State of California
|DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

THERESE (TERRI) DELGADILLO
Director

BIOGRAPHY

Therese Delgadillo was appointed Director of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) on September 1, 2006, by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Prior to this appointment, Ms. Delgadillo served as Chief Deputy Director/Interim Director from February 17, 2006, through August 31, 2006.

Ms. Delgadillo manages a department in the California Health and Human Services Agency with more than 8,200 employees and a total budget of $4.2 billion.
DDS is the lead agency through which the State of California provides services and supports to children and adults with developmental disabilities. These disabilities
include mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and related conditions.  As Director, Ms. Delgadillo will oversee the delivery of services and supports to
approximately 215,000 persons with developmental disabilities and their families.  These services are administered through 5 state-operated developmental centers,
2 state-operated community facilities, and contracts with 21 private, non-profit regional centers.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Delgadillo served as Deputy Secretary at the California Health and Human Services Agency since 2004.  She previously served as
Deputy Director for the Department of Health Services, and Acting Undersecretary and Deputy Secretary for the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency.

Ms. Delgadillo’s career has focused on public policy and social services.  She has provided classroom instruction for persons with developmental disabilities and was a
volunteer for the Special Olympics.  She has worked as both a Peace Officer and a supervisor overseeing juvenile offenders.  Later, she worked for more than 15 years
as a legislative expert at the state and national levels, including serving as the Legislative Director for United States Senators John Seymour and Paul Coverdell and as
the Chief Legislative Consultant for the California Senate Select Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science.