John Imhof to head Suffolk social services department

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine has named John Imhof as his pick to lead the county’s Department of Social Services, a move he said will bring a “new era” to a department that has been the subject of recent controversy.

Imhof, 79, of Bethpage, is a former commissioner of the Nassau County Department of Social Services and begins Monday. Anne Oh, a principal assistant district attorney working under Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, will join Imhof as the department’s chief counsel. Deputy County Executive Sylvia Diaz rounds out the department's top leadership.

“He's a consummate professional,” Romaine said of Imhof. “He's someone that I believe will bring order to social services and implement the changes that are needed to make it more effective. And we intend to back him with the funding and staffing.”

The job has a five-year term and a $193,626 annual salary. It requires confirmation by the county legislature, where Republicans hold a 12-6 majority.

Imhof served as Nassau commissioner from 2006 until 2019 and has worked for more than 40 years in the mental health field. He succeeds former Commissioner Frances Pierre, who was appointed by former County Executive Steve Bellone.

“My hope is to work with the Suffolk staff in addressing the major issues facing Suffolk's neediest families,” Imhof told Newsday. “I believe in collaboration and cooperation and transparency. My goal is to demonstrate that.”

The social services commissioner oversees a department with about 1,000 county employees and is in charge of welfare, homeless housing, child and adult protective services, foster care, Medicaid and SNAP.

Romaine has said improving DSS is a priority for his administration.

A report from a special grand jury empaneled by Tierney was highly critical of the department’s handling of the Thomas Valva child abuse case, alleging the department’s Child Protective Services division erroneously deemed abuse reports unfounded to shield itself from scrutiny.

And earlier this year, county officials attributed widespread delays in processing SNAP and other benefits in 2023 to the department being understaffed. Of 1,335 authorized department positions, 361 were vacant in 2023, according to a report from the legislature’s Office of Budget Review.

Romaine said his administration is working to increase staff and provide employees with additional training, counseling and resources. Recently, he said call wait times for DSS services to the county’s 311 system have decreased from as much as two hours to less than six minutes.

“The men and women at DSS do a difficult job, and confront painful and difficult situations every day,” Romaine said in a news release announcing Imhof's appointment.

The county executive angered some staffers during a meeting with about 150 DSS workers earlier this month over the grand jury report and his comments calling for someone to take responsibility for Valva’s death.

Dan Levler, president of the Association of Municipal Employees, the union that represents DSS workers, in a statement said his members look forward to working with Imhof to “move the department forward.”

“For years, the essential employees working within Suffolk County's Department of Social Services have faced daunting challenges with increased workloads, diminished resources, and a depleted workforce,” Levler said. “We are encouraged that incoming DSS Commissioner John Imhoff has previously stated that in order to attract the best qualified men and women to serve in lifesaving roles, they need to be paid sufficiently and commensurate with their critical responsibilities.”

Legis. Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) said the appointment will likely come before the legislature during its June meeting but declined to comment further as he vetted Romaine’s pick. Legislative minority leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon) said he looked forward to meeting Imhof and “learning about his perspective for DSS going forward.”

By Vera Chinese

vera.chinese@newsday.com@VeraChinese

Vera Chinese covers Suffolk County government and politics. She joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.