Jason Flint 2016 Gary Smith Scholarship Recipient

The Gary Smith Scholarship Fund is available to support one participant from state government to attend the National Leadership Institute. The scholarship was established by the NASDDDS board of directors in honor of Gary Smith, an extraordinary leader in the developmental disabilities field who was intensely committed to making state government developmental disabilities agencies effective at delivering quality services and achieving good outcomes for people. As the Director of Special Projects for NASDDDS from 1987 to 2001, Gary was an expert in state operations, and using Medicaid to fund services.

Recognizing the importance of public professionals to receive leadership training and for other participants to be involved with state leaders during leadership training, the NASDDDS board of directors approved an annual contribution to the Gary Smith Scholarship Fund to support the participation of one participant from state government at the University of Delaware Leadership Institute, held twice yearly. 

Jason has worked in the disability services field since 1997, beginning as a direct support professional.  Most of his career has been in private for-profit and not-for-profit service provider organizations in various supervisory and managerial roles.  Jason first joined DHS in 2007 as a policy staff for waiver quality management.  After a brief period back in the private sector, he rejoined DHS in 2014 as a supervisor.  Jason’s team has responsibility for community capacity building, and promoting positive supports and person-centered practices.

FMI to learn more about the Leadership Institute, see www.nlcdd.org/week-long-institute.html.  For specific questions about the scholarship, please email Nancy Weiss at nweiss@udel.edu.