McKinney Praises Choice

For DCF Commissioner

By John Voket

Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, who represents Newtown, predicts a “bright future” for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families under the individual expected to take over as its commissioner under the incoming Malloy administration.

Governor-elect Dan Malloy announced November 30 that Connecticut Supreme Court Justice Joette Katz is joining his administration as commissioner of the Department of Children and Families.

“The appointment of Justice Katz to be the new DCF commissioner improves the agency’s image and prospects for a brighter future,” Sen McKinney said. “I have known and respected Justice Katz as a personal friend and dedicated public servant for years. Her professionalism and work ethic are beyond reproach and she is uniquely qualified to untangle the bureaucratic knot that has made DCF too big and too slow to respond efficiently to children in crisis.”

An Associated Press report on the Malloy announcement said the governor-elect cited Justice Katz’s work experience on the bench and as a public defender as proof she can think innovatively and help DCF avoid unwieldly bureaucracy.

Ms Katz, a Fairfield resident, has been a judge since 1989 and became a Supreme Court associate justice in 1992. She said few things are more important than DCF’s mission and she is honored to become its commissioner.

The DCF is a 3,600-person agency that oversees children’s welfare through abuse and neglect investigations, behavioral health services, family services, and other programs. Its budget is almost $850 million this year.