As many of you know, Director Linné Stout will be retiring in December 2019, after eight years with the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), and 37 years in state service. She was appointed Director of CSD by Governor Brown in May 2013. Prior to this appointment, she served as Acting Director from 2012 to 2013, Chief Deputy Director from 2011 to 2012, and Acting Chief Deputy Director in 2011.
During her leadership at CSD, she has led many efforts including the designation of new CSBG eligible entities and the establishment of new allocation methodologies for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to ensure the timely expenditure of the LIHEAP grant fund. Linné also helped to expand the visibility and impact of CSD’s programs by increasing CSD’s engagement with external stakeholders through leading roles on the State Interagency Team and Reducing Poverty Workgroup, increased coordination with the California Public Utilities Commission, and the administration of California Earned Income Tax Credit grant programs. Additionally, Linné established the Organizational Standards Workgroup to assist CSBG Executive Directors in implementing the standards in their agencies. The workgroup, now known as the CSBG Advisory Council, continues to partner with CSD on various policy changes and development. We thank Linné for her dedicated service and wish her best as she enters this new phase in life.