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CDCAN Report #005-2011: Cliff Allenby to serve as interim director of Department of Mental Health

Long time state government previously headed California Health and Welfare Agency, Departments of Developmental Services, Social Services
Article | | By Marty Omoto

CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT

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To reply to this report write: MARTY OMOTO at martyomoto@rcip.com WEBSITE: www.cdcan.us TWITTER: martyomoto

Note: my email was down for the past few days — apologize for delay in getting back to people and delay in getting reports out. Transferred everything to new computer — so things will be back to semi-normal now. Sort of. — Marty Omoto

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 01/05/2011  01:50 PM  (Pacific Time)]  -  California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Diana Dooley announced yesterday that Cliff Allenby, a long time and widely respected state government veteran, will be the interim director of the Department of Mental Health, replacing Stephen Mayberg, who retired last week after 18 years in state government.  Allenby currently serves on the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board.

Dooley, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times yesterday, said she will seek input from all “stakeholders and interested parties” in finding someone to permanently head the department but that until then, she is confident that Allenby “will manage the department and help me move to a permanent replacement.”

The Department of Mental Health is one of several departments under the California Health and Human Services Agency, with a budget of over $6.4 billion and over 12,000 state employees.  The department operates five state hospitals in addition to overseeing funding for a wide range of county administered mental health community-based services. 

The department has impact on hundreds of thousands of Californians with mental health needs, in addition to thousands of children and adults with developmental disabilities – including many who have autism spectrum disorders - who are also diagnosed with mental health needs.

Allenby Previously Served As Department of Developmental Services Director

Allenby was known in recent years for his 8 years as director of the Department of Developmental Services, the state agency that oversees funding for community-based services and supports coordinated under contracts with 21 non-profit regional centers for over 240,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities, in addition to operating 4 developmental centers and one smaller facility.  The department, currently headed by Terri Delgadillo, also oversees and coordinates with the regional centers and other state agencies the State’s federally funded early intervention program (called “Early Start”).

Allenby most recently served 15 months as interim director of the Department of Social Services – the department that oversees statewide the State’s In-Home Supportive Services, CalWORKS (welfare to work program), SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment) program, community care licensing, foster and adoption assistance programs.  He stepped down in April 2007 after John Wagner was appointed to head the department.

Allenby’s career in state government spanned several governors from both parties – stretching back to Jerry Brown’s father, Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, through Ronald Reagan, Jerry Brown’s first administration, George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson, Gray Davis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and now, again, Jerry Brown.

Allenby served 23 years with the state Department of Finance, rising to serve as deputy director and was headed what was previously known as the California Health and Welfare Agency (now the California Health and Human Services Agency).

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Photo of Marty OmotoCDCAN Townhall Telemeetings, reports and alerts and other activities cannot continue without your help. To continue the CDCAN website, the CDCAN News Reports sent out and read by over 55,000 people and organizations, policy makers and media across California and to continue the CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings which since December 2003 have connected thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs, people with MS and other disorders, people with traumatic brain and other injuries to public policy makers, legislators, and issues.

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Many, many thanks to all the organizations and individuals for their continued support that make these reports and other CDCAN efforts possible. [Note: As of June 26th due to major problem with my computer and email, I have to use this old format of the CDCAN Reports that unfortunately does not have the list of people and organizations who have generously contributed and supported CDCAN in the past year and in recent weeks and months. I should have computer problem repaired sometime this week hopefully - Marty Omoto]

Paypal on the CDCAN site is not yet working – will be soon.

MANY, MANY THANKS FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT MAKE THESE REPORTS, ALERTS, TOWNHALLS POSSIBLE TO: WESTSIDE REGIONAL CENTER, LANTERMAN REGIONAL CENTER, CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF ADULT DAY HEALTH CENTERS, VENTURA COUNTY AUTISM SOCIETY, RESPITE, INC., LOS ANGELES RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SERVING DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ADULTS LARC RANCH, FEAT OF SACRAMENTO, EASTER SEALS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, EMMANUEL AND FAMILY, PEOPLE FIRST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, BOB BENSON, the Pacific Homecare Services, Toward Maximum Independence, Inc (TMI), Friends of Children with Special Needs, Southside Arts Center, San Francisco Bay Area Autism Society of America, Hope Services in San Jose, FEAT of Sacramento (Families for Early Autism Treatment), Sacramento Gray Panthers, Bill Wong, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Life Steps, Parents Helping Parents, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Training Toward Self Reliance, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California.

As of January 13, 2012 - some friends donated a new laptop computer which will soon be up and running. Thanks so much - using a lap top with several keys missing or not working makes typing reports very difficult! Many thanks to Anna and Albert Wang.