Shasta County Mental Health Director Miguel Rodriguez announced in a letter sent to all Department of Health and Human Services employees on Thursday, June 13, that he would be stepping down, effective Aug. 2.
“I truly value the passion, sweat and tears you all continue to put into providing excellent service to our customers,” Rodriguez wrote. “Over the past (approximately) six years, I have seen and experienced the constant change Shasta County has been through and how you all remain strong no matter the challenges!”
Rodriguez, a licensed clinical social worker who has worked for the county since 2018, said the decision to leave HHSA was difficult. He will take a job as director of mental health for The Wonderful Company, a $6 billion agricultural holding company whose well-known brands include Fuji Water and POM Wonderful.
Rodriguez became Shasta County’s mental health director about two years ago, the same day he was officially named director after HHSA Director Laura Burch served in the role on an interim basis for eight months.
HHSA has seen significant turnover in senior management since Burch took over. Rodriguez is the third of HHSA’s four branch chairs to resign since Burch took over, and is also the only one who reports directly to Burch. Rodriguez has not yet responded to a request for comment.
As chief of Mental Health, Rodriguez was the first division chief to oversee HHSA’s Behavioral Health and Social Services Division’s Integrated Adult and Children’s Services Division, which was created in a reorganization shortly before he took office.
Rodriguez announced his resignation in an email to staff and said he had confidence in the ability and strength of his successors, who will oversee the Department of Adult Social Services, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Child Services and the Department of Alcohol and Drug Control.
Rodriguez also extended special thanks to his fellow branch directors, Katie Cassidy (Public Health) and Dwayne Green (Entitlement Services). He ended his email with an expression of care and respect for the HHSA staff who provide direct care to clients.
“I truly believe that the staff who help our clients every day are the core of our system of care,” Rodriguez wrote. “I salute and thank you for all you do for our branches, our clients, and our communities!”
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