Fresno County names an interim head for Social Services, which has come under fire
Fresno County announced an interim director on Wednesday for the troubled Department of Social Services.
A 30-year employee of the department, Maria Aguirre will take over Dec. 13, according to a news release. Director Delfino Neira’s last day is Dec. 10.
The department and Neira, who has been director for about seven years, recently have become embattled because of the treatment of some of the most vulnerable children under the county’s care.
The Fresno Bee reported in October that some foster children who were difficult to house were left to sleep on yoga mats or tables, could not shower and were given unhealthy food while staying at the Child Protective Services office. The children often slept in rooms in the CPS office with lights that don’t turn off.
County officials said they found a temporary solution until a more permanent place for the children is ready. Social workers said they have been drawing attention to the problem in Fresno County for years, but were ignored by management.
The interim director position is temporary until a full-time director can be named, the news release noted.
Aguirre worked for 25 years in Fresno County Child Welfare, where she held different roles. As deputy director of case management for more than six years she oversaw several services, including CalWORKs employment, Cal Learn, Child Care, IEVS/Collections, Fraud, Inter-County Transfers and CalWORKs Homeless, the release said.
In 2010, she was the manager at the opening of the West Fresno Regional Office, the release said.
