Women’s History Month staff spotlight: Jo Cruz – Welcome to San Bernardino County

"San Bernardino County Update", yellow arrowhead and "SBCounty.gov

A banner for Women's History Month featuring text that says “Staff Spotlight” with silhouettes of diverse women on a purple background.

Retired Deputy Director Jo Cruz, who served the county for 35 years, is celebrated for her leadership, dedication and lasting impact.

After 35 years of service to the residents of San Bernardino County, Jo Cruz is preparing to retire from the Department of Child Support Services, leaving a legacy of leadership, innovation and dedication to families.

Cruz began her career with the county in 1990, as a clerk II, providing clerical support to child support case managers. At the time, case files were maintained on paper, and clerical staff shared computers to prepare correspondence and legal documents.

Over the years, Cruz advanced through several positions, including child support specialist, supervising child support specialist, operations manager and program integrity manager, before becoming deputy director. For 24 years, she served on the department’s leadership team, helping guide strategy and mentoring staff.

“As a member of the executive team, our role is to help guide the strategic direction of the department,” Cruz said. “Our goal is to ensure every decision supports program compliance while advancing our mission to improve outcomes for children and families.”

During her career, Cruz helped restructure the Program Integrity Unit, revamp the department’s Training and Development Support Unit and expand outreach efforts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped transition in-person outreach events to virtual town halls to ensure families continued receiving information and support.

Cruz also helped launch an award-winning media and marketing strategic plan recognized by the National Association of Counties and supported the creation of the department’s Next Generation Leaders Program to develop future leaders.

Throughout her career, Cruz emphasized the department’s mission to support families.

“We work collaboratively with both parents to identify solutions that strengthen the family unit so children receive the support they need to thrive,” she said.

As she prepares to retire, Cruz said the most meaningful moments of her career come from the people she has worked alongside.

“It brings me real joy to know that I was able to give a bit of myself in a way that brought someone else a sense of peace,” she said.

Additional County Update News – March 26, 2026