Cook to Lead New Community Service Board Task Force

            ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today his selection of Bruce Cook, chairman of the Board of Human Resources, to lead a new task force of the Commission for a New Georgia that will develop recommendations for improving the management and oversight of Georgia's Community Service Boards (CSB). 

            “Bruce Cook helped lead DHR through a critical reorganization of the Division of Family and Children Services and brought stability to the department.  Thanks to his leadership, DHR is now running more efficiently and better meeting the needs of the people of Georgia,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “I look forward to his work on this new challenge.  The recommendations of this task force will help improve the health and well-being of many Georgians.”

            CSB's provide community-based services for the mentally challenged and the developmentally disabled.  Governor Perdue directed the Department of Audits and Accounts (DAA) to review the management of CSB's.  DAA submitted their final report to the Governor on January 21, 2005.  The audit concluded that CSB's:

• Lack accountability in the services they provide;
• Do not have effective financial oversight;
• Often operate without competition as a sole provider;
• Fail to ensure that critical populations, particularly children and adolescents, are adequately served; and
• Base funding decisions on historical funding patterns rather than specific needs.

Cook has served as the DHR Board Chairman since September 2003.  Upon assuming his new role on Monday, March 28, 2005, he will step down as Board Chairman of DHR.