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Published on 12/01/1999 All articles from this issue

Supervisors OK creation of director of children's services

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Special to the Town Crier

Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian announced Nov. 9 the creation of a "Director of Children's Services" position to coordinate the county's programs for children.

The new office will be placed at the highest level of county administration.

The board of supervisors unanimously agreed to assign the responsibility of Director of Children's Services to Deputy County Executive Alice Foster. The county will also add one staff position to the Office of County Executive to provide additional support for Children's Services.

Over the past two years, the county has introduced several initiatives aimed at helping children and teens.

Many programs - such as school-linked services, juvenile probation/hall and the County's Children's Shelter - involve overlapping agencies and jurisdictions, which often results in a lack of coordination and a loss of accountability.

"I believe that the children of this county will be better served now that there is one top-level county official who has the responsibility and the clout to take action and provide direction on behalf of the kids in our county," said Simitian, whose fifth district includes Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View.