolo County to assume the role of director of its Health & Human Services Agency following the hearings.
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