Daniel Nielson — current head of the Santa Barbara County Social Services Department — has been named the county’s interim public health director.
Nielson started the job Friday and takes over from outgoing Public Health Director Van Do-Reynoso, who announced her departure last month.
A nationwide search for a permanent public health director is expected to take about six months, according to the county.
For the past nine years, Nielson has been director of the county’s largest department — the Social Services Department — overseeing Medi-Cal eligibility, protective services, child welfare, and more throughout the county.
“Prior to Santa Barbara County, Nielson was the director of the Health and Human Services Agency in El Dorado County where he oversaw the Public Health, Mental Health, Social Services and Community Services Departments,” said spokeswoman Susan Klein-Rothschild in a statement for the county. “His vast experience in issues surrounding public health will serve him well in the interim director role.”
Klein-Rothschild said that Nielson will continue heading the Social Services Department at the same time he serves as interim public health director.
Do-Reynoso decided to leave the Public Health Director role — after five years with the county — for a new position as CenCal Health’s chief customer experience officer, where she will continue working with the community in the publicly-funded health care program that serves low-income residents in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.
She headed the department during the county’s response to the Thomas Fire, the Montecito debris flows and the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Nielson takes control of the department, Santa Barbara County faces increasing rates in new COVID-19 cases and high community transmission of the virus, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention metrics.
— Noozhawk staff writer Serena Guentz can be reached at sguentz@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.