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 clients receive multiple services across social services, public health and behavioral health.

Hamilton, who has been identified in county materials as director of Health and Human Services, will also be the county’s point of contact for state behavioral health oversight. The board adopted a new job classification and salary range for the post. The staff report lists approximate salary-and-benefit costs for the director at step A as $19,115 and at later steps as $22,980; a member of the public asked whether those figures are monthly, and staff replied they are monthly.

Board members, CAO Tuthill and staff said the reorganization is intended to reduce duplication and deliver more integrated services to residents who use multiple county programs. Tuthill said the change follows a pattern other rural counties have used to combine services under one agency.

The board majority thanked Hamilton for accepting the additional responsibilities. The appointment will be forwarded to the Department of Health Care Services for formal acknowledgement of the county mental health director and AOD administrator roles; staff said the state’s acknowledgement is a procedural step and not an additional local appointment.

Votes at a glance

- Creation of Health and Human Services Agency and appointment of Elizabeth Hamilton as Director; designation as county mental health director (Welfare & Institutions Code §5607) and AOD administrator (DHCS rules). Outcome: approved (unanimous). Action recorded 03/04/2025; effective date noted as 03/01/2025. (See actions array.)

- Proclamation: March 2025 as National Social Work Month. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

- Ratification of sheriff’s agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice for up to $75,000 for investigation and eradication of cannabis on federal lands. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

- Closeout and finalization of four Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

- Acceptance of donation: 22 kW generator and transfer switch for Odd Fellows Hall (Trinity Center). Outcome: approved (unanimous).

- Modification to personnel allocations (consent item D13) to add one branch director in Health & Human Services to enable immediate recruitment. Outcome: approved (unanimous).

- Board response to the 2024 Trinity County Grand Jury report (Deaths at the Trinity County Correctional Facility). Outcome: approved (unanimous).

What’s next

County staff will send the appointment packet to the Department of Health Care Services for acknowledgement of the mental health and AOD appointments and begin implementation steps for the new HHSA structure. The board directed staff to return with any budgetary or staffing requests if additional funding authority is required during implementation.

Sources: Trinity County Board of Supervisors meeting, March 4, 2025; remarks from Trent Tuthill, County Administrative Officer; remarks and previous staff reports from Liz Hamilton, Director of Health and Human Services.