The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors filled two top positions at the county's health and community services agencies.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Margaret Szczepaniak of Oceanside to be the managing director of the Health Services Agency, and Kenneth Patterson of Farmington, Utah, to be the director of the Community Services Agency.

Szczepaniak, 43, is the administrative director of the Riverside County Health Services Agency. She's worked for Riverside County for 13 years and has been in health services since 1992.

Szczepaniak received a bachelor's degree from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona and a master's degree from Claremont Graduate School. She will make $140,000 a year.

Szczepaniak will replace Kathy Kohrman, who has been the interim managing director of the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency. Bev Finley was the last permanent managing director. The agency operates clinics and urgent-care centers in addition to offering health-education programs.

"I'm interested in access to care for the population, making sure that the services provided to the community are available when and where people want them," she said after the meeting. She's also interested in working on the county's anti-bioterrorism plans.

Patterson, 51, is the western division director for the Child Welfare League of America in Salt Lake City. He previously worked as the director of the Child and Family Services Division of the Utah State Department of Human Services.

He received a bachelor's degree from Boise State College and a master's degree from Eastern Washington University.

"He has a strong background in child welfare services and he was a state director in social services," said Gerry Caviness, assistant director of the county's Community Services Agency. She recently headed the agency.

Jeff Jue headed the department from 1995 to February 2002. Larry Poaster, former director of county Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, headed the program until he retired in August.

Agency nationally accredited

The Community Services Agency is the county's largest department, with about 840 employees. It handles programs such as welfare, foster care and Medi-Cal.

Patterson said he was impressed that Stanislaus County was the first in the state to have its child welfare services accredited by a national organization.

Patterson said he's eager to get familiar with California's CalWorks program and the child welfare programs.

Patterson will receive an annual salary of $125,000.

Each administrator will receive $7,000 for moving expenses.

The department heads come at a time when social service directors are trying to preserve programs despite budget cuts and deferred payments from the state, a large portion of the agency's funding. But most states face the same budget woes. Working as a consultant for the Child Welfare League, Patterson has been able to work with agencies across the country.

"That will certainly be a challenge," he said. "But it's not unique to California or Stanislaus County."

Bee staff writer Alejandra Navarro can be reached at 578-2339 or anavarro@modbee.com.

Reprinted by permission of the Modesto Bee.