title
Adopt and present a resolution and plaque of appreciation recognizing Susan Chimera Kosar, Employment Resources Specialist Supervisor, upon her retirement from Solano County with 36 years of dedicated service in the Health and Social Services Department, Employment and Eligibility Services Division (Supervisor Mashburn)
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _ X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _ X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt and present a resolution and plaque of appreciation recognizing Susan Chimera Kosar, Employment Resources Specialist Supervisor, upon her retirement from Solano County with 36 years of dedicated service in the Health and Social Services Department, Employment and Eligibility Services Division.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Susan Chimera Kosar began her employment with Solano County in the Employment and Eligibility Services Division (E&E) on January 8, 1990, as an Eligibility Worker I. Within three weeks of being hired, Ms. Kosar was selected to work in the employment services program known as Greater Avenues of Independence (GAIN), where she was quickly promoted to Eligibility Worker II on July 8, 1990, and worked for over five years, providing clients in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with information about education and training opportunities to improve employment and self-sufficiency outcomes. She conducted group orientations, completed individual appraisals, and issued supportive service payments for child care, transportation, and other expenses.
Ms. Kosar also served as a liaison to community partners, including Solano Community College, Fairfield Adult School, Regional Occupational Programs, and the Solano County Office of Education, collaborating to support the employment-readiness of program participants. March 27, 1994, Ms. Kosar was promoted to a lead Eligibility Worker III position within the GAIN program, where she scheduled newly registered clients for program orientations, reviewed cases, trained Eligibility Workers on the GAIN program and the GAIN Information System and monitored productivity outcomes.
December 31, 1995, Ms. Kosar was promoted to Eligibility Program Supervisor in the AFDC unit in Vallejo. In January 1998, California implemented the CalWORKs program, known federally as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. With the program transition, Ms. Kosar supervised multiple programs, including CalWORKs intake, CalWORKs continuing eligibility, and Welfare-to-Work. October 31, 1999, Ms. Kosar was reclassified to an Employment Resources Specialist Supervisor, and in 2017, she was assigned to the Vacaville office, supervising a unit that handled both CalWORKs continuing eligibility and Welfare-to-Work.
Ms. Kosar has also been involved in many special projects. She served as E&E’s United Way Coordinator for over four years. She represented E&E during the transition to the CalWIN automated welfare system, quickly becoming a system expert and valuable resource to her staff and peers. Ms. Kosar worked with the Department of Information Technology and fiscal teams to improve data quality and develop useful monitoring and case management reports. In March 2016, she was assigned to the E2Lite project, where she developed processes, trained staff, and helped raise Welfare-to-Work participation rates to prevent a potential large sanction. During the transition to the CalSAWS automated welfare system, Ms. Kosar was again instrumental in data analysis and cleanup.
Ms. Kosar has greatly impacted the lives of many throughout her career with E&E. Her passion and program expertise will be missed, but her legacy will endure with the many clients and staff she has guided over the years. Ms. Kosar’s last day of work was April 2, 2026. H&SS wishes to commend her for over 36 years of dedicated service to the County staff and community and congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with the purchase and preparation of the resolution materials and plaque are included in the Board’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to present a resolution and plaque of appreciation to Ms. Kosar, Employment Resources Specialist Supervisor. This is not recommended as it is an opportunity to recognize Ms. Kosar for 36 years of dedicated service and outstanding contributions to Solano County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION