RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, D. Jean Ortega-Piron officially retired as Statewide Guardian and Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on May 31, 2013; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Since 1996, D. Jean Ortega-Piron served as the guardian of all youth committed to Illinois Department of Children and Family Services by the juvenile courts in the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, D. Jean Ortega-Piron was instrumental in establishing the first-in-the-nation "Memorandum of Understanding" between a state child welfare agency and Mexico; and
WHEREAS, D. Jean Ortega-Piron also established a system for monitoring psychotropic medications for state wards, described by the Chicago Tribune as the "gold standard" in the country.
WHEREAS, D. Jean Ortega-Piron previously served in the Governor's Office as Executive Assistant to the Office of the Special Counsel for Child Welfare Services from 1994 to 1996; and
WHEREAS, From 1987 to 1994, D. Jean Ortega-Piron was the Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services; and
WHEREAS, A highly respected advocate on behalf of children, D. Jean Ortega-Piron was on the Board of Special Olympics Illinois and the Illinois Task Force on Unaccompanied Immigrant Children; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of D. Jean Ortega-Piron serve as an example to all; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this fifth day of June, 2013, do hereby congratulate D. Jean Ortega-Piron on the occasion of her retirement and
do hereby express our sincere appreciation for her outstanding public service; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to D. Jean Ortega-Piron.
Alderman - 14th Ward