VENTURA, Calif –The Ventura County Health Care Agency is proud to announce that Barry Zimmerman has been selected as the new Chief Deputy Director. “Zimmerman has been an influential County leader with nearly 24 years of service spanning both the County Executive Office and the Human Services Agency,” said Ventura County Health Care Agency Director Bill Foley. “He has been a great partner in supporting the mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate services for our diverse communities.”
As Chief Deputy Director of the Health Care Agency, Zimmerman will serve as a key leader of the agency with a focus on strategy, growth, policy, government and community relations, operational and financial improvement, performance improvement and delivery system transformation. Zimmerman will engage with all components of the Health Care Agency.
“As a result of emerging regulatory and market developments, there will be sweeping change in the way health care will be offered and delivered in California, and by the County” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers. “This transformation will significantly reshape and impact our nationally recognized health care system to further enhance its focus on whole person care including greater coordination and integration of medical, mental health, alcohol and drug and dental services as well as housing. Barry will be an integral part of the Health Care Agency’s leadership team that will usher in this new era of health care.”
The Ventura County Health Care Agency provides a comprehensive system which ensures access to quality, cost-effective, culturally sensitive health care for all, especially the most vulnerable members of our communities. The health care system includes the Ventura County Medical Center, Santa Paula Hospital, Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital, Ambulatory Care Clinics, Emergency Medical Services, Public Health, Behavioral Health and the Ventura County Health Care Plan.
“I am honored and excited for this opportunity to serve the Health Care Agency,” said Zimmerman. For the past 12 years, Zimmerman has successfully led the Human Services Agency in implementing transformative initiatives related to the Affordable Care Act, the Continuum of Care and the Reform for Child Welfare. Zimmerman has received recognition for spearheading information technology projects with statewide and national impact, including a risk assessment tool for Adult Protective Services and the first integration of multiple data systems for foster care givers through a mobile application – Foster Health Link. Most recently, Zimmerman has played a key leadership role in creating a 58-county Joint Powers Authority to run one of the State’s largest automation systems. The California Statewide Automated Welfare System will be an integrated eligibility and case management system that will support key public assistance programs which will operate under one system by 2023.
Chief Deputy Director, Melissa Livingston will assume the role of Acting Director for the Human Services Agency. Livingston has also been a proven leader for the County with nearly 40 years of experience within the Human Services Agency. She has held numerous leadership roles with the Agency and has contributed significantly to countywide programs and initiatives. Livingston has developed many community partnerships that have been instrumental in providing services to those residents most in need. Livingston will serve as the Acting Director until a recruitment is completed for the Agency Director position.
The Human Services Agency provides services and support to over 225,000 individuals representing nearly a quarter of the County’s residents. The mission of the Agency is to strengthen families, promote self-sufficiency, and support safety, health and well-being. The Agency consists of three main departments, Community Services, Children & Family Services, and Adult and Family Services, which provide a wide range of services, including more specialized services for the homeless, a transitional living center, veteran services, Public Guardian Public Administrator, workforce programs, and a farmworker resource program.
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