COUNTY CHILDREN'S SERVICES DIRECTOR RESIGNS.Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer The embattled director of the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Department of Children and Family Services announced Thursday he will resign at the end of June to take a private-sector post. After eight years on the job, Peter Digre wrote in his resignation letter that this is a good time to leave. He cited the department's improved budget and staffing, improved performance in areas such as child visitation, and other gains, including 3,000 youths made available for adoption the past year. ``I am thankful for the opportunity I have had . . . and proud of all that has been accomplished,'' Digre wrote in his letter to David Janssen, the county chief administrative officer A chief administrative officer (CAO) is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental corporations. The CAO is one of the highest ranking members of an organization, managing daily operations and usually reporting directly to the chief executive . ``Through the hard work of our wonderful staff, DCFS DCFS Department of Children and Family Services DCFS Division of Children and Family Services DCFS Descriptional Complexity of Formal Systems (conference) DCFS Data Communication & Functional System has gone from the brink of state receivership and a major class-action lawsuit to being nationally recognized as a leader in child safety, family preservation Family preservation was the movement to help keep children at home with their families rather than in foster homes or institutions. This movement was a reaction to the earlier policy of Family Breakup, which pulled children out of unfit homes. , services to emancipated e·man·ci·pate tr.v. e·man·ci·pat·ed, e·man·ci·pat·ing, e·man·ci·pates 1. To free from bondage, oppression, or restraint; liberate. 2. youth, permanency per·ma·nen·cy n. Permanence: tourists who were in awe of the permanency of the great pyramids of Egypt. Noun 1. and community partnerships.'' When Digre arrived in 1991, the department was in disarray, and state authorities threatened to take over. While he won praise as a reformer, Digre's tenure became marked by controversies surrounding children's deaths and his performance. A management audit released last year criticized Digre and his top management staff for a low level of credibility. The leadership was noted for committing to new ideas "New Ideas" is the debut single by Scottish New Wave/Indie Rock act The Dykeenies. It was first released as a Double A-side with "Will It Happen Tonight?" on July 17, 2006. The band also recorded a video for the track. and falling short in implementation, causing open distrust among social workers and their supervisors. Auditors found the department frequently was pushed into action by children's deaths and the latest studies on child-welfare practices. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky Zev Yaroslavsky (born December 21, 1948) is a Los Angeles County politician. He served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1975 until 1994, when he was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He was preceded in both offices by Edmund D. Edelman. said at the time that the department tried to be all things to all people. In Washington, D.C., on business with other supervisors Thursday, Yaroslavsky released a statement commending Digre's work for the county. ``Peter helped rescue the department from the brink of collapse and bring it forward to the vastly improved status it now enjoys,'' Yaroslavsky stated. ``His departure will usher in a new era in children's services in L.A. County. It presents us with an opportunity to seek out the best talent in the nation to help us address the many challenges still facing children in our country.'' Digre's letter gave no indication of the job he plans to take. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion