RELEASE: June 2, 2004

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Jim Smith Appointed Deputy Commissioner
He will replace David Heins, who is retiring after 35 years

Human Services Commissioner James Davy today named James W. Smith, the department’s Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), as Deputy Commissioner.

His office will oversee the divisions of Family Development and Medical Assistance and Health Services and the offices for the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and Early Care and Education.

Smith will replace David Heins, who is retiring, effective August 1. DDD Deputy Director Carol Grant will serve as acting DDD director.

Smith, 54, of Jackson, has a career in New Jersey social work that spans more than 30 years, including serving as acting Commissioner of the Department of Human Services in 2001 and 2002.

“Jim has had an outstanding career in this department and I am very happy to have a person of his caliber as deputy commissioner,” said Commissioner James Davy. “He has served in leadership jobs and top posts in the divisions of Youth and Family Services, and Developmental Disabilities and at the department. There are few people who know this place as well as Jim, and there are few people who enjoy the recognition and respect Jim does both inside and outside the department.”

Heins, 57, of Tabernacle, leaves state services after a nearly 35-year career. He started out as a caseworker in the Bergen County Welfare Agency and advanced to become the Director of the Division of Family Development in 1999. He was instrumental in implementing Work First New Jersey when welfare caseloads were cut in half and the division’s mission shifted from providing cash benefits to assisting clients gain and keep employment.

Heins was named deputy commissioner in 2002. His office has also been overseeing the Office of Children’s Services, which includes the Division of Youth and Family Services, since January 2004.

“I’m very sorry to see Dave Heins leaving,” said Davy. “He has been my right hand man, my go-to guy on many issues including the rebuilding of the children’s services system. He never let me down. He has tremendous work ethic, integrity and commitment to the job. Plus, he is always a gentleman. He gets the job done. We will all miss him here. ”

Smith has served as director of DDD since 2002. During his tenure, the division greatly streamlined the process for developing group homes, created a new self-directed approach to obtaining services, called Real Life Choices, for people with developmental disabilities who are on the waiting list and living at home, and maintained federal certification at all of the seven state-operated developmental centers -- maintaining $171 million in federal funding to the state.

“I’m leaving Developmental Disabilities with something of a heavy heart. During my time there I got to know and respect not only staff, but also consumers, their families, the advocates and the providers,” said Smith. “I know Commissioner Davy is bringing many new initiatives and a new perspective to the department and I’m looking forward to helping him in any way I can.”

Smith’s office will oversee programs such as Work First New Jersey, Medicaid and NJ Family Care, which aid a total of nearly one million needy residents through economic aid, job supports and health care benefits.

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