Oklahoma Department of Human Services

Last updated
Oklahoma Human Services
Agency overview
Formed1936
HeadquartersSequoyah Building
2400 N Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Employees6,217 (FY23)
Annual budget$5.1 billion (FY23) [1]
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Dr. Deborah Shropshire, Executive Director
Website Oklahoma Human Services

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is an agency of the government of Oklahoma. Under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services, Oklahoma Human Services is responsible for providing help to individuals and families in need through public assistance programs and managing services for seniors and people with disabilities.

Contents

The department is led by the Director of Human Services, who is appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the governor. The current director is Dr. Deborah Shropshire, who was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt on January 10, 2023.

The department was established in 1936 during the term of Governor of Oklahoma E. W. Marland.

History

The state agency was established in 1936 by the voters of Oklahoma by an amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution. By a two-to-one margin, voters approved Article XXV, a state constitutional amendment, “to provide … for the relief and care of needy aged … and other needy persons.“ The Department was established under the name of the Department of Public Welfare. [2] The agency began with the four divisions of finance, statistical, child welfare, and public assistance. [2]

In 1951, Lloyd E. Rader was appointed director of the agency, and he turned the then poorly functioning agency into a model for other states. [3] During the 1950s, the agency's responsibilities were expanded as other agencies were transferred under Rader's leadership. [3] Rader would serve as the agency's director until his resignation in 1982. [3]

Lawmakers changed the agency's name to the Department of Institutions, Social and Rehabilitative Services in 1968 legislation. In 1980, the Oklahoma Legislature changed the name to the Department of Human Services. [2] Under Rader's leadership, the agency gained a large budget with the addition of federal funding. By 1966, the agency budget was $235 million. By 1970, it paid out more in welfare than any of its neighboring states. [3]

In November 2012, Oklahoma voters amended the Oklahoma Constitution by passing State Question 756, which reorganized the agency. Prior to the amendment, the Department of Human Services was governed by a nine-member Commission on Human Services, whose members were appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma to serve fixed terms. The commission would then appoint a director under the commission's oversight. The 2012 amendment abolished the commission and provided for the appointment of the director by the governor directly. [4]

Scope and goals

The Department of Human Services provides a number of assistance programs to help Oklahomans by administering federal programs for food benefits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; and the state's child welfare, developmental disabilities, aging, adult protective, and child support systems; and child care assistance, licensing and monitoring. The agency also handles applications and eligibility for ABD Sooner Care, the state's Medicaid program offering health care to aged, blind, or disabled individuals with low incomes. [5]

Organization

The growth of the Department of Human Services has created a complex organization that includes agency leaders, division directors and county offices in each of Oklahoma's 77 counties.

Leadership

The state agency is led by the Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services and day-to-day operations are administered by an agency director. Under Governor of Oklahoma Kevin Stitt, the Secretary is Dr. Deborah Shropshire, and Dr. Deborah Shropshire is also serving as agency Director.

Structure

As of January 2023, the organization of the Department is as follows:

Budget and staffing

Expenditures made by Oklahoma Human Services are divided into two major areas: an annual operating budget used to run the Department and funded primarily by state appropriations and a Medical and Assistance Fund used to fund the assistance programs. The agency receives both federal and state funding and has additional sources of revenue. The agency received a state appropriation of $753 million and had a total budget of $5.1 billion for fiscal year 2023. [1]

The Department of Human Services is the largest employer in Oklahoma state government. As of October 2023, the agency has a total staff of 6,217.


See also

Related Research Articles

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is headed by the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Children and Families. It has a $49 billion budget for 60 programs that target children, youth and families. These programs include assistance with welfare, child support enforcement, adoption assistance, foster care, child care, and child abuse. The agency employs approximately 1,700 staff, including 1,200 federal employees and 500 contractors, where 60% are based in Washington, DC, with the remaining in regional offices located in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco, Missouri and Seattle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Department of Transportation</span>

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for the construction and maintenance of the state's transportation infrastructure. Under the leadership of the Oklahoma secretary of transportation and ODOT executive director, the department maintains public infrastructure that includes highways and state-owned railroads and administers programs for county roads, city streets, public transit, passenger rail, waterways and active transportation. Along with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, the department is the primary infrastructure construction and maintenance agency of the State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services</span>

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) is an agency of the Government of Oklahoma responsible for providing public health services relating to mental illness and substance abuse.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is a California state agency for many of the programs defined as part of the social safety net in the United States, and is within the auspices of the California Health and Human Services Agency. Federal and State funds for adoptions, the largest SNAP program in the country, CalWORKs program, foster care, aid for people with disabilities, family crisis counseling, subsistence payments to poor families with children, child welfare services and many other efforts are distributed through this department.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the Oklahoma secretary of commerce. The department is responsible for the supporting local communities, stimulating growth of the existing businesses, attracting new business, and promoting the development and availability of a skilled workforce. The department is the lead agency for economic development in the state. The department is led by and under the control of a director appointed by the governor of Oklahoma, with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the governor.

The Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs (ODVA) is a department of the state of Oklahoma under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Veterans Affairs charged with providing medical and rehabilitative services for veterans and their families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation</span> American Wildlife Conservation Agency

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is an agency of the state of Oklahoma responsible for managing and protecting Oklahoma's wildlife population and their habitats. The Department is under the control of the Wildlife Conservation Commission, an 8-member board appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate. All members serve eight-year terms. The Commission, in turn, appoints a Director to serve as the chief administrative officer of the Department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs</span> Oklahoma state agency

The Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) is an agency of the state of Oklahoma headquartered in Oklahoma City that is responsible for planning and coordinating statewide juvenile justice and delinquency prevention services. OJA is also responsible for operating juvenile correctional facilities in the State.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is a principal department of state of Michigan, headquartered in Lansing, that provides public assistance, child and family welfare services, and oversees health policy and management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Conservation Commission</span>

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission is an agency of the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. It is the duty of the Commission to conserve Oklahoma's land and water. The Commission is also responsible for upstream flood control protection, a state-funded conservation cost-share program, reclamation of abandoned mine land and non point source water quality monitoring, planning, and management, in addition to a variety of educational and informational activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Health and Human Services Commission</span>

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is an agency within the Texas Health and Human Services System. In September 2016, Texas began transforming how it delivers health and human services to qualified Texans, with a goal of making the Health and Human Services System more efficient and effective. Sept. 1, 2017, marked another major milestone in this transformation.

Jerry Regier was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Services Policy in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 2005–2007. He provides leadership on policy analysis and development in human services and on research under the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) for Secretary Mike Leavitt.

The Human Resources Administration or Department of Social Services (HRA/DSS) is the department of the government of New York City in charge of the majority of the city's social services programs. HRA helps New Yorkers in need through a variety of services that promote employment and personal responsibility while providing temporary assistance and work supports. Its regulations are compiled in title 68 of the New York City Rules. The current Commissioner of HRA is Molly Wasow Park, who was appointed to the position by Mayor Eric Adams. HRA is the largest city social services agency in the United States. It has a budget of $9.7 billion, employs over 14,000 people, and serves over 3 million New Yorkers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services</span>

The Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on public health and public assistance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services</span>

The Oklahoma Secretary of Health is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on public health issues and needs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Oklahoma state budget</span>

The Oklahoma State Budget for Fiscal Year 2014, is a spending request by Governor Mary Fallin to fund government operations for July 1, 2013–June 30, 2014. Governor Fallin proposed the budget on February 4, 2013. This was Governor Fallin's third budget submitted as governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Department of Health Services</span> Wisconsin State Agency for health services.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WisDHS) is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Wisconsin responsible for maintaining public health. It administers a wide range of services in the state and at state institutions, regulates hospitals and care providers, and supervises and consults with local public health agencies. Its responsibilities include public health; mental health and substance abuse; long-term support and care; services to people with disabilities, medical assistance, and children’s services; aging programs; physical and developmental disability services; blindness disability programs; operation of care and treatment facilities; quality assurance programs; nutrition supplementation programs; medical assistance; and health care for low-income families, elderly, and the disabled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Department of Children and Families</span> Wisconsin state government agency responsible for state services for children and families.

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) is an agency of the Wisconsin state government responsible for providing services to assist children and families and to oversee county offices handling those services. This includes child protective services, adoption and foster care services, and juvenile justice services. It also manages the licensing and regulation of facilities involved in the foster care and day care systems, performs background investigations of child care providers, and investigates incidents of potential child abuse or neglect. It administers the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program, the child care subsidy program, child support enforcement and paternity establishment services, and programs related to the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) income support program.

David A. Hansell is an American advocate and expert on public policy and programs that provide assistance to vulnerable populations. He started his career in public service in the late 1980s as an advocate for New York City's HIV-positive population. He then joined the City government, where he was quickly recognized for his talent for modernizing government programs, and developing innovative methods for creating economic opportunities and sustainable supports for poor and working-class families.

References

  1. 1 2 June 2012 Commission Meeting Notes, OKDHS.org (accessed May 10, 2013)
  2. 1 2 3 Doe, Douglas D. and George E. Johnson Jr. Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 10, 2013)
  3. 1 2 3 4 O'Dell, Larry. Rader, Lloyd, Edwin Sr. (1906-1986), Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 10, 2013)
  4. ↑ OKDHS - Joint Citizen Panels, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, 2013-04-20
  5. ↑ About Us, OKDHS.org (accessed May 10, 2013)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.