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Governor Martin O’malley Announces Ted Dallas As Maryland Secretary Of Human Resources
Governor Also Announces Additions To The Administration’s Senior Staff
ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 12, 2011)–Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the appointment of Ted Dallas as Maryland’s Secretary of Human Resources.
“I am pleased that Ted has chosen to step up and lead our Department of Human Resources,” said Governor O’Malley. “His service to the people of our State will help us protect Maryland families and expand that critical safety net that provides them with access to the resources they need most.”
Dallas will lead the Administration’s efforts to assist people in economic need, provide prevention services, and protect vulnerable children and adults.
“It is a privilege to serve in an agency whose job it is to help children and families,” said Dallas. “I am very thankful to the Governor for giving me this opportunity and I am looking forward to working with everyone at DHR to help continue to move the agency forward.”
Dallas was appointed Interim secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR) in January. In March of 2010, Governor O’Malley selected Mr. Dallas to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff. In that capacity, he oversaw more than a half-dozen state government agencies ranging from economic development to housing and community development to natural resources and the environment.
Prior to his work in Maryland, Dallas served for five years as the Executive Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. The Department of Public Welfare in Pennsylvania, with a budget of over $23 billion annually and almost 18,000 employees, provides human services to over 2 million low income Pennsylvanians. He earned an undergraduate degree in political science and economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Temple University.
During the O’Malley-Brown Administration, DHR increased the pace at which it reviews applications for public assistance programs. In the face of a growing caseload, the agency has dramatically improved the rate of applications processed on time for family cash assistance, Food Supplement Programs and Medical Assistance to families and children. Today, the agency reports that it is processing more than 97 percent of applications within the 30-day window. DHR has also continued to reduce the number of children in foster care and increase the number of children being adopted, reunified or placed in family gardianships. Through the Place Matters initiative, a reform program for Maryland’s child welfare system that focuses on finding permanent families for children in foster care, DHR has significantly reduced the number of children in foster care and in group homes.
Today, the Governor also announced two additions to the Administration’s senior staff, naming Catherine Motz as Deputy Chief of Staff and Raquel Guillory as Communications Director.
“I am pleased that Raquel has chosen to come back to work with us again,” said Governor O’Malley. “We are confident in her talents and ability to represent our Administration. We are also looking forward to Cassie’s continued commitment to working with us. Her vast knowledge and skills will serve the people of our State well.”
A graduate of Yale Law School, Motz has served as the Governor’s Deputy Legal Counsel for the past four years as well as Interim Director of the Governor’s Office for Children for several months during the Administration’s first term. Guillory comes to the Administration with much experience and many years of service with the State of Maryland. She has served as Director of Communications for the Office of the Attorney General since 2007 and as Mayor O’Malley’s Press Secretary in Baltimore City. She also worked as Deputy Press Secretary and Press Secretary in the Glendening Administration.
