Auburn, CA…Placer County has selected the head of Nevada County’s health agency to take over as Director of the Placer County Health and Human Services Department.

Jeffrey S. Brown, Director of the Nevada County Health and Human Services Agency since 2005, was appointed to his new post by Placer County Executive Officer David Boesch in consultation with the Board of Supervisors.

Brown will succeed Dr. Richard J. Burton, who plans to retire soon after serving as Placer County’s Public Health Officer for the past 17 years. A decade ago, Dr. Burton took over as Director of Health and Human Services while continuing to serve as Public Health Officer.

“I have no doubt that Jeff will do an outstanding job at Health and Human Services,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Holmes, a member of the panel that interviewed finalists. “Placer County used a broad recruitment process that presented us with an exceptional group of finalists. That made our final decision difficult, but ensured we would wind up with a top-notch administrator well versed in overseeing the many types of services offered by Health and Human Services.”

“Jeff stood out, because he has a long, impressive track record of leadership, innovation and community engagement in both small and large counties. His background and leadership style make him a great match for Health and Human Services.”

Placer County will appoint a new Public Health Officer at a later date.

In his new job, Brown will oversee a department with a Fiscal Year 2013-14 budget of more than $173 million. The department provides a broad range of services to more than 60,000 clients each year. It is organized into several interrelated operating systems that employ over 700 full time professional and technical staff, and partner with local businesses and provider organizations to provide cost-effective and innovative health and social services. The department’s wide array of services includes:

Crisis and emergency services for children and adults;
Medical and dental clinics;
Public health services such as communicable disease control, emergency preparation and response;
Child Welfare Services and other programs for children;
Adult Protective Services;
Mental health programs;
Substance abuse and treatment services;
Assistance for needy families and individuals, including financial, food and nutrition, employment, and healthcare coverage;
Restaurant inspections and other environmental health programs; and
Animal adoptions, dog and cat licensing and a variety of other animal services.

The department’s services are available throughout the county and it has offices in Auburn, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln and the North Lake Tahoe area. In many cases, services are offered on-site in other communities as well.

In Nevada County, Brown is responsible for an agency that oversees several departments and divisions, including Public Health, Behavioral Health, Social Services, Child Support Services, Collections, Veterans Services, and Housing and Community Development. He served as Executive Director of the Nevada County Housing Authority from 2005-2011.

Brown has worked with Placer County on several regional initiatives, including a drive to recruit foster parents and shared funding of mental health efforts in the Tahoe-Truckee region.

Before his arrival in Nevada County, Brown worked for 11 years with Alameda County. From 1999 to 2005, he was Director of Community Health Services in Alameda County’s Public Health Department.

Brown’s past experience also includes work with nonprofit health agencies in Guatemala, Honduras and Malawi and service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras.

Brown received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of California at Davis and master’s degrees in both public health and social welfare from the University of California at Berkeley.

He resides in the Nevada City area with his wife and two daughters.

Brown will be paid a salary of approximately $191,000 and receive other management benefits. He will start his new job on Dec. 30.