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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - April 16, 2003 D-03dCITY OF Lopi AGENDA TITLE: Presentation of Certificate of Recognition to John Vera Upon his Retirement from the Human Services Agency MEETING DATE: April 16, 2003 PREPARED BY: Management Analyst, City Manager's Office RECOMMENDATION: That Mayor Hitchcock present a Certificate of Recognition to John Vera upon his retirement from the Human Services Agency. BACKGROUND: The Mayor will present a Certificate of Recognition to John Vera who recently retired as Director of the Human Services Agency of San Joaquin County. John began his career in Stockton at the Human Services Agency — as a social worker. In 1978 he was named Director of Yola County Department of Social Services. In 1985, he went on to become the Assistant General Manager for the San Francisco City and County Department of Social Services, In February 1997 John was appointed Director of the San Joaquin County Human Services Agency, a career spanning over three decades which has now gone full circle. For many years the Human Services Agency operated as an agency required simply to determine eligibility of applicants and deliver those services mandated by law, The advent of Welfare reform changed everything. HSA was now charged with the responsibility of assisting people in their efforts to move from a position of dependency to one of self-reliance. Under John's direction, HSA accepted the challenge. Recognizing that the key to. the success of their clients rested in their ability to form linkages with communitv-based organizat.ions and other agencies, HSA staff began the process of building networks, partnerships, and collaborations. The result was an empowering of community agencies that produced a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of their clients, Today, HSA is a community leader in the development of successful programs to both children and adults. Summer programs, after-school activities, ArtsWORKyesl, customized training programs, community case management of CalWORKs, youth enrichment programs, and community involvement, are just a few of the directions that HSA has successfully pursued. And HSA has just begun. While the new role was precipitated by the changes made to the welfare system, it was simply a part of the overall culture cha nge experienced by HSA under John's direction, gg H. Dixon Flynn C a CITY OF Low COUNCIL COMMUNICATION John's commitment to the agency's Mission of "improving the quality of life for our community" will ensure that the next few years will see the results of more collaborations, more partnerships, and an even greater commitment to being a significant contributor to the improvement of quality of life in San Joaquin County, FUNDING, None Respectfully submitted, ji 4 Janet L. Hamilton Man ! agement Analyst APPROVED: H. Dixon Flynn -- City Morigger