RELEASE: February 1, 2005

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Davy celebrates one year anniversary by visiting last DYFS office
Calls staff the solution, not the problem

NORTH BRUNSWICK— One year after taking office, Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner James M. Davy today visited the last of 32 local Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) offices and said the division's dedicated staff is the solution and not the problem with New Jersey's child welfare system.

“I have sat across from hundreds of DYFS staff and I can honestly say they are the key to reforming this system,” said Commissioner Davy. “These are the people on the frontline – doing what I like to call ‘noble purpose' work day in and day out.”

Upon taking office last year, Commissioner Davy was faced with the formidable task of reforming the state's child welfare system. Through many late hours and countless weekends, central office staff rallied around his enthusiasm to draft a reform plan that has won praise from advocates around the country and more importantly the support and admiration of DYFS' 4,600 staff.

“How can we tell if our reform plan is working if we don't talk to staff?” explained Commissioner Davy. “For far too long, they worked without the proper supports - they deserve lower caseloads and more prevention services for families so they can do their jobs effectively.”

Each week, Commissioner Davy communicates with the department's 21,000 staff by sending out a weekly email message. With each message, he informs staff of his travels and meetings so they can stay informed about what is going on. More importantly, the emails have provided a vehicle to share stories from the field on how the department and its staff have made a positive impact on someone's life.

“I encourage staff to tell me their success stories because what they do often goes unnoticed,” said Commissioner Davy. “For many of our staff, it's not just a job but a calling.”

What started with a simple visit last year to DYFS Atlantic City office, turned into a personal mission for Commissioner Davy to visit each of the 32 local DYFS offices around the state. In addition, he has also visited staff at the department's five psychiatric hospitals and seven developmental centers for people with disabilities. Commissioner Davy is also in the process of visiting several regional offices as well as community providers around the state.

“When I was with the governor, I never got the chance to leave my office,” said Commissioner Davy. “Now as commissioner, leaving my office is the best part of my job because I get to meet people who truly make a difference in other's lives.”

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