State of New Jersey
Executive Order #60

Governor James E. McGreevey

WHEREAS, children are our society's most precious resource and must be valued as our greatest blessing; and

WHEREAS, the protection of children and the strengthening of families is an essential commitment of this Administration; and

WHEREAS, the protection of children and the delivery of critical services to children in need requires the attention and concerted focus of the highest levels of government; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of a Governor's Cabinet for Children will coordinate and marshal the resources of State government and non-governmental agencies and programs and provide a critical mechanism to ensure the delivery of the highest level of services to children;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. There is hereby established the Governor's Cabinet for Children.

  2. The Governor's Cabinet for Children shall consist of twenty (20) members, including the Commissioner of Human Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Education, the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, the Attorney General, the Treasurer, the Public Defender, the Special Deputy Commissioner for Children's Services in the Department of Human Services, the Child Advocate and the Executive Director of the Juvenile Justice Commission. The Governor shall also appoint ten (10) public members with expertise and experience in the area of strengthening children and families. The Governor shall designate a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the Children's Cabinet members.

  3. The Governor's Cabinet for Children shall develop a strategic plan for strengthening children's and family services in New Jersey. The strategic plan shall identify policies and necessary mechanisms to coordinate the provision of services to children at risk of child abuse or neglect. The strategic plan shall specifically consider the roles of and the need for coordination among the full range of programs and services that address the needs of children, including child welfare agencies, the courts, law enforcement, schools, health programs, correctional agencies, local governments and community groups and organizations. The strategic plan shall constitute a comprehensive planning resource for all State and local agencies and programs, as well as non-governmental organizations.

  4. The Governor's Cabinet for Children shall comprehensively examine on an ongoing basis the statutory mission of all State agencies with a focus on the protection of children and the strengthening of families and evaluate the delivery of services by these agencies.

  5. The Governor's Cabinet for Children shall foster collaboration among all agencies of State government so that children are served by a system that achieves the highest standard of care and effectiveness, while comprehensively integrating and marshalling all available resources.

  6. The Governor's Cabinet for Children shall annually make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature for the provision of the highest level of services and programs to the children of this State.

  7. The Governor's Cabinet for Children shall monitor and assist in the implementation of the Department of Human Services' Transformation Plan.

  8. The Governor's Cabinet for Children is authorized to call upon any department, office, division or agency of State government and any public institution of higher education to provide such information, resources or other assistance deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities under this Order. Each department, office, division and agency of this State is hereby directed to cooperate with the Governor's Cabinet for Children and to furnish it with such information, personnel and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Order.

  9. Members of the Governor's Cabinet for Children shall serve without compensation, except that they may receive per diem and travel expenses.

  10. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 19th day
of May in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand
and Three, and of the Independence of the
United States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventh.

/s/ James E. McGreevey

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Michael R. DeCotiis

Chief Counsel to the Governor