Oklahoma Department of Human Services

Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Department of Human Services logo
Agency overview
Formed	1936
Preceding agency	Department of Public Welfare
Headquarters	Sequoyah Building 2400 N Lincoln Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Employees	7,300 (FY11)
Annual budget	$2.1 billion (FY11)
Ministers responsible	Terry Cline, Secretary of Health and Human Services Richard L. DeVaughn, Chair of the Commission
Agency executive	Howard Hendrick, Director of Human Services
Parent agency	Commission on Human Services
Website
www.okdhs.org/

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for providing help to individuals and families in need through public assistance programs and managing services for seniors and people with disabilities. The Department is governed by the Commission on Human Services, composed of nine members appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma. The Commission, in turn, appoints the Director of Human Services to serve as the chief executive officer of the Department.

The 14th and current Director of Human Services is Howard Hendrick, who was appointed by the Commission on July 1, 1998. Director Hendrick was appointed by Governor Frank Keating to serve concurrently as the Secretary of Human Services and Governor Brad Henry kept him on during his administration. Terry Cline, commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, was named by Governor Mary Fallin to succeed Hendrick as Cabinet secretary on Feb. 1, 2011.

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

History

The Department of Human Services was established in 1936 by the voters of Oklahoma the Great Depression 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. In the 1950s, the Department’s responsibilities were expanded, and, in 1980, the Oklahoma Legislature changed the name to the Department of Human Services. DHS currently has county human service departments in each of Oklahoma's 77 counties.

Leadership

The Department is led by the Secretary of Human Services, the Chair of the Human Services Commission, and the Director of Human Services. Under Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin, the Chair of the Commission is Richard L. DeVaughn, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is Terry Cline, and Howard Hendrick is serving as the Director of Human Services.

Commission on Human Services

The Human Services Commission is the governing board of the Department. The Commission is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma. All members of the Commission serve nine year terms.

As of 2011, the current members of the Board are as follows:

• Richard L. DeVaughn, D.D.S. - Chairman
• Jay Dee Chase
• Steven Dow
• Linda English Weeks
• Michael L. Peck, O.D.
• Robert D. Rawlings
• Anne Roberts
• Aneta F. Wilkinson
• Rev. George E. Young Sr.

Organization

• Executive Office - led by the Director of Human Services, immediate staff of the Director and provides policy direction for the Department and supports the functions the Commission on Human Services
• Office of Client Advocacy
• Office of Inspector General
• Office for Civil Rights
• Administrative Services - led by the Chief Administrative Officer, provides services to support Department programs and promote improved administration and management of resources
  • Human Resources Management Division
  • Office of Communications
  • Office of Information and Referral
  • Office of Intergovernmental Relations and Policy
  • Support Services Division
  • Office of Volunteerism
• Office of General Counsel - led by the General Counsel, provides legal advice and representation for Department administrative and program activities
• Human Services Centers - led by the Chief Operating Officer, provides public assistance to individuals and families in need help themselves lead safer, healthier, more independent and productive lives
  • Children and Family Services Division
  • Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
  • Family Support Services Division
  • Field Operations Division
    • County Human Services Centers
    • Area Offices
  • Substance Abuse Services
• Information Services Divisions - led by the Chief Information Officer, improves business processes and Department outcomes through collecting, securing, and disseminating information
  • Office of Planning, Research and Statistics
  • Information Security Office
  • Data Services Division
    • Project Management Office
  • Enterprise Program Management Office
• Finance Division - led by the Chief Financial Officer, measures Department program financial performance
• Vertically Integrated Services Divisions - led by the Chief Coordinating Officer, provides a wide spectrum of quality services to support agency programs and responsible management of Department resources
  • Aging Services Division
  • Developmental Disabilities Services Division
  • Oklahoma Child Care Services
  • Oklahoma Child Support Services

Budget

The Department of Human Services is the third largest state agency by annual appropriation. Expenditures made by the department are divided into two major areas: an annual operating budget used to run the Department ($700 million or 33%) and a Medical and Assistance Fund used to fund the assistance programs provided by the department ($1.4 billion or 67%).

Staffing

The Human Services Department, with an annual operating budget of $2.1 billion, is the largest employer of the State. As of February 2011, the staffing is as follows:

Program	Number of Employees
Executive	5
Office of Client Advocacy	55
Office of Inspector General	75
Office for Civil Rights	5
Administrative Services	305
Office of General Counsel	38
Human Services Centers Children and Families Division Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Field Operations Division County Human Services Centers Area Offices Family Support Services Division Substance Abuse Services	4825 436 5 106 4028 145 101 1
Vertically Integrated Services Divisions Aging Services Division Developmental Disabilities Services Division Oklahoma Child Care Services Oklahoma Child Support Services	2153 265 1148 175 561
Information Services	263
Finance Division	90
Total	7,814

See also

• Kelsey Smith-Briggs Child Protection Reform Act

References

External links

• Oklahoma Department of Human Services official website