Murphy Nominates Sarah Adelman for Human Services Commissioner

On Jan 24, 2022

Gov. Phil Murphy announced his intention to nominate Sarah Adelman as the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services. Adelman has served as Acting Commissioner since January 2021. The New Jersey Department of Human Services serves one in three New Jersey children and one in five adults, with a budget of approximately $20 billion in state and federal funds and a staff of more than 7,400.

“Sarah stepped into the role of Acting Commissioner amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and her leadership has successfully guided the New Jersey Department of Human Services throughout this challenging year,” Murphy said. “Sarah’s unwavering dedication, coupled with her extensive knowledge of the Department and its programs, is absolutely essential as we help New Jersey families deal with the challenges presented by the pandemic. I look forward to her confirmation by the Senate and continuing to serve New Jersey’s most vulnerable communities together.”

“I thank Governor Murphy for this honor, and am deeply grateful for the trust he has shown in me to lead New Jersey’s largest state department,” Adelman said. “New Jersey is stronger, resilient and moving forward under Governor Murphy, and Human Services is a central part of his work to make New Jersey the opportunity state. Together, we’ve made significant investments in child care and food assistance, enhanced services for older adults and individuals with disabilities, protected health coverage for more than 2 million residents, and expanded access for those needing mental health and addiction services. I look forward to continuing this vital work as part of Governor Murphy’s team and alongside the dedicated staff at Human Services. We have more great work to do. I look forward to getting it done.”

Under Adelman’s leadership as Acting Commissioner, the Department of Human Services has helped residents through the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on assisting New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents including those needing child care, income and food assistance; older adults; individuals with disabilities; advancing health equity; and those needing mental health and addiction services and health coverage through New Jersey’s Medicaid program, NJ FamilyCare.

Adelman joined the Department in 2018, initially serving as a Deputy Commissioner, 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. She also served on the Board of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.

Before joining Governor Murphy’s Administration, Adelman 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 served on the Board of Trustees for Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice, and the Board of Directors for a statewide child abuse and neglect prevention program.

Adelman 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.

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