Johnson to Join President-elect Biden’s White House COVID-19 Response Team
Deputy Commissioner Sarah Adelman to Become Acting Human Services Commissioner
TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today announced that Carole Johnson, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, will depart the Murphy Administration as of January 15, 2021 to join the Biden-Harris Administration’s White House COVID-19 response team. Deputy Commissioner Sarah Adelman will become Acting Commissioner of the Department beginning January 16, 2021.
Commissioner Johnson joined Governor Murphy’s Cabinet on his first day in office on January 16, 2018, returning home to New Jersey after serving for more than five years as the Domestic Policy Council public health lead in the Obama White House, including during the Ebola and Zika public health emergencies. Johnson previously worked on health care and public health policy on Capitol Hill, in academia, and in the non-profit and philanthropy sectors. She is originally from North Cape May.
“From day one, Carole Johnson has been one of our most valuable team members and a leading voice for serving New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents,” said Governor Murphy. “For three years, she has skillfully and ably managed our largest agency in state government, overseeing Medicaid, food assistance, child care programs, and mental health and addiction services, among other responsibilities. We’re sad to see her depart the Administration, but are excited that she’ll be taking a critical role serving President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris in the White House as our nation continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“It has been an incredible honor to work with Commissioner Johnson as she led our dedicated team in tireless service to New Jersey residents over the last three years," said incoming Department of Human Services Acting Commissioner Sarah Adelman. "I hope to continue building on our efforts to serve New Jersey's most vulnerable residents, as well as making services available to many who need support for the first time as a result of COVID-19. I am grateful for the Governor’s confidence and will work to ensure a seamless transition for the residents who rely on the Department of Human Services for assistance. On behalf of Deputy Commissioner Elisa Neira, Chief of Staff Andrea Katz, and the entire Department, I will miss working with Commissioner Johnson and wish her the best in her new role.”
Under Commissioner Johnson’s leadership for the past three years, the Department of Human Services has:
Additionally, the Department of Human Services has led the fight against the health and economic impacts of COVID on New Jersey’s most vulnerable communities by:
The Department of Human Services is the largest agency in New Jersey state government and provides health care and social services to millions of New Jerseyans through Medicaid, food assistance, child care, mental health and addiction services, aging supports and services, disability services, and supports for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Bio - Sarah Adelman, Deputy Commissioner:
Sarah Adelman currently serves as Deputy Commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Human Services, overseeing the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Division of Aging Services, and the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, which operates the Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare program. These programs have a budget of more than $17 billion in state and federal funds and a staff of more than 5,000. She also serves as the Commissioner’s designee on the Board of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.
Before joining Governor Murphy's Administration, Adelman previously served as Vice President at the New Jersey Association of Health Plans and Chief of Staff at the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute. She also previously served on the Board of Trustees for Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice, the Board of Directors for a statewide child abuse and neglect prevention program, and the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey's Healthcare Steering Committee.
Adelman was named among “New Jersey’s Top 10 Healthcare Policy Analysts and Experts” by NJ Spotlight. She received her Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Rowan University and a certificate in Advanced Healthcare Leadership from Seton Hall University as a fellow in the inaugural class of the New Jersey Healthcare Executives Leadership Academy.