San Diego, California - County officials have announced that Omar Passons, an experienced health care policy and land use attorney, is joining the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).
Passons, a former San Diego County foster youth, will serve as HHSA’s Director of Integrative Services. In that role he will report to HHSA Director Nick Macchione and will work to ensure seamless service delivery across HHSA’s health, housing and social services and work in collaboration with the County’s other departments outside of the Agency.
“We are excited to have Omar join the County,” said Helen Robbins-Meyer, the County’s Chief Administrative Officer. “His background in public health, workforce and land use, and his deep ties in the community, will be important assets in his new role.”
Passons will focus on building upon the Agency’s innovative integration of County services to serve individuals experiencing homelessness. He will also work closely with the County’s Housing and Community Development Services in the area of affordable housing. These efforts are critical aspects of Live Well San Diego, the County’s vision for healthy, safe and thriving communities.
“Omar is the type of innovative and mission-oriented leader we value at the Agency,” said HHSA Director Nick Macchione. “His personal connection to our community coming out of our foster care system, long-standing commitment in helping build the human capacity of people and place, along with his diverse, professional experience make him a great fit to lead Integrative Services.”
Passons was previously the Vice President of Community Development and Policy for the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, where he led strategy for economic and workforce development efforts for the region.
For over 12 years, Passons practiced law in San Diego as a land use construction attorney. He also has experience as a health policy analyst with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in Washington, D.C.
Passons has served with numerous organizations, including the City of San Diego’s Mayor’s Workforce & Economic Development Advisory Committee, and on the board of directors for Voices for Children and United Way of San Diego County. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from George Mason University School of Law and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Arizona.
“I have been deeply committed to working to address challenges facing our communities as a volunteer and leader, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help get more San Diegans the services and opportunities they need to be healthy and safe, and to thrive,” Passons said. “The County’s Live Well San Diego framework presents a natural foundation to work across land use, public health, community, economic development and public safety to strengthen our region.”