As you know, we have been working to incorporate the operations of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) division of CHSS with OES over the last several months.  OES physically relocated to the Health Department a few months ago to be closer to PHEP staff so that both groups could become more knowledgable about the functioning of each.   Initially, the only change to the CHSS org chart was to move PHEP under OES, leaving OES as a separate department with no changes to the Public Support Services chart.

Now that PHEP and OES have been exploring potential collaborative efforts, we determined that it makes more sense to completely absorb OES under the umbrella of CHSS for normal operations.  This change would have no effect on the reporting lines in the case of an emergency - the OES Director in those situations would continue to report directly to County Administration. 

This is a year of transition for the PHEP division.  Our current agreement and funding for PHEP end 6/30/17.  Also on that date, the entire current PHEP staff will be retiring (Lueck, Hu, and Hill).   We are currently recruiting for an Epidemiologist who could be the bridge between current staff and replacements for retirees if the PHEP funding is renewed.   If it is not renewed, the Epidemiologist would be under the CHSS umbrella to complete the mandated PHEP functions which will remain even if grant funding is lost, i.e., surveillance and infectious disease reporting.  

All PHEP funding comes through the Az Department of Health Services.   The grant deliverables are strictly prescribed by the State with no allowance for variance.   Reporting of PHEP activities, workgroups, and communication from ADHS to PHEP flows through the Health Director.   This has not been an issue before now because the Health Director was the Administrator of the Public Support Services functional team, clearly demonstrating  the connection between Health and PHEP.

For OES, 50% of funding comes through the Az Department of Emergency Management and 50% is General Fund.   That allows more flexibility for OES in terms of grant deliverables.  It is much easier to justify to our funding sources the move of OES into Health than PHEP into OES as a department completely separate from Health.  Please see proposed modifications to org chart attached.

This change does not increase the number of direct reports for the Health Director.   In fact, it actually reduces the number of direct reports if the Health Director is not the PSS Functional Team Administrator.  If at any time the Health Director becomes the PSS Administrator, it still would not affect direct reports because the OES Director could then be directly reporting to the PSS Administrator as is the case now.    There is no change in mission of either OES or PHEP, but emphasis will be on succession planning and integration/collaboration efforts.