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Adopt and present a resolution and plaque of appreciation recognizing Robin Cox, Senior Health Services Manager, upon her retirement from Solano County with nearly 35 years of dedicated public service in the Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health Division, Health Promotion and Community Wellness Bureau (Supervisor Williams)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _ x_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _x _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS) recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt and present a resolution and plaque of appreciation recognizing Robin Cox, Senior Health Services Manager, upon her retirement from Solano County with nearly 35 years of dedicated public service in the Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health Division, Health Promotion and Community Wellness Bureau.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Robin Cox began her career with the Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health Division as a Health Information Specialist on January 25, 1990. She promoted to Supervising Health Education Specialist on January 28, 1992, and promoted to Health Services Manager on October 23, 1994. In the Health Services Manager position, Ms. Cox oversaw the newly formed Health Promotion and Education Bureau, which today is known as the Health Promotion and Community Wellness Bureau / Vibe Solano. On February 14, 2016, Ms. Cox promoted to Senior Health Services Manager.
Over the course of her career, Ms. Cox has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to reducing smoking rates and exposures to secondhand smoke. She was instrumental in the development of Solano County’s Tobacco Prevention and Education Program, and in 1990, Ms. Cox helped form the Tobacco Education Coalition, now known as the Tobacco Free Solano Coalition, which has met consistently for nearly 35 years.
In 1991, the Board adopted the Clean Indoor Air and Health Protection ordinance (Chapter 13.3 of County Code) that restricts and regulates smoking in public places of work in order to reduce the hazards and nuisance which smoking causes to those who are involuntarily exposed. Ms. Cox provided the Board with data and background information that aided in their adoption of the ordinance and implementation of smoke-free workplaces in Solano County, which was in advance of California’s ban of smoking in most indoor workplaces with the passing of Assembly Bill (AB) 13 in 1995.
Ms. Cox has also supported Solano County and several cities within the county in adopting ordinances limiting passive smoke exposure, including smoke-free parks and multi-unit housing, tobacco retail licensing, and smoke-free outdoor dining.
Additionally, Ms. Cox has developed and overseen programs and initiatives focused on the prevention of chronic diseases and the risk factors for those diseases, including smoking cessation programs, hypertension prevention, diabetes prevention programs, healthy store makeovers, and support for a sustainable local food system. She has also developed and overseen programs and initiatives focused on injury prevention, including the Safe Routes to Schools program, Solano Car Seat Connection, a bicycle helmet program, drowning prevention and senior fall prevention initiatives, as well as oral health programs, including Smile in Style and the Oral Health Education program; and Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) prevention, including most recently, a concerted focus on prevention of fentanyl use.
Ms. Cox was appointed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008 as one of nine public health representatives on a 15-member Public Health Advisory Committee to advise the inaugural California Department of Public Health, and she served from 2008 to 2011. She co-authored the Standards of Practice for Health Education in local California Health Departments document updated in 2009. She co-authored the white paper Framework for a Comprehensive Chronic Disease Prevention Movement in California: Lessons Learned from Tobacco Control. She received the Health Officers Association of California award for most innovative Public Health Communications campaign in 2016 for a medium-sized county for launching VibeSolano.com, a friendly facing, ADA (Americans Disabilities Act) accessible and multi-lingual accessible website and set of campaign messages to encourage two-way dialogs with the most vulnerable residents in the County.
In addition, Ms. Cox has been a past president, vice president, co-chair, and secretary of the California Conference of Local Directors of Health Education, which works statewide to promote and protect the role of health educators in our local health jurisdictions and to improve the health of Californians. Ms. Cox has worked on projects, initiatives, and programs with other county departments and external county partners including Resource Management, the Library, the Sheriff’s Office, Solano County Office of Education, Solano Transportation Authority, and Yocha Dehe Winton Nation. Additionally, she has worked with multiple planning jurisdictions in the county to adopt more pedestrian friendly community policies in their general plans. In addition, she has successfully acquired numerous grants to fund the Health Promotion and Community Wellness Bureau’s programs.
Ms. Cox served as the Public Health Public Information Officer for 15 years where she provided excellent communication on various public health issues, including H1N1 influenza, multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis contact investigations, West Nile Virus, Norovirus, E. coli outbreaks, and refinery flares.
Ms. Cox has received the Solano County Edward G. Lopez Award two times for her outstanding contributions to the public’s health in Solano County, first in its inaugural year in 2009 and then in 2024. The award, named after the county’s former health officer of more than 20 years, recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to improving the health and quality of life for people living in Solano County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget. The costs associated with the preparation and purchase of the resolution and plaque are included in the Board’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to adopt and present this resolution and plaque of appreciation. This is not recommended as this is an opportunity to recognize Ms. Cox for nearly 35 years of dedicated service to Solano County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION