The State of Connecticut Department of Social Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2023
Contact: Giovanni Pinto
(860) 424-5382
COMMISSIONER BARTON REEVES ANNOUNCES NEW LEADS TO DSS POLICY TEAM
(HARTFORD, CT) – Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves is excited to announce the addition of two long-time public servants to lead the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Policy Team.
- Dr. Mehul Dalal - will serve as the Chief Policy Advisor
- Joel Norwood - will serve as the Deputy Chief Policy Advisor
“Dr. Dalal and Mr. Norwood will make invaluable additions to the DSS Policy Team, offering a breadth of knowledge spanning decades of community-based services involving the health and human service needs of our most vulnerable populations.
For the last three-and-a-half years, Dr. Dalal served as the Community Services Administrator for the City of New Haven and guided the city through their COVID-19 pandemic response, launched their mental health response team – COMPASS, and established the state’s first municipal Office of Violence Prevention, among other feats.
Mr. Norwood has been with DSS for over a decade as a staff attorney and has worked to improve Medicaid expansion coverage, COVID-19 flexibilities, and coverage of autism spectrum disorder services. In addition, he led the agency’s negotiations in a multi-billion-dollar settlement agreement with the state’s private hospitals.
I am excited for the privilege to facilitate collaborative work between Dr. Dalal and Mr. Norwood as I know the both of them will utilize their expertise to craft meaningful policies that will provide high-quality services to Connecticut families,” Commissioner Barton Reeves said.
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