Henry to become permanent DCS commissioner

Friday, May 17, 2013, Vol. 37, No. 20

NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam has named interim Children's Services Commissioner Jim Henry to fill the post permanently.

Henry was the commissioner of the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities before he was appointed to Children's Services upon the resignation of Kate O'Day in February.

O'Day resigned while under fire for problems that included failure to keep track of how many of the children the department was supposed to be helping had died.

Taking over the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities department will be Debra Payne, who is currently a deputy commissioner there.

Haslam said in a news release on the appointments that the two departments handle some of the state's most difficult work caring for our most vulnerable citizens.

The appointments are effective June 1.