Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

July 21, 2017

Contact: Monica Lewis-Wilborn, Director of Communications
267-588-6609, monica.lewis-wilborn@phila.gov

PHILADELPHIA, PA — After a five-month search, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced the appointment of David T. Jones as Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), a $1 billion healthcare agency with nearly 800 employees.  Jones had been serving as Acting Commissioner following the departure of Dr. Arthur Evans, who left to become president of the American Psychological Association in February.

“The Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services addresses some of the most challenging issues and critical needs facing our city and the people who live here. From the growing opioid crisis to the pain and hardships often associated with mental illness and intellectual disabilities, DBHIDS has been at the forefront to help our most vulnerable citizens,” Kenney said. “It takes a hardworking and compassionate person to lead an agency with so much to do and so many to serve. I’m proud to say we found such a person in David T. Jones. He has the knowledge, the vision and the ability to lead DBHIDS and ensure that those in need receive the best service and treatment possible.”

Prior to serving as Acting Director of DBHIDS, Jones spent four years as Deputy Commissioner. In that role, he provided oversight to the department’s fiscal and administrative operations. Prior to his time in Philadelphia, Jones was Chief of Behavioral Health and Crisis Services for the Montgomery County (MD) Department of Health and Human Services. There, he administered a wide-range of diverse programs addressing child and adult mental health, substance misuse, crisis center, victims assistance, and consumer services.

As a behavioral health administrator with more than 25 years of progressive management experience, Jones has produced measurable results to improve the lives of children, adults, and families with behavioral health needs. He possesses in-depth knowledge of state and federal regulations inclusive of Medicaid managed care and mental health rehabilitation standards and has excelled in managing both urban and suburban public behavioral health systems that achieved outcomes inclusive of increasing access to care and expanding the range of services available to residents with behavioral health care needs. Additionally, he has national experience developing multi-disciplinary coalitions to affect sustainable community-level change.

Such experience will be helpful as DBHIDS is at the forefront of key initiatives for the city, including the Mayor’s Task Force to Combat the Opioid Crisis. Under Jones’ leadership, DBHIDS will be carrying out work to implement recommendations brought forth from the task force to serve those impacted by opioid misuse. The department will continue to be involved in the cross-sector response to other issues, including homelessness and multi-dimensional supports for youth in the city.

“I’ve had the great pleasure to work with DBHIDS and its dedicated staff since 2013. So, I know first-hand what we can do to ensure the well-being of children, adults, and families in this great city,” said Jones, who earned a Master of Science in Community School/Clinical Child Psychology from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

“I am both humbled and excited to be at the helm as we continue innovative and impactful work, especially as we aim to address the opioid crisis and provide the highest quality of services to our most vulnerable citizens, including our children,” Jones added.

Eva Gladstein, Deputy Managing Director of the City’s Health and Human Services Cabinet that includes DBHIDS, praised Jones for leading DBHIDS in an acting capacity and expressed confidence in his ability to manage the department during such a critical time.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with David and am convinced there is no better leader for DBHIDS today,” Gladstein said. “We conducted a national search and many of those we considered for this role have the intellect and experience required for the position. David stood out, however, as a leader with integrity, charisma, and an extraordinary ability to connect vision, people, and ideas to implement the quality service and programming needed to positively change lives and communities throughout Philadelphia.”