February 12, 2019 Louisiana Department of Health leaders selected for participation in national organizations

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Feb 12, 2019 - Three members of the Louisiana Department of Health’s leadership team have been selected for participation in opportunities to make an impact at the state and federal level.

Mark A. Thomas, deputy secretary, has been chosen as president-elect of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) Board. He has been a member of the Board since 2017.

Julie Foster Hagan, assistant secretary of the Office of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, was selected to participate in the NASDDDS National Policy Workgroup. This group of state developmental disabilities directors advises and helps to guide federal policy initiatives, both administrative and legislative.

NASDDDS promotes visionary leadership, systems innovation and the development of national policies that support home and community-based services for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Tara LeBlanc, assistant secretary of the Office of Aging and Adult Services, was appointed to the Executive Board of the National Association of Human State Finance Officers Organization (HSFO) as its historian. HSFO promotes collaboration between states regarding administration, policy, innovative changes and federal mandates in the human services arena.

LeBlanc also was accepted into the American Society on Aging’s Leadership Institute. This leadership development intensive is designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in the field of aging.