[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRATULATING DR. JEAN G. CHAMPOMMIER ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2020

  Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
congratulate Dr. Jean G. Champommier on his retirement from a 
distinguished career in community organizing and social work. He has 
dedicated his life to creating programs that improve the lives of those 
in underserved communities throughout Los Angeles County.
   Dr. Champommier began his career in social work during the 1960s 
when he took on a field-work placement at the Kennedy Child Study 
Center in Santa Monica. Through this position, he worked with children 
with developmental disabilities and their families, solidifying his 
passion for helping his neighbors and his community.
   Since 1983, Dr. Champommier has served as the Executive Director, 
and later President/CEO, of Alma Family Services. This agency provides 
communities throughout Los Angeles County with multilingual and 
multicultural services, including helping families and individuals cope 
with substance abuse, emotional difficulties, and developmental 
challenges. Through his role at Alma, he expanded the agency's first 
contract with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and 
oversaw Alma's growth as a provider of community-integrated social 
programs. During his tenure, Alma has added social rehabilitation 
programs for child abuse, gang prevention and reduction programs, and 
has grown to 16 sites throughout Los Angeles County. In 2015, Dr. 
Champommier was appointed by County Supervisor Hilda Solis to Los 
Angeles' Public Health Commission. Eventually serving as chair of the 
Commission, he supervised the Public Health Department's programs and 
made recommendations to the Board of Supervisors to ensure that 
community input was heard in matters of public health.
   Dr. Champommier's impact stretches outside his field work and into 
the classroom. He has taught courses in child welfare and community 
organization at UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Northridge, and Cal State 
L.A., and has also been an instructor in social work for USC and UCLA. 
Additionally, he has coordinated conferences on youth empowerment and 
farm labor for UC Santa Barbara Extension.
   Dr. Champommier's career demonstrates his admirable dedication and 
service to his community. I thank him for his 40 years of contributions 
to Los Angeles and wish him nothing but the best in retirement.

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