the Bulletin June 2025

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Meet Staff Specialist Blanca Aldana!

W hen Blanca Aldana was a kid, she had no idea a simple curiosity about a neighbor’s odd work hours would set the course for her entire career. She didn’t know what he did, but she knew something was different. “He told me he was a cop at the Newport Beach Police Department and suggested I look into an Explorer program if I was interested in law enforcement,” Aldana said. “I was living in Tustin, and when I went to grab a pamphlet for Tustin PD, the rack was empty, so I grabbed the Orange County Sheriff’s Department one instead. I ended up at an explorer meeting and never looked back.” Today, Aldana is a Staff Specialist for Inmate Services, where she supports the CalAIM initiative (California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal) as part of the Reentry Unit. With 16 years at the Department, her path from explorer to cadet to correctional services assistant to her current administrative role reflects not only professional growth, but a deep commitment to helping others. “I love helping people. I’ve always been that way since I was a kid,”

Aldana explained. “These people, yes, they’re inmates, but at the end of the day, they all have families, too. They all have their own situations like mental health, addiction, or trauma. If I can help just one person not come back to jail, that’s what makes this job worth it.” Aldana works closely with the Orange County Healthcare Agency and Social Services to connect incarcerated individuals with Medi-Cal and other support programs before they are released. Her goal is simple: reduce recidivism by equipping people with the tools they need to succeed. “It’s about giving them alternatives,” she said. “So many of our clients are vulnerable and need guidance. I’m not here to judge anybody, I’m here to help.” Throughout her time with the Department, Aldana says she’s found more than just professional fulfillment, she’s also found a family. “At every assignment I’ve been at, I’ve made friends who have become like family to me,” she said. “And I’ve learned so much from both sworn and professional staff. There’s just so much experience and support here.”

When she’s not at work, Aldana said she likes to keep things simple. She and her family are big football fans (go Chargers!), and they enjoy thrifting, antiquing, and going to concerts. “We’re not very fancy,” she laughed. “We like the simpler things.” For those just starting out in the Department or considering a career here, Aldana encourages taking that first step—just like she did all those years ago with a single pamphlet. “Start as an explorer or professional staff member to get your foot in the door,” she said. “This place is massive and full of opportunities. The people here really helped me grow, and those connections make all the difference.”

the BULLETIN • JUNE 2025 | page 5