Published: December 04, 2009 02:54 pm      

Perdue names Janes as Olmstead coordinator

ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that he has appointed William Janes to be the state’s Olmstead Coordinator, who will develop and implement the state’s Olmstead Plan to improve services to those with mental and developmental disabilities.

“Bill will be a key asset as we continue to transform our mental health and developmental disabilities system,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “He understands the importance of serving this community and how to do it best.”

Under the Olmstead Strategic Plan, Georgia has worked for years to make quality community services more available to those with mental and developmental disabilities. The Olmstead Plan was created after a 1999 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that interpreted the Americans with Disabilities Act to mean that states must provide appropriate services for the disabled in the most integrated setting possible.

Most recently, Janes served as the Director of Florida’s Office of Drug Control and as Assistant Secretary of Substance Abuse and Mental Health in Florida’s Department of Children and Families making him responsible for a $1 billion budget. Other experience includes work as the Executive Director of the Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office. Prior to his work as a civilian, Janes served as a Colonel in the United States Army and directed the Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies.

Janes graduated with a B.A. from Ohio State University. He has Master’s Degrees from Ohio State, McNeese State and the U.S. Command and General Staff College. He has been married to his wife, Debbie, for 41 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. The Janes currently reside in Columbus, Georgia.