Mission
Creation
Composition
Statutory Powers & Duties
By-laws
Subordinate Boards
History of Chairmen
Current Membership
Division Liaisons
E-Mail/Telephone/Facsimile

Open Invitation

Mission

The State Board of Human Services ("State Board") oversees State institutions and agencies of the Department of Human Services and conducts long-range planning and policy studies. It serves as an advisory and consultative body to the Commissioner of Human Services on matters of public policy. The State Board also appoints, and the Governor confirms, members to nineteen (17) institutional and agency boards under the jurisdiction of the
State Board.

Creation

The State Board of Human Services was created with the enactment of Chapter 147, Laws of 1918. At that time the State Board's official name was the "State Board of Control of Institutions and Agencies." Chapter 384, Laws of 1971 changed the name to the "State Board of Institutional Trustees." Chapter 115, Laws of 1981 renamed the body the "State Board of Human Services."

Chapter 147, Laws of 1918 stated that the State Board was established as part of the newly created Department of Institutions and Agencies. From 1918 to 1976 the State Board had jurisdiction over State correctional and training institutions. In 1976 the Department of Human Services was created from the Department of Institutions and Agencies. At that time supervision of correctional facilities was transferred to the newly created Department of Corrections.

Prior to 1918, the Department of Charities and Corrections, predecessor to the Department of Institutions and Agencies, had jurisdiction over State institutions. The Department of Charities and Corrections had been established in 1905. Prior to 1918 there was no State Board, but there were boards of managers or boards of trustees for each individual institution.

References to the State Board appear in the following provisions of New Jersey Statutes: 30:1-1; 30:1-2; 30:1-2.2; 30:1-2.3; 30:1-8; 30:1-13; 30:1-14; 30:1-15; 30:1-15.1; 30:1-16; 30:1-17; 30:4-1; 30:4-2; 30:4B-3; 30:9A-2. There are no references to the State Board in the New Jersey Administrative Code.

Composition

The State Board is comprised of twelve (12) public and private sector volunteers. Three (3) are ex officio members: the Governor of the State of New Jersey, the Commissioner of Human Services, and the Commissioner of Health & Senior Services. Ex officio members may appoint designees. Nine (9) members of the State Board are appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Appointments are to be made without regard to political affiliation. Terms are four (4) years in length and operate on a July 1 to June 30 cycle. Members serve after the expiration of their terms as holdovers until their respective successors are duly appointed. Vacancies are filled for the unexpired term. Members are subject to removal by the Governor for good and sufficient cause.

Members receive no compensation but are reimbursed for expenses incurred in performing their duties.

Reorganization of the State Board takes place on or after July 1 of each year. The State Board must elect a chairman and vice chairman from among the appointed members who serve until June 30 of the following year or until successors are elected. The State Board may appoint a secretary, with approval of the Commissioner of Human Services, who must be a Department of Human Services employee and who serves at the pleasure of the State Board without additional compensation.

Statutory Powers & Duties

New Jersey Statutes grant the State Board the following powers and duties:

1. Advance long-range planning and policy for the system of State institutions and for noninstitutional agencies.

2. Establish general policy for the governance of the separate institutions.

3. Coordinate the activities of the separate institutions.

4. Maintain general oversight over the institutions.

5. Exercise the following additional powers:

a. Conduct research on institutional needs;

b. Develop with the Commissioner of Human Services and staff and jointly promulgate and maintain a comprehensive master plan which shall be long range in nature and be regularly revised and updated, including priorities for the construction of new institutions and the development of new programs;

c. Recommend and advise the Commissioner of Human Services on the establishment of new institutions as required by the master plan;

d. Review and comment upon budget requests from the institutions;

e. Encourage harmonious and cooperative relationships between public and private institutions;

f. Review periodically existing programs of care, training, rehabilitation, research, and public service in the public institutions of this State and other states and as to new developments in the various fields of the Department of Human Services' responsibility and advise the institutions and the Commissioner of Human Services of desirable change;

g. Consult with and make to the Commissioner of Human Services such recommendations as it deems necessary with regard to services, land, buildings, and equipment to be furnished by the Department of Human Services and its institutions;

h. Exercise visitorial supervision over institutions under the Department of Human Services' control, more particularly visiting the institutions to examine into their manner of conducting their affairs and to advise the Commissioner of Human Services on the observance and enforcement of New Jersey laws;

i. Review and make recommendations with respect to budget requests to be submitted to the Commissioner of Human Services;

j. Authorize such studies and require such reports from the Commissioner of Human Services as it may deem necessary from time to time;

k. Make an annual report to the Commissioner of Human Services and the Governor and such other reports as it may deem proper from time to time or as may be requested by the Commissioner of Human Services;

m. Arrange for personal contact with each of the institutions and the work of each of the noninstitutional agencies by visitations and such other means as deemed necessary and proper;

n. Visit and inspect, along with the Commissioner of Human Services, personally or by designated representative, each institution semiannually at periods without advance notice;

o. Hold the right of admission to all parts of any county, municipal, public, or private institution or organization building to which payments are made from the State treasury;

p. Institute a civil action against any institution which receives public State funds to correct violations;

q. Obtain legal assistance from county prosecutors whenever needed to correct violations in institutions receiving State funds;

r. Hold authority and direction over, and appoint the members to (with the approval of the Governor) a board of trustees for each institution or agency within the department or for each group or class thereof as it may determine;

s. Determine the names of the boards of noninstitutional agencies, with the approval of the Governor;

t. Remove members of boards of trustees for institutions and agencies for good and sufficient cause, with the approval of the Governor;

u. Receive advice from boards of trustees of individual institutions on desirable changes in care, training, rehabilitation, research, and public service; and

v. Provide general regulation over the use of patient welfare funds.

The State Board must be consulted by the Governor in the appointment of the Commissioner of Human Services.

The State Board does not administer the department or the institutions. The State Board's role is to oversee and advise, and to discharge the specific statutory duties as delineated above.

By-laws

The State Board has adopted By-laws which mirror the statutory provisions and further provide for the following:

1. The Commissioner of Human Services will assign an Administrator to the State Board to serve as staff to the State Board.

2. The State Board will meet at least ten (10) times per year.

3. The Chairman may change meeting locations with the prior approval of the State Board.

4. The Chairman will provide ten (10) days written notice to each member of a change in meeting date or location.

5. A majority of the appointed members, five (5) out of nine (9), constitutes a quorum.

6. The State Board may take action without a meeting if members consent in writing to the action.

7. The Chairman is afforded broad powers in appointing committees and members thereto.

8. The State Board will follow the "Appointments Process for Membership to Local Boards of Trustees" approved by the State Board in April 1991 when making appointments to subordinate boards.

9. The State Board will review, approve, and monitor welfare fund accounts according to the regulations of the current Welfare Fund Accounts Manual.

10. Members of the State Board must abide by the New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law.

Subordinate Boards

The State Board oversees the following institutional and agency boards, and appoints members thereto:

1. Board of Family Development

2. Youth and Family Services Board of Trustees

3. Medical Assistance Advisory Committee

4. New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Board of Trustees

5. Community Mental Health Citizen Advisory Board

6. Ancora Psychiatric Hospital Board of Trustees

7. Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center Board of Trustees

8. Ann Klein Forensic Psychiatric Center Board of Trustees

9. Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital Board of Trustees

10. Senator Garrett W. Hagedorn Gero-Psychiatric Hospital Board of Trustees

11.Trenton Psychiatric Hospital Board of Trustees

12. Hunterdon Developmental Center Board of Trustees

13. New Lisbon Developmental Center Board of Trustees

14. North Jersey Developmental Center Board of Trustees

15. Vineland Developmental Center Board of Trustees

16. Woodbine Developmental Center Board of Trustees

17. Woodbridge Developmental Center Board of Trustees

There are other boards within the Department of Human Services that do not fall under the jurisdiction of the State Board. They include the following: Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission; Advisory Council on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Commodities and Services Council; Child Life Protection Commission; Governor's Council on the Prevention of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities; Developmental Disabilities Council; State Rehabilitation Advisory Council for the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect; and Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board; Child Fatality & Near Fatality Review Board; Diagnostic & Treatment Advisory Council; NJ Advisory Council on Traumatic Brain Injury, DYFS Staffing & Outcome Review Panal, Hunger Prevention Advisory Committee.

Fifteen (15) men and women have honorably served as chair of the State Board. Official photographs hang on the walls of the State Board's Conference Room, Room 6-027, Sixth Floor, Department Human Services, Capital Place One, 222 South Warren Street, Trenton, New Jersey.

1. Dwight W. Morrow (1918-1920)

2. Ogden H. Hammond (1920-1922)

3. Ellis P. Earle (1922-1942)

4. Reeve Schley (1942-1955)

5. Frank S. Walsh (1955-1956)

6. Lloyd B. Westcott (1956-1972)

7. John J. Magovern, Jr. (1972-1974)

8. James D. Compton (1974-1982)

9. Martin S. Barber (1982-1983)

10. Chester M. Whittaker (1983-1984)

11. Natalie N. Adams (1984-1987)

12. Paulette Coronato (1987-1988)

13. Joan Wright (1988-1991)

14. Paul T. Jordan, M.D. (1991-1996)

15. Richard C. Strobel, Esq. (1996-Present)

As of this date, the members of the State Board are as follows:

Richard C. Strobel, Esq., Chairman, Cinnaminson

Rev. Steven J. Vlahos, Vice Chairman, Cherry Hill

Paul T. Jordan, M.D., Monmouth Beach

Phoebe J. Slade, Ed.D., Teaneck

Eleanor B. Stone, Hanover

Louis S, Ruvolo, MD., Riverton

Carole D. Buchwald, Short Hills

Salud Olessi Montano, Trenton

Anthony M. Karabas, High Bridge

The ex officio members are:

Governor (or designee).

Commissioner of Human Services (or designee).

Commissioner of Health & Senior Services (or designee).

Secretary to the State Board is Lynn Kotch, (609-984-5547)

The State Board appoints liaisons from among its members to each of the divisions of the Department of Human Services. The liaison system is designed to open lines of communication between divisions and the State Board to assist the State Board in conducting its business, and to increase awareness of division activities that would aid members in their deliberation and recommendations. Liaisons communicate with designated senior level staff persons at the divisions prior to each State Board meeting. Divisions have also been instructed to include their liaisons on mailing lists for newsletters, meeting minutes, and other outreach efforts, and to furnish them with monthly reports, updated guidelines, manuals, and other information.

The State Board's liaisons will be decided upon in the near future.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with comments or suggestions for the State Board. You can reach me by e-mail at RCStrobel@lawyer.com; by facsimile at (609) 702-0683; or by telephone at (609) 265-2380.

Richard C. Strobel, Esq.

Chairman, State Board of Human Services

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