Janek to Resign Effective July 1 2015

Abbott Announces New HHSC Leadership Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas I thank Dr. Janek for his years of dedication and service to the State of Texas" said Gov. Greg Abbott announcing that Texas Health & Human Services Commission Exec. Commissioner Dr. Kyle Janek (left) has expressed his intention to resign effective July 1 2015. Abbott simultaneously announced his intention to appoint Chris Traylor (right) as Exec. Commissioner and Charles Smith as Deputy Executive Commissioner of the agency.   

I look forward to working with Chris Traylor to make needed reforms to ensure that the millions of Texans who rely on the vital services HHSC performs are able to have the utmost trust in the agency said Abbott. Chris Traylor and Charles Smith have the proven leadership experience necessary to address the challenges facing HHSC and I am confident in their ability to confront these challenges head on."

Traylor is currently the Deputy Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health & Human Services Commission. He previously led the Department of Aging & Disability Services (DADS) from 2010 to 2012 as the agency implemented broad reforms to improve state supported living centers that serve people with profound developmental disabilities. While at DADS Traylor successfully worked to extend community care to more Texans with disabilities. Before joining DADS Traylor served as the Texas Medicaid director for three years. Under his leadership Texas developed health passports for children in foster care known as the STAR Health program which has been nationally recognized for improving coordination of services for children in state custody. Traylor also helped integrate acute and long-term care services for Texans who are elderly or have disabilities reducing the wait for services that allow people to get care in their homes and communities. Traylors 25 years of public service include serving as Chief of Staff at HHSC and manager of the day-to-day operations of the consolidation of Texas Health & Human Services agencies in 2004. Charles Smith (right) currently serving as the Deputy for Child Support at the Texas Attorney Generals Office was appointed by then-Attorney General Greg Abbott as Deputy for Child Support in 2013. In this role Smith is responsible for the overall delivery of child support services performed by the divisions 2700 employees. Smith began his career in the Attorney Generals office as a volunteer in the Child Support Division in 1988 and attained positions of increasing responsibility during his 26 year career within the Division. Smith served as the Divisions deputy director from 2004-2013 overseeing field operations. During Smiths tenure he led the Divisions transformation to become the top-rated child support program in the nation. Smith is recognized as a leader in personnel management analytics innovation organization streamlining processes and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of operations. He recently served as President of the Western Interstate Child Support Enforcement Council and currently serves as President-elect of the National Child Support Enforcement Association. Smith was re-appointed to his position by current Attorney General Ken Paxton in January 2015.

Thanks to the hard work dedication and talent of Charles Smith the children of Texas are in a much better place than they were when he began working for the Office of the Attorney General more than 25 years ago" said Paxton (right) upon learning Smith would step down effective July 1. Bringing him aboard is a smart move for the Health & Human Services Commission and leaves us the challenge of filling his ample shoes. We wish him the very best of luck moving forward Paxton said.

Smith takes a key leadership role for HHSC which today announced the July departure of Commissioner Kyle Janek.