Colusa County

Colusa County Public Health has recently expanded and diversified its workforce by adopting more equitable hiring practices, creating a more inclusive and productive workforce than before. Previously, rigid job descriptions limited access for qualified candidates with diverse backgrounds. In October 2024, these requirements were updated to reflect more inclusive standards. For the entry level Health Program Specialist position, two years of public health experience can now substitute for the four-year degree requirement. For the Health Program Specialist Supervisor role, acceptable degrees were expanded to include nursing and health education and allowed supervisory experience to substitute for up to two years of required experience.  

The interview process was also revamped to focus on equity, drawing from a CDPH resource. New questions ask candidates to reflect on experiences working with individuals from different backgrounds and how they would build rapport with diverse communities. These changes produced immediate results: job application submissions for the Health Program Specialist role increased from 2–3 in 2024 to 14–16 in 2025. Since updating the hiring practices, four new public health employees have been hired, including two Health Program Specialist roles. These candidates stood out for more than just meeting the minimum requirements—they brought bilingual skills, lived experience, and histories of directly serving vulnerable populations. A combination of work and educational experiences were utilized when selecting these candidates. Without these adjustments, it is likely that the county would still be struggling to fill these critical roles but now a stronger, more diverse workforce is being built to better serve the community.

For questions or more information, please contact Sofia Becerra (Health Program Specialist III) at sofia.becerra@countyofcolusaca.gov.