Jul 22, 2008
Governor Bobby Jindal Announces Appointments to the Children's Cabinet

BATON ROUGE- Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced appointments to the Children's Cabinet.

The Children’s Cabinet serves to facilitate and coordinate the policy, planning, and budgeting affecting programs and services for children and their families. The cabinet also serves to coordinate the delivery of services to children and their families and to eliminate the duplication of services where appropriate.  The cabinet works to ensure the most efficient and effective use of resources through programs for intervention and prevention and services that assist and support children to remain in their homes and communities.

According to statute, the cabinet is comprised of twelve members including: the secretary of the Department of Social Services, the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, the deputy secretary for youth services of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the secretary of the Department of Labor, the superintendent of education, the commissioner of the Department of Administration, the secretary of the Department of Economic Development, a member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker, a member of the Senate appointed by the president, a representative of the Children’s Cabinet advisory board, a member of the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges appointed by the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, and a member of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education appointed by its president. In addition, the executive director of the Children’s Cabinet is appointed by the governor and will serve as the cabinet’s chair.

Appointments to the Children's Cabinet:

Tim Barfield, Jr., of Baton Rouge, is the secretary of the Department of Labor and the former president and chief operating officer for The Shaw Group, Inc. Barfield will serve on the board, as required by statute.

Angele Davis, of Baton Rouge, is the commissioner of the Department of Administration and the former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Davis will serve on the board, as required by statute.

Senator Ann Duplessis, of New Orleans, is a member of the Louisiana Senate representing the 2nd district and was appointed by the president of the senate, as required by statute.

Keith Guice, of Monroe, is a member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) representing the 5th district. Guice was appointed by the president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, as required by statute.

Justice Catherine D. “Kitty” Kimball, of Ventress, is an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana. Kimball is a member of the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and was appointed by the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, as required by statute.
 
Alan Levine, of Baton Rouge, is the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals and will serve on the board, as required by statute.

Stephen Moret, of Baton Rouge, is the secretary of the Department of Economic Development and will serve on the board, as required by statute.

Paul G. Pastorek, of River Ridge, is the Superintendent of Education and the former chair of the Recovery School District Advisory Committee. Pastorek will serve on the board as required by statute.

Dr. Richard M. Thompson, of Baton Rouge, is the director of the Office of Youth Development and will serve on the board, as required by statute.

Carmen Weisner, of Baton Rouge, is a member of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and is the executive director of National Association of Social Workers, Louisiana Chapter. Weisner will serve as the representative of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board, as required by statute.

Representative Patrick C. Williams, of Shreveport, is a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives representing the 4th district and was appointed by the speaker of the house, as required by statute.

Ann Williamson, of Baton Rouge, is the secretary of the Department of Social Services and the former assistant secretary for the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support. Williamson will serve on the board, as required by statute.

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