Macomb Township resident Dwayne Haywood has been appointed director of the Department of Human Services’ Bureau of Community Action and Economic Opportunity, effective July 11.

In this role, Haywood will be responsible for activities related to DHS weatherization services and community action agency block grants. Haywood replaces Ed LaForge, who resigned earlier this year.

"Dwayne brings a wealth of experience with community service programs from his background as a Department of Human Services' program manager and, more recently, in his role for the city of Detroit," said DHS director Marianne Udow, who made the appointment.

Haywood served as executive director for human services with the city of Detroit from 2002-05 where he was responsible for administering an $88 million budget including the community services block grant, Department of Juvenile Justice, Low Income Energy Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance to Needy Family grants.

From 2000-02, he worked in the Wayne County DHS (then Family Independence Agency) office in Detroit in personnel and was child care manager for Spectrum Human Services' Calumet Center during 2001-02. Haywood held other positions with state and private agencies from 1992-2000 including children's program manager and children's protective services specialist in Wayne County from 1992-97.

He holds a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Eastern Michigan University and is a graduate of the John F. Kennedy School Government Leadership Program at Harvard University. He is a U.S. Army veteran honorably discharged in 1981 and a former member of the U.S. Army Reserve.

For Michigan Department of Human Services, Haywood will administer weatherization assistance and block grant funds awarded to Michigan's 30 community action agencies (CAAs). He will advise the department director on CAA and will monitor their performance and activities.