Commissioner, Jordan A. Scheff

DDS

Read the Governor's Press Release

DDS Community- 

Today, Governor Lamont announced that, after much thought and discussion with my family, I have made the decision to conclude my time as Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), with my final day serving in this role being Thursday, June 11th. 

As I prepare for this transition, I have spent time reflecting on this journey and everything we have accomplished together. 

Over the past 22 plus years, Connecticut has become much more than a place where I worked. It became the place where my family grew up, where friendships were built, and where I had the opportunity to work alongside incredible people who have made a lasting impact on my life. Most recently, that work took me to DDS, where I have had the privilege of serving in the Commissioner’s office for 12 years under two Governors. When I think about my time at DDS, I feel an incredible sense of gratitude and pride, not in what I accomplished, but in what we accomplished together. 

None of it happened because of one person.

Everything we achieved happened because individuals and families shared their experiences and trusted us with their stories. Self-advocates spoke up and challenged us to think differently and helped shape our work. Providers, advocates, community partners, legislators, and sister agencies worked alongside us every step of the way. DDS staff across every office and region showed up every day with compassion, commitment, and dedication to the individuals we serve. 

Over the years, we have continued building a more person-centered system. We have expanded opportunities for individuals to live, work, and participate in their communities. We have strengthened housing and support options. We have embraced innovation and technology. We have modernized systems and processes. We have built stronger partnerships throughout Connecticut and, in fact, across the country. 

We have also worked through challenges together, some expected and some that none of us could have imagined. And despite challenges that consumed time, energy, and focus, I leave at a point where we are on the precipice of leaving a legacy for many years to come.

Among the challenges, we survived difficult financial times for us at DDS and for our private provider partners. We saw closures and conversions of many of our public programs. While these were challenging for so many reasons, through hard work and discipline, through a change in the way we partnered with providers, and through a push to evolve new approaches to supporting individuals, we not only survived, but we thrived. 

Another challenge emerged, just as Governor Lamont was settling into his role. Covid. It was a daunting time filled with fear, dread, rabid political and societal discord. As an agency, we worked hard to ensure the health and safety of those we support and their staff, though we were not without casualty. Many talk about Covid as a thing of the past. I am not among them. We are still unpacking the impact on people's lives, their physical and mental health, their ability to access supports and services. And as we reopened, we faced and continue to face the worst direct care staffing crisis in my 35+ years. 

Despite those challenges, we have really pushed forward in a number of areas, which I believe will be our collective legacy. These areas include, but are not limited to:

1. The development of a business intelligence unit at DDS. A unit that helps us detect and prevent abuse and neglect, that uses our vast collections of data points to tell stories, data that helps inform decision-making both at the individual and systemic levels. 
2. The creation of a care management system that has been discussed for 20 years and is now well under way.
3. Advances in how we help individuals live in the community through our broad development of supportive housing. 
4. Our continued aggressive campaign to better utilize assistive technology to facilitate independence.
5. Partnerships with various stakeholders including Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) and private interests to further develop opportunities for supported employment, including customized employment, small business development, and Project Search, among others. 
6. Growth in the space of self-direction, including the development of paid family supports.
7. The establishment of an office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within DDS, stating clearly the strong value we place on the diversity of our workforce and service development and confirming our commitment to honoring and respecting  the many individuals from vast and varied backgrounds that make up our staff, our providers, and include all the people eligible for our supports and services. 
8. We continue to be one of the few states that directly employs self-advocate coordinators. Their voices have been invaluable in helping me understand our system, where it works well, where it needs to do better, and where we might have some opportunities to grow. I have said it often, but if you have not been to a statewide SAC meeting, you should find the opportunity to do so. It is among the things I will miss the most. 
9. Lastly is what I hope will be lasting cultural change. When I arrived at DDS, I found a system with a lot of ‘Us vs. Them' thinking. DDS vs. Providers, Public vs. Private, advocacy organizations vs. the department, and on and on. We moved from conflict to collaboration with many of our partners on a multitude of topics and recognized the value that different parts of the system bring. That shift reduced fatigue, built trust, and helped us recognize that progress becomes much harder when everyone works in separate corners. The more common ground we found, the more progress we made. The more we worked together, the more responsive the legislature became. We became less of a collection of individual groups and more of a community working towards common goals. While I helped set that direction, it was only accomplished through your willingness to move together down that path. 

We have done so much in my time here. I am certain there is more, but as I look back, I realize many of the things I will remember most are not major projects or initiatives. I will remember individuals we support proudly showing me where they worked. I will remember conversations with families and self-advocates. I will remember visits across Connecticut where some of the most meaningful moments happened. 

Those are the memories I will carry with me forever.

This work has changed me for the better. I know I leave this role a better person because of the individuals, families, staff, providers, and advocates I have had the privilege of meeting along the way.

While I may be stepping away from this role, I know the future of DDS is bright. The mission continues. The work continues.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of this journey and for the many memories I will take with me. Connecticut and the people I have met here will always hold a special place in my heart.

It truly has been one of the greatest honors of my life. 

Jordan Scheff
Commissioner 

Commissioner Bio

Jordan Scheff has made it his life's work to help people with intellectual and developmental problems in Connecticut. Because he was so dedicated, Governor Malloy chose him to be the Commissioner of DDS in January 2017.

The governor chose Jordan because he has worked for over 25 years to make sure that everyone in our state has the tools they need to live healthy, happy lives.

Before joining DDS, Mr. Scheff worked for a long time at MARCH, Inc. of Manchester. This organization helps people with intellectual and developmental challenges with care and support.

In April 2012, Jordan Scheff joined the Connecticut DDS as a Regional Director. Because he was so dedicated to the mission of the DDS, he was made Deputy Commissioner of the department in 2015 before stepping into his role as the Commissioner in 2017.

Mr. Scheff keeps working hard every day for this cause. He's made it his goal to help people with developmental disabilities and their families get the support, help, and tools they need to live their best lives..