Organizational Excellence

Summary of objective implementation status (achievements or progress over last year; significant delays or issues, etc.)

The Emergency Staff Development program includes identifying staff positions/roles, selecting required and suggested initial/sustainment training, and integrating with the County’s Learning Management System (LMS).  This goal implements the Board of Supervisors’ directive to utilize at minimum 1% of all county staff time to ensure that staff are prepared to serve as disaster service workers.

The program currently supports the delivery and tracking of training for staff assigned to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Department Operations Center (DOC), mass care & shelter operations, and local assistance center managers.

The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) Training & Exercise (T&E) team offered 37 DSW/EOC courses in CY2024 and participated in the Department of Health Services Department Operations Center (DOC) functional exercise.

In partnership with the Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative (BAUASI) partnered to host:

• G288/G489 Local Volunteers and Donations Management
• BAUASI/Sonoma County Active Attacker Tabletop Exercise with public safety partners

Over the last three years, the EOC has seen more than 60% of seasoned EOC staff change due to transfers, promotions, leave of county service, or retirements. On average, new staff need 50 to 60 hours of EOC training to become comfortable with their emergency roles.

With this change in EOC staffing, the DEM T&E team is re-evaluating our Emergency Staff Development Program Framework and delivery by completing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, trends, and threats analysis.

This will enable us to meet our goals and objectives in developing training and staffing structures that effectively support disaster services work and emergency operations in the future.

Key milestone update (include relevant metrics, if applicable)

• Pilot offerings via Learning Management System (LMS) -Completed
• EOC team training (Operations, Planning, Logistics) -Completed
• EOC software (WebEOC) training for County staff and cities -Completed
• Shelter management training for County staff and cities -Completed
• Offer DSW Awareness Training Course to all County staff -Completed
• Develop multi-year training and exercise calendar -Completed
• Survey operational area cities for needed EOC course to support- Completed
• Conducted an annual EOC functional exercise – Completed
• Conducted Universal Disaster Intake Process (UDIP) training with County staff- Completed
• Complete a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, trends, and threats analysis on the Emergency Staff Development Program Framework, along with current delivery methods- In progress
• Assess training participation – In progress
• Develop training dashboard/reporting on EOC/DOC/DSW training compliance to report quarterly to the County Executive Office- In Progress

Coordination and partnership update

DEM has begun work with cities and some special districts to develop a common core DSW training and exercise program that will promote unity of effort across the Operational Area and realize cost-savings in training program management.

Community, equity and climate update

Staff continue integrating critical elements of the County’s pilot Cultural Competency in Emergency Management course into EOC courses. Staff will work with the County’s Office of Equity to develop specific training for EOC/DOC staff for cultural responsiveness in emergency operations.

If this objective received Strategic Plan funding, please provide the amount spent to date for non-position-related funding.

The program is supported by an ongoing DEM operating budget and HR LMS contracted services. Existing DEM staff provide program management and oversight.