Human Services Chief Ends a Long Career

After 23 years of developing and overseeing programs to help residents in need, Betty Escobosa recently retired as director of Placentia’s Human Services.

Escobosa put on the city’s first senior dance and established programs for students at the Cathy Torrez Learning Center. She founded a network of community organizations that coordinate activities and services to help people.

Escobosa, a 34-year Placentia resident, began working as a human services aide in 1974, the same year the department was created. “At the time, there was not a department in the city that could handle people who needed help,” she recalled.

Escobosa, who became head of Human Services in 1978, said the department sends residents to state, county, federal or other resources when the city can’t help.

“We really believe that the quality of life for people is better when you have a department helping them solve their problems.”