August 8, 2012
August 8, 2012 -- Governor Kitzhaber has named Judy Applegate-Strand as the new Chair of the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services. The Commission was formed by the Oregon Legislature in 1981 to advise the Governor and the Department of Human Services on public policy and services related to older adults.
"Judy’s diverse professional background as both a clinician and an advocate for older adults will be a valuable asset to the Commission,” said Governor Kitzhaber. "With the coming demographic wave of baby boomers and a changing landscape for health care, technology, and the economy, this Commission faces very different challenges than when it was created. Judy is the right leader to join with her fellow commissioners to re-invigorate the Commission’s work to improve quality of life for older Oregonians.”
Ms. Applegate-Strand is the Chief Executive Officer of Metropolitan Family Service, a community-based social service organization supporting 37,000 children, families, and older adults in the Portland and southwest Washington metropolitan area. She took the position in July after serving as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer for eight years. Her professional life has focused on geriatrics, including a clinical counseling practice, and developing programs, services, and volunteer opportunities for older, often isolated, adults. Nationally, Ms. Applegate serves on an Advisory Board for the Alliance for Children and Families’ “Age of Aging” effort to expand service roles for older adults in organizations across the nation.
A full roster, including the full slate of new appointees in addition to Ms. Applegate-Strand, is available here: http://cms.oregon.gov/dhs/spd/pages/adv/gcss/gcss_members.aspx.
