CDCAN Reports Breaking News on the Recent Appointment of Nancy Bargmann as Director of DDS

BREAKING NEWS: NANCY BARGMANN TAPPED TO BE NEW DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES - APPOINTMENT PRAISED BY ADVOCATES
Currently Works for San Gabriel – Pomona Regional Center Since Last Fall After Stepping Down Last July As Deputy Director of Community Services Division in Department of Developmental Services

SACRAMENTO, CA [BY MARTY OMOTO, CDCAN - LAST UPDATED 03/04/2016  2:53 PM] - Governor Brown, in a statement released late this afternoon, announced the appointment of Nancy Bargmann, age 54, a widely respected former senior department official, as the new director of the Department of Developmental Services. The appointment requires confirmation from the state Senate likely sometime early next year, though Bargmann can serve in the position until then. News of the Bargmann appointment is being greeted with high praise and strong support by advocates and policymakers across the State.

Diana Dooley, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, released a statement this afternoon to department staff, praising Bargmann’s  “…dedication, energy and caring she brings to her work and to the individuals we serve...," reflecting the reaction of many advocates, regional centers, and others who have worked with Bargmann.

The Department of Developmental Services, under the California Health and Human Services Agency, oversees the community-based services and supports funded through the 21 non-profit regional centers who in turn contract local community organizations and individuals to provide services to over 300,000 eligible people with developmental disabilities across the State. The department also owns and operates the three remaining health facilities called developmental centers and one smaller facility.

Bargmann will succeed Santi Rogers, who retired from state service on November 30. California Health and Human Services Agency Under Secretary Michael Wilkening has served as acting director since then and will continue to do so until Bargmann assumes the position sometime in the coming several weeks, though no exact starting date has yet been announced.

Diana Dooley, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, promised last October when Rogers’ announced his retirement, that she and her team would look for the right person to lead the department at a time when the State has embarked on a wide range of sweeping transitions to meet new federal requirements, and efforts to resolve long and short term issues of funding and resources in the community impacting people with developmental disabilities. Those major transitions include the State’s efforts moving forward on the historic closures of the remaining State-owned and operated developmental centers (except for the secured treatment area of Porterville Developmental Center); major changes in community services to comply with new federal Medicaid Home and Community Services Waiver regulations; compliance with the new federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; transitions and efforts dealing with critical funding and resource issues for people needing services and supports in the community, including those with unmet needs; issues related to reducing cultural disparities across the State; implementation of the new Self Determination Program; implementation of competitive integrated employment; transition of over 13,000 children to receive behavioral health treatment under Medi_Cal managed care; and other major initiatives.

Bargmann currently works for the San Gabriel – Pomona Regional Center in Pomona since last fall, after stepping down at the end of July last year due to family health reasons, as deputy director of the Department of Developmental Services’ community services division that oversees, among other things, regional center funded community-based services and supports. Bargmann served in that position for over three and half years, serving first under former department director Terri Delgadillo and then under Santi Rogers.

In that previous position Bargmann played a key role in bringing together diverse and sometimes competing stakeholders to navigate and implement major changes in state and federal policies impacting people with developmental disabilities and earned the respect of persons with developmental disabilities, their families, providers, regional centers and other advocates and policymakers. She was a visible presence over the years at numerous budget and other legislative hearings and stakeholder meetings up until last July when she stepped down as deputy director.

GOVERNOR'S PRESS RELEASE
Nancy Bargmann, 54, of Long Beach, has been appointed director at the California Department of Developmental Services, where she was deputy director of the Community Services Division from 2012 to 2015. Bargmann has been associate executive director at the San Gabriel-Pomona Regional Center since 2015. She held several positions at Home Ownership for Personal Empowerment Inc. from 2009 to 2012, including executive director and business consultant and held several positions at the MENTOR Network from 1998 to 2009, including vice president of operations, vice president of business development and California state director. She held several positions at the Inland Regional Center from 1985 to 1998, including community services director, resource manager, adult services program manager and client services coordinator. Bargmann earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Pepperdine University School of Business and Management and a Master of Science degree in social work from San Diego State University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $186,572. Bargmann is a Republican.

STATEMENT RELEASED BY SECRETARY DOOLEY ON APPOINTMENT OF BARGMANN
The following is a statement released by Secretary Dooley to all staff of the Department of Developmental Services today, on the appointment of Nancy Bargmann as director: “I am very pleased to welcome Nancy Bargmann back to the Department of Developmental Services as the new Director. Nancy brings over 30 years of experience in serving individuals with developmental disabilities, including a wealth of knowledge in developing community resources, which will be extremely valuable as residents living in the developmental centers transition to community living and as individuals age out of their family homes and move into the community. Those of you who have worked with Nancy know the commitment, dedication, energy and caring she brings to her work and to the individuals we serve. For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to work with her yet, you’re in for a treat. Please join me in congratulating Nancy on her appointment.”