JENNIFER VELEZ, ESQ.

Commissioner

New Jersey Department of Human Services

Jennifer Velez, an attorney with an extensive background in social service issues in New Jersey, was nominated to be Commissioner of the Department of Human Services (DHS) by Governor Jon S. Corzine in February, 2007. Immediately following her unanimous confirmation by the New Jersey Senate on June 21, 2007, she was sworn in by Judge Philip S. Carchman, Administrative Director of the New Jersey Courts.

Prior to her nomination, Velez served as Deputy Commissioner for Family and Community Services at DHS since January, 2006. In that position, she oversaw the divisions that administer the Department's largest programs, including Medicaid and public welfare, and which are responsible for two-thirds of the Department's $9.4 billion budget. She also oversaw the Office of Early Care and Education and the Office of Prevention and Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and was involved in making recommendations for the Commissioner on all aspects of the Department's responsibilities.

Velez came to DHS from the Office of the Child Advocate, where she was named the Office's First Assistant Child Advocate when it was created in September 2003. As First Assistant Child Advocate, she led the Office's investigations into the child welfare system's care for four chronically malnourished former foster children and was responsible for the Office's work in the area of juvenile justice reforms.

From 1998 until 2003, Velez served Governor James E. McGreevey, Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco and Governor Christine Todd Whitman as Senior Associate Counsel and Assembly Liaison in the Office of Governor's Counsel. There, she was primarily responsible for advising each on legislation and regulations affecting the Department of Human Services.

She also played a significant role in the architecture of several laws that have impacted the health and welfare of New Jersey's children. These include the Homeless Youth Act, the Safe Haven Infant Protection Act, FamilyCare, the creation of a Kinship Legal Guardianship status, New Jersey 's implementation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act and the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Before entering public service, Velez was in private practice at the law firm of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch in Florham Park , New Jersey . She received her law degree from Rutgers School of Law in Newark, NJ and her undergraduate degree in Economics from Drew University in Madison, NJ.

Velez lives in Summit with her husband and two children.

To contact Commissioner Velez, email her at: DHS_Commissioner@dhs.state.nj.us