County Departments, Community Partners Honored for Public Service Programs

‘Commitment to Serving People and Solving Problems’ Exceed $1 Billion in Savings and Benefits to LA County

LOS ANGELES – On October 16, 2024, the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission commended various departmental project teams for their work in demonstrating excellence, efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusion in County government at their 37^th Annual Productivity and Quality Awards Ceremony.

Master of Ceremonies and KTLA 5 News Anchor Cher Calvin announced the award recipients for the Commission’s “Top Ten” and Commission Special Awards and noted that the projects resulted in more than $1 billion in savings and benefits to the County.

Among the 98 entrants this year, three projects took top honors as Gold, Silver, and Bronze Eagle recipients. The Neurocognitive Disorders Team was awarded the Golden Eagle Award, which focused on bringing best practices to the legal representation of justice-involved adults who are suspected of having cognitive disorders (e.g., dementia, brain injury, autism, etc.); Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HOME) took the Silver Eagle Award, which provided street-based engagement and treatment for individuals experiencing homelessness with severe mental illness and profound functional impairment; and Paving a Bright Future for Nursing was awarded the Bronze Eagle Award, which worked to close the hiring gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic between newly graduated Registered Nurses (RNs) and the availability of clinical experience opportunities with a six-month Nurse Residency Program.

“This year’s winners demonstrated their commitment to providing services and programs to underserved County communities and embody this year’s theme – Commitment to Serving People and Solving Problems,” said Edward Yen, Executive Officer for the Board of Supervisors. “Our employees raise the bar higher each year as we continue to work toward advancing efficient and quality services for Los Angeles County.”

View the videos and PQA Awards Ceremony booklet at https://qpc.lacounty.gov.

“The Commission received 98 submissions… but some applications are beyond praise-worthy, they are prize-worthy: initiatives that have proven themselves, offer replicable examples of how to get things done, that have even been transformative in changing peoples’ attitudes and ways of working and serving.  That’s what we celebrate today.”  said William B. Parent, Chair, Quality and Productivity Commission. “We hope you take away some new ideas and approaches to affirm and advance our common commitment to serving people and solving problems across Los Angeles County.”

2024 Top Ten Award Winners:

1. Gold Eagle Award Winner – The Neurocognitive Disorders Team
   Public Defender with Probation, Southern California Health & Rehabilitation Program, South Central Los Angeles Regional Center, UCLA-Social Justice in Criminal Neuropsychology, and Clinical Psychology Department at The Chicago School, Los Angeles
2. Silver Eagle Award Winner – Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HOME)
   Mental Health
3. Bronze Eagle Award Winner – Paving a Bright Future for Nursing
   Health Services (LA General Medical Center Nursing Education and Human Resources) with Human Resources
4. LA vs Hate, Addressing Bias & Hate
   Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors (Human Relations Commission) with 211 LA, Special Service for Groups, Inc., and TaskForce
5. Safer@Home
   Health Services (LA General Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center), and CalOx
6. Diaper & Hygiene Kits: Supporting Families in Need
   LA County Library with First Supervisorial District and Chief Executive Office
7. Mental Health Housing Court & Diversion Program
   Probation with District Attorney, Health Services (Office of Diversion and Re-Entry), Los Angeles County Superior Court, and Public Defender
8. Reducing Barriers to Attain Child Care for All
   Public Health with Fire, Public Works, Regional Planning, California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and Public Counsel
9. Student Wellbeing Centers: Services Right On Site!
   Public Health with LA County Office of Education, Azusa, Bassett, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Norwalk-La Mirada, and Rowland Unified School Districts; Bell, Chatsworth Charter, Alexander Hamilton, Augustus Hawkins, Lynwood, Maywood Academy, Panorama, University Charter, and Pasadena High Schools; Roybal Learning Center, Contreras Learning Complex, Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, Torres Renaissance Academy, The Palmdale Aerospace Academy, and Planned Parenthood Los Angeles
10. DYD Credible Messenger Mentorship Pilot
    Youth Development with Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Healing Dialogue and Action, and Young Women’s Freedom Center

2024 Commission Special Awards:

1. Changemaker Award – “We Are Still Here,” A Report on Harms, Arts and Culture with First Supervisorial District
2. Commissioners’ Legacy Award – Breaking Down Language Barriers with a HIT, Public Health with Little Tokyo Service Center, Thai Community Development Center, Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement, South Asian Network, Access to Prevention Advocacy Intervention & Treatment, Pals for Health, Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, African Coalition, Southern California Pacific Islander Community Response Team, and So’oh-Shinálí Sister Project
3. Community Equity and Inclusion Award – The ABC’s of Gender Health – Affirming Better Care, Health Services (Administration) with First Supervisorial District, Children and Family Services, Mental Health, and Public Health
4. County Image Enhancement Award – Safer@Home, Health Services (LA General Medical Center)
5. Customer Service Award – “EPIC-LA”: An Extraordinary Journey, Regional Planning with Chief Executive Office, Fire, Parks and Recreation, Public Health, and Public Works
6. Mega Million Dollar Award – Lead Free Homes LA: Paint Remediation Revolution, Public Health with Los Angeles County Development Authority
7. Outstanding Teamwork Award – Saving Lives Through Hands-Only CPR, Public Health with Beaches and Harbors, Chief Executive Office, Child Support Services, Children and Family Services, County Counsel, Fire, Health Services, Internal Services Department, Parks and Recreation, Public Social Services, Public Works, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Sheriff’s Department, Treasurer and Tax Collector, American Red Cross, University of Southern California, LA County Office of Education, LA City Fire, and American Heart Association
8. Performance Measurement Award – Rabid Guard, Internal Services Department with Animal Care and Control
9. Process Improvement Award – Strengthening Child Assessment Partnerships, Children and Family Services

Photos

Master of Ceremonies and KTLA 5 News Anchor Cher Calvin addresses the Productivity and Quality Awards Ceremony attendees. Photo by: Bryan Chan, Chief Photographer for the Executive Office of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

County and Community Partner representatives accept the Golden Eagle Award for their work on ‘The Neurocognitive Disorders Team.’ Photo by: Bryan Chan, Chief Photographer for the Executive Office of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.