30 November 2006
MEDIA ADVISORY
BUILDING TIES WITH NEW YORK CITY ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
The Department of Social Development (DSD) is hosting a delegation from
the New York City Human Resources Administration/Department of Social
Services, responsible for amongst others social welfare and social
security services in that city.
The delegation is led by the head of the HRA/DSS, Commissioner Verna
Eggleston.
The DSD seeks to explore cooperation in amongst others the following
areas:
- Programme management, Reporting, Analysis and Accountability
- Management Information Systems
- Performance management
The delegation will be in the country until the 5th of December, and
will hold meetings with the DSD and South African Social Security
Agency.
The two departments (DSD and New York City HRA/DSS) intend to finalise a
memorandum of understanding defining areas of cooperation soon.
Commissioner Eggleston was appointed by New York City Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg in January 2002 as the Administrator/Commissioner of the NYC
Human Resources Administration/ Department of Social Services (HRA/DSS),
the nation's largest municipal social services agency. Commissioner
Eggleston oversees more than 15,000 employees, a $5.6 billion operating
budget, $15 billion in contracts, a $25 billion medical services
portfolio, and provides vital services to more than 3 million people.
These services include public assistance and public health insurance
programs, homecare for senior citizens and the disabled, adult
protective services, food stamps; HIV/AIDS support services, domestic
violence, homelessness and emergency intervention services.
Enquiries: Lakela Kaunda on 082 782 2575
Issued by the Department of Social Development
Pretoria
BACKGROUND
Biography of Commissioner Verna Eggleston
Verna Eggleston was appointed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in January
2002 as the Administrator/Commissioner of the NYC Human Resources
Administration/ Department of Social Services (HRA/DSS), the nation's
largest municipal social services agency. Commissioner Eggleston
oversees more than 15,000 employees, a $5.6 billion operating budget,
$15 billion in contracts, a $25 billion medical services portfolio, and
provides vital services to more than 3 million people. These services
include public assistance and public health insurance programs, homecare
for senior citizens and the disabled, adult protective services, food
stamps, HIV/AIDS support services, domestic violence, homelessness and
emergency intervention services.
Ms. Eggleston was reappointed in January 2006 and is the first HRA/DSS
commissioner to be appointed to serve for two consecutive terms. Under
her administration New York City’s welfare rolls have been reduced to
fewer than 395,000, their lowest level in forty-two years. At the same
time as welfare rolls have declined, the number of families who are not
on welfare and are helped by receiving food stamps has increased by
110%; public health insurance enrollment has increased to more than 2.5
million recipients; and child support has increased steadily.
A dynamic leader and skilled administrator, Commissioner Eggleston
obtained the commitment of HRA staff and enlisted the support of New
York City Government agencies and community stakeholders to develop a
shared vision and work together. Through the inclusive process she
established, HRA/DSS developed model offices for each of HRA’s program
areas.
New York City’s job centers have been converted to model offices that
put clients more quickly on the road to self-sufficiency. Nineteen new
public health insurance offices have been established in all of New York
City’s public hospitals and three private hospitals that streamline the
insurance application process and greatly improve the health insurance
retention and accuracy rates. The HIV/AIDS Services Administration’s
service centers have been converted to model offices with services
restructured to meet the needs of people living with AIDS today.
HRA’s model offices have had an enormous positive impact on client and
staff morale. The agency’s initiatives developed under Commissioner
Eggleston to meet the challenges of welfare reform have been recognized
nationally and have attracted international delegations.
Ms. Eggleston returned to HRA/DSS as Commissioner after having served
within the agency as Deputy Administrator of Child Welfare under Mayor
Ed Koch, responsible for the safety and well-being of all young people
in the City's group homes. Under Mayor David Dinkins, she served as the
Director of New York City's Family Shelter programs, where she oversaw
the provision of emergency services for as many as 1,400 homeless
families with children per night. During the height of the homeless
crisis, she ran all the emergency welfare assistance units in the five
boroughs. In addition, Ms. Eggleston opened the City's first AIDS
facility for HIV-infected infants. Prior to her appointment in the
Bloomberg Administration, Ms. Eggleston served as the Executive Director
of the Hetrick-Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk School.
In a career spanning three decades, Ms. Eggleston has worked as an
administrator, advocate and policymaker in public, private and
not-for-profit agencies to help children, adolescents and families rise
above limiting circumstances to fulfill their potential and achieve
self-sufficiency. Ms. Eggleston has consulted as a spokesperson and
authority on a wide range of issues confronting youth and their
families. She served on the National Board of Directors for the Child
Welfare League of America; worked on the Oprah Bill with Oprah Winfrey
and the former governor of Illinois; and worked with Former President
Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, New York State Senator Hillary
Clinton, and Attorney General Janet Reno to advocate for hate crimes
legislation, youth violence prevention, and adolescent mental health
issues.
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