Jennifer Herrera will become interim director of the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, as of June 4.
She is currently HSA’s assistant director.
Jennifer Herrera
Herrera will succeed Mónica Morales, who is returning to the Sacramento area to become director of the combined Health and Human Services Agency in Yolo County.
Morales will remain with the County through Health Services’ scheduled budget hearing before the Board of Supervisors in early June. Her last day will be June 3.
Hererra joined the county Health Services Agency in 2016, serving as health services manager, director of nursing, chief of public health and assistant director. Before that she worked for Kern County Public Health for six years.
She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from University of San Francisco and a master’s degree in public health from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.
She is played an instrumental role in the County’s COVID-19 response and is an important liaison between HSA, local safety net providers and the community.
County Executive Officer Carlos Palacios made the appointment.
The County is conducting a nationwide search for a new director.
The Health Services Agency serves as a community safety net by providing a broad spectrum of services that address and promote health and equity, including meeting basic needs of health care for low-income and uninsured residents.
