Trinity County creates Health and Human Services Agency, names Elizabeth Hamilton director

Trinity County’s Board of Supervisors voted March 4 to create a Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) that consolidates behavioral health services and social-service programs and to appoint Liz (Elizabeth) Hamilton as director, effective March 1, 2025.

The board approved the organizational change and the appointment unanimously. The board also designated Hamilton as the county mental health director under Welfare and Institutions Code section 5607 and as the county Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) program administrator under state Department of Health Care Services rules; staff said those state acknowledgements will follow the county’s formal appointment.

The move merges programs that previously operated on separate chains of command. County Administrative Officer Trent Tuthill told the board the change “brings it all under one organizational structure.” He said the county reviewed similar reorganizations in other jurisdictions and expects improved administrative coordination when…