California Disability Community Action Network
DISABILITY RIGHTS NEWS REPORT
Advocacy Without Borders: Connecting People With Disabilities, Mental Health Needs, Seniors, Traumatic Brain & other injuries, People with MS & other health needs, Families, including People of color, languages and cultures, Workers, Providers, & Organizations to Rights & Unified Action
Report #058-2007  April 30, 2007 - Monday
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Governor's Appointments
* Governor Appoints New Heard of Dept of Social Services
* Oversees In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP, Licensing
* Replaces Temporary Director Cliff Allenby

SACRAMENTO -  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the appointment (April 24) of John Wagner, a former Massachusetts health and humans services state official,  as director of the Department of Social Services, an agency that oversees many programs and services critical to hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs, low income families, workersl community organizations and others.  The Department of Social Services - under the California Health and Human Services Agency headed by Secretary Kim Belshe, oversees the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, community care licensing, adult protective services, cash assistance program to the lowest income population of people with disabilities and seniors (and others), CalWORKS, the state's welfare to work program, with a $18.7 billion annual budget and more than 4,300 state employees.

The Governor said that Wagner's “...extensive background in human services is a testament to his commitment to the well-being of society's most vulnerable individuals. “I look forward to working with him to serve Californians in ways that strengthen and preserve families, encourage personal responsibility and foster independence. "

 In 2004, federal Administrator Roberto Salazar presented Massachusetts with a food stamp performance award for $1.2 million for leading the nation in processing food stamp applications most promptly, the state program which he headed since 2002.  [Photo left shows Wagner, far left, with Massachusetts Lt. Governor (speaking) accepting the performance award. ]

This position requires approval (confirmation) from the State Senate, and the compensation is $165,000. Wagner,  is registered "unenrolled" in Massachusetts, which is the same in California as a person who registers as "decline to state".

Cliff Allenby Served As Temporary Director
Wagner replaces Cliff Allenby, who took on the job on a temporary basis over a year ago, when the previous director resigned.  Allenby previously served for many years as director of the Department of Developmental Services and is retiring from state service, though he was appointed recently by the Governor to a health related oversight board. 
The Governor made special note of Allenby's long service saying that" I thank Interim Director Cliff Allenby for his leadership and dedication to public service and wish him well in retirement.”

More Than 15 Years Health and Human Services Experience in Massachusetts
Wagner, 44 years old, of Boston, Massachusetts,  has more than 15 years of senior policymaking experience in the field of human services.
* Since 2004, he has served as assistant secretary for children, youth and families for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, where he coordinated policies and programs for the Office of Children, Youth and Families with other state agencies.
* Served as commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance since 2002, where he led one the state’s largest agencies and oversees the administration of cash assistance, shelter and food programs serving poor and low-income residents.
* Served prior to that  in several capacities for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services from 1995 to 2002 including the undersecretary of administration and human services.
* Was a project coordinator and policy analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services from 1992 to 1995 and from 1989 to 1992, Wagner served as a National Kohler Research Fellow for the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute.
* Earned a Masters degree in public administration from the JFK School of Government at Harvard University, a Masters degree in public policy from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Marquette University.
Wagner said that "I am deeply honored Governor Schwarzenegger has chosen me to serve in this important position" and he looked forward  "...to working in partnership with leaders at the state, federal and county level to achieve the important goals the Governor has laid out for Californians aided and served by the Department.”

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The California Disability Community Action Network is a non-partisan link to tens of thousands of Californians in every community, including people of color, people of every type of disability, including people with physical disabilities, people with developmental and other disabilities, people with traumatic brain and other injures, people with mental health needs, seniors, people with MS, Alzheimer's and others, and all of their families, community organizations and providers, direct care and other workers, and other advocates. These action alerts and news reports, townhall telemeetings and other projects is for all of them.

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The CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings are partially funded by a small grant from the USC UCEDD, Grant #90DD0540 from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. (note: the opinions expressed or content in these reports do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the USC UCEDD. 

MANY THANKS to Manteca CAPS, Training Toward Self Reliance, UCP, California NAELA, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, Parents Helping Parents, Arriba, Strategies To Empower People, Parents Helping Parents, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, and hundreds of individuals.