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LA County announces new Executive Director of Aging and Community Services
LA County Dec 06, 2021
| Photo courtesy of Home Care
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Today, the County of Los Angeles announced the appointment of Laura Trejo as Executive Director of Aging and Community Services for the LA County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS).
The appointment of Trejo is a critical milestone in the Board of Supervisors’ vision to create a new LA County Department of Aging and Community Services by Fall 2022. At that time, LA County will also create a new department dedicated to economic and workforce development. These two new departments will optimize and align services, ensuring the county is well-positioned to address the economic mobility and security of its residents while meeting the needs of rapidly growing populations of older adults and adults with disabilities.
“Between 2000 and 2030, LA County will see its older adult population double,” said LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “In just 8 years, one in every five County residents will be 65 or older. The County’s new Department of Aging and Community Services is tasked with anticipating and meeting the needs of these County residents. I’m so glad that we found just the right leader, Laura Trejo, who has had decades of experience serving our aging population, and brings an understanding that this new department represents a historic commitment by the County to our ‘silver population’ for generations to come.”
Trejo has over 36 years of experience serving the older residents of the County of Los Angeles. Prior to joining LA County, she served as the General Manager for the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Aging. In this capacity, she partnered with the County to establish and lead Purposeful Aging L.A. (PALA), an initiative to make our region the most age-friendly in the world. From 1985 to 2002, Ms. Trejo was the District Chief for the LA County Department of Mental Health where she led Countywide Older Adult Programs. A respected expert and peer-reviewed author on aging, mental health, Alzheimer’s Disease, and rehabilitation, Ms. Trejo brings a wealth of administrative and programmatic experience to LA County.
“I am excited to have Laura Trejo join our County Executive Team and look forward to her strong leadership at the new Department of Aging,” shared Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis. “Her years of experience at the City of Los Angeles’ Department of Aging, combined with her wealth of knowledge on issues that most affect older adults, will be instrumental in the County’s efforts to streamline programs and enact meaningful initiatives towards the quality of life advancement for this population which is often forgotten.”
“Dr. Laura Trejo has earned national recognition for leading age-friendly policies throughout LA County. We are honored to have her join the County family as the Director of our Aging and Community Services Department,” shared Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “I look forward to working with Laura in providing services that resonate and meet the diverse needs of older and dependent adults in the Second District.”
Trejo will oversee the newly created Aging and Community Services under the WDACS umbrella. This new branch will be responsible for the administration of older adult services, Adult Protective Services, and management of the County’s Community and Senior Centers. As Executive Director, she will play a central leadership role in the county’s proactive efforts to establish a coordinated strategy and service delivery system for older adults and adults with disabilities.
“The County could not ask for a better leader to usher in the new Aging and Disabilities Department,” said Supervisor Hahn who championed the creation of the new department. “In Dr. Laura Trejo, we have someone who already has a long and successful career making a difference in the lives of older adults and people with disabilities. She understands the challenges many families are facing: she grew up in a multigenerational household and, after her grandmother suffered a stroke, Laura helped care and translate for her. This work is personal to Laura. I am looking forward to working with her to create this new and needed department and make LA County a place where our older residents and residents with disabilities can thrive.”
The appointment of the Executive Director for Aging and Community Services is the latest in a series of key actions the County is taking in response to motions from the Board of Supervisors to create these two new departments. Last month, the County announced Kelly LoBianco as the Executive Director for economic and workforce development.
In June 2021, the County established a team to develop and lead the phased approach to creating these two new departments by Fall 2022. As part of this transition, this team is engaging all impacted departments and County commissions, overseeing resolution of all administrative and funding issues necessary to establish the new departments, and is leading internal and external communications efforts.
