Friday, July 21, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Announces Retirement of Social Services Director Gary Sherman
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that he has accepted the retirement notice given to him by Department of Social Services Director Gary Sherman. Sherman's last day will be Aug. 15, 2006.
"Gary Sherman has done a remarkable job in a short period of time to reform a state agency weighted down by exploited programs that were susceptible to fraud and failing Missouri taxpayers," Blunt said. "He responded quickly and capably to my call for responsible stewardship of tax dollars and to address fraud in our social welfare programs so the state could continue to provide an important safety net for children and low-income Missourians.
"Melanie and I wish Gary the best in his retirement years and appreciate his fine service to our state and his lifelong commitment to public service."
Under Blunt's direction, Sherman brought the issue of fraud in Missouri's social welfare system to the forefront of reform discussions and under his guidance the Department of Social Services achieved more than $138 million in savings last year for working Missouri families through a host of reforms and savings initiatives within one of the state's largest agencies.
Chief among the reforms was the full implementation of an annual re-verification process to ensure that beneficiaries continue to be eligible for benefits. Previous administrations failed to conduct 100 percent eligibility re-verifications. This practice wasted scarce tax dollars and contributed to the $1.1 billion budget deficit Blunt inherited upon taking office.
Some additional agency accomplishments under Sherman's leadership include: a new compliance monitoring process for the child care subsidy program, the accreditation of the Children's Division central administration and hotline, a more open stance regarding disclosure of public records, exit from the Jackson County Child Welfare consent decree, expansion and improvement in Medicaid program integrity and cost recovery outcomes, and a return to the core values that made Missouri's Division of Youth Services a national model. Sherman has provided pivotal leadership for the executive branch's Medicaid working group and seen DSS record the lowest numbers on the welfare rolls in over a decade.
Sherman started his career in public service as an employee of the Division of Youth Services and went on to lead corrections and social service agencies in Wyoming. He later became a professor at the University of Wyoming before returning to Missouri as the DSS Director.
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