Adult Protective Services inaugural Social Worker Trainee graduation

Yesterday, August 11, the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department hosted the inaugural APS Social Worker Trainee Graduation Ceremony. The ceremony was well attended by the Los Angeles County CEO Fesia Davenport, the new Social Worker Trainees’ families, County staff and many other department managers. Dr. Laura Trejo, the Director of the Aging & Disabilities Department, opened the program with some words of wisdom to our new graduates.

“I’m excited to start a new tradition in our department, as we celebrate our new Social Worker Trainees,” said Dr. Trejo. “Today’s celebration recognizes these special individuals who have chosen to assist the most vulnerable in Los Angeles County. And while you are the first class of new Social Workers Trainees, I promise you will not be the last.”

The moderator was Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a tenured professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. She is a widely respected authority on elder abuse and care of older adults. Due to her extensive medical education, she is also part of the AD’s new Center of Excellence for Adult Protective Services. Dr. Mosqueda kept the audience engaged and introduced special guest, Chief Executive Officer, Fesia Davenport, who congratulated the new graduates and shared some personal stories about her mother and the importance of the County’s senior centers.

“We operate with a lot of misconceptions. But we’re all part of the same community,” said Davenport. “And we can’t abandon people that we don’t know. Because that person is my mom. Or your dad. Or your grandparent.”

Other speakers included Fourth District Board Deputy Maral Karaccusian, APS Line Operations Program Manager Jerrell Griffin, and AD Assistant Directors Anna Avdalyan and Ivan Pacheco. The audience and graduates also watched video messages from four of the five Supervisors: Hilda L. Solis, Holly J. Mitchell, Lindsay P. Horvath and Kathryn Barger.

The room was decorated nicely with balloons and flowers, and guests helped themselves to finger food. Graduates were celebrated and issued certificate plaques and briefcases to carry their new County-issued laptops and phones.

AD congratulates the graduates as they begin their journey as Social Workers assisting our most vulnerable residents of Los Angeles County.