On July 1, Dalton will become the special assistant to the governor for welfare reform, the governor said in a news conference Friday.
Welfare reform is a vital issue for the future of our state.
This effort needs one person to manage and coordinate it. That person is Tom Dalton. DHS has 11 major divisions that administer Medicaid, food stamps, Aid For Dependent Children, public mental health and juvenile justice systems. It also provides services for children and families, the developmentally disadvantaged, the visually impaired and the elderly. As welfare reform czar, Dalton will work with heads of many state agencies such as Workforce Development and Employment Security Department.