LaShaunda Gaines

Meticulous and resourceful Business Manager with proven success leading productive teams, controlling budgets, networking to drive growth initiatives and marketing to maximize brand outreach. Skilled in leadership, employee performance, and managing complex responsibilities. Strengths include responsibility, harmony, consistency, and relator.

• California Public Administrator, Guardian, Conservator Association (Executive Board Member)
• County of San Diego Trauma Informed Committee (Agency Chair)
• County of San Diego Diversity and Inclusion Committee (Member)
• State Protective Services Operations Committee (Repatriation Sub-Committee Member)
• Elder Protection Council (Member)
• Older Adults Council (Member)

• Great Leadership Academy
• National Committee for Quality Assurance Case Management Accreditation (3 years)
• Code of Ethics
• Conflict Resolution
• Trauma Informed
• Embracing Diversity
• Essentials to Supervision
• Think Outside the Stigma
• Motivational Interviewing
• Professional Enrichment Seminars
• Supervisor Certificate Online Program (SCOP)
• Coaching for Development
• Practices for Working with Clutters and Hoarders
• Care transitions Interventions

• Public Administrator / Guardian for the County of San Diego charged with protecting and managing the estates of decedents and at-risk individuals who are unable to make decisions.
• Public Conservator for the County of San Diego tasked with investigating referrals for Lanterman Petris- Short Act (LPS) conservatorships to arrange for placement and mental health treatment for adults who are gravely disabled as a result of a mental disorder and incapable of accepting voluntary treatment and support
• Appointing Authority responsible for the overall activities of the department including planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating all administrative and operational activities, and formulating and administering Countywide policies.
• Oversee a budget of $15 million general purpose and state realignment revenue
• Serve as an Executive Board Member for the California Public Administrator/ Guardian/ Conservatorship Association
• Provided legislative analysis of Senate and Assembly bills on the state and local level
• Compile and review data to meet media requests
• Promote the County of San Diego's Vision of Building Better Health, Living Safely, and Thriving
• Operate from the perspective of building partnerships to enhance the philosophy of an Agency of One
• Provide testimony for mental health and probate conservatorship matters
• Developed and implemented Board directed projects including the Alzheimer's Response Team (ART) and the Alzheimer's Caregiver Respite Program which involved working closely with community partners and other County Agencies
• Invited to present at local and national conferences such as the American Society on Aging and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
• Participated in media event for the Alzheimer's Response Team with County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, representatives from the Grossmont Health Care District, and President of Alzheimer's San Diego
• The County of San Diego was awarded the highest level of Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for Case Management under my direct leadership and program development
• Coordinated Aging & Independence Services' emergency management efforts to maintain staffing and other Public Health needs in Asylum shelters and during Hepatitis A epidemic
• Regularly assess risk to clients and the County in a Protective Services Program
• Trauma Informed Services Integration representative for Aging & Independence Services

• Director, County of San Diego, 02/2020, present
• Program Manager, County of San Diego, 03/2016, 02/2020
• Supervisor/Sr. Worker/Specialist (Adult Protective Services), San Diego, CA, 11/2001, 3/2016
• Human Service Specialist, San Diego County, 09/2001, 11/2001

Director of the Office of the Public Administrator/ Conservator/ Guardian's office (PAPGPC) for the County of San Diego., Responsible for planning, directing, organizing, evaluating, and implementing Board of Supervisors initiatives including support for CARE Court, Homeless and Housing outreach and solutions, Alzheimer's Response Team (ART) and the Alzheimer's Caregiver Respite Programs, Maintain successful partnerships with County Departments including, Behavioral Health services, Aging & Independence Services (AIS), Child Welfare Services, Public Health, Medical Care Services, Integrative Services, Housing, Fiscal, Contracts, Human Resources, Community Based Organizations, Law Enforcement, District Attorney's office, Superior Court, and others, Develop policies and procedures for AIS professional staff to achieve accreditation for Case Management through the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Respond to significant concerns, risk, and issues pertaining to Protective Services clients, cases, and incidents, Responsible for budgets and forecasting for Adult Protective Services, and specialized case management programs (Senior Options Advocacy, & Referral, Linkages, FIRST, Home Safe, and San Diego Veterans Services at any Age), Provide leadership and direction to (90) employees of assigned AIS programs; including interpreting, prioritizing and implementing program rules, regulations and policies, Coordinate bi-annual APS and specialized case management All-Staff meetings and staff appreciation events, Partner with public and private agencies and organizations to provide outreach and comprehensive resources, services, and supports, Provide quality customer service to all levels of management, employees, representatives of outside agencies, and members of the public, Establish goals, objectives, and standards in compliance with directions provided by AIS or HHSA upper level management or in conjunction with GMS principles, Develop strategies and tools for identifying consistency and program integrity, Prepare presentations, memorandums, correspondence, and reports addressed to AIS and HHSA executive and unclassified managers, Build and manage time sensitive pilot projects as directed by the Board of Supervisors such as ART and other programs under The Alzheimer's Project initiative