Here goes:
Angelo McLain, Commissioner of the Department of Social Services
For the past five years, Anthony “Angelo” McClain served as Executive Director of ValueOptions New Jersey, the Contract Systems Administrator that provides the centralized administrative infrastructure for the state’s $424 million behavioral health delivery system. In this role, Dr. McClain managed the development, implementation and oversight of the division?s reform effort for an effective statewide system of care. One of his many accomplishments was the establishment of standardized assessment protocols for youth in the child welfare, mental health and juvenile justice systems.
From 1997 until 2002, Dr. McClain served as Vice President for Network Management and Regional Operations at the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, where he worked to develop and maintain a provider network capable of delivering high quality, responsive services to 450,000 MassHealth members. His extensive experience in child welfare issues also includes work as Senior Supervisor and Director of Training at Roxbury Children’s Services from 1987-88 and as Supervisor of the Child Sexual Abuse Unit in the Texas Department of Human Resources. Dr. McClain previously served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as Program Manager (1988-91) and later Director of Program Management (1991-1994) for the Child/Adolescent Division of the Department of Mental Health?s Central Office. Dr. McClain earned his Ph.D. in Social Work from Boston College.
I find it hopeful that in replacing Harry Spence, who had a law degree and experience as a “receiver” and cost cutter, but no experience in human services, Governor Patrick choose a Commissioner with a Ph.d. in social work, line experience as a DSS worker, and a great deal of experience in meeting the needs of children and families.
This information was taken from Governor Patrick’s press release.
I worked for Mass. Behavioral Health Partnership a long time ago for less than a year. What I can add to the above is that I had limited dealings with Angelo but remember thinking he was a good and decent, client-oriented person in contrast to some of the cut-throat sharks who populated MBHP’s management at the time. I am glad to hear of his appointment by Deval.
None the less, Harry Spence was an excellent commissioner who tried creative ideas to improve what must be the worst human service in existence, the child welfare system. I do not mean to criticize the DSS workers nor do I think that we should blame the Commissioner for bad individual results. Any system that depends on putting children in homes with 8 to 10 other kids and with no stable home is bound to fail. Child welfare systems need a serious rethinking. I hope that Dr. McClain will provide that.
I totally agree. My concern with Spence was the lack of emphasis on the “reasonable efforts” and preservation equation, combined with the appalling handling of mental illness/mental health services by his agency. Among other concerns – I am not talking about the sensationalized cases, either.