Linda Gibbs, the newly appointed deputy mayor for health and human services, was already put to the test last week by the death of 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown, a high-profile tragedy that raised questions about the city’s handling of child abuse cases. Gibbs, former commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and deputy commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), will now oversee a large portfolio of agencies including DHS, ACS, the Departments of Correction, Probation, Juvenile Justice, Aging; Health and Mental Hygiene; and the Human Resources Administration. She will also supervise the Health and Hospitals Corporation; the HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council; and the Office of Health Insurance Access, all formerly under Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott. “The goal is to work on even more effective collaboration and better service integration,” said Gibbs. First Deputy Commissioner Fran Winter will take the helm at DHS while a national search for a new commissioner is conducted. Winter has worked at the agency for seven years, first as assistant commissioner for adult services and then as agency counsel, before becoming first deputy over prevention and aftercare. DHS press secretary James Anderson moves up as well, joining Bloomberg campaign honcho Stu Loeser in the mayor’s press office. [1/17/05]