Gov. Stitt appoints Deborah Shropshire to cabinet as Secretary of Human Services

GOVERNOR STITT ANNOUNCES DR. SHROPSHIRE AS HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY, THANKS SECRETARY BROWN FOR HIS SERVICE

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 11, 2023) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt announced his appointment of Dr. Deborah Shropshire to serve as Secretary of Human Services.

“Dr. Shropshire is a true public servant as well as an experienced and trusted physician. She has helped make Oklahoma one of the best states in the country for families,” said Governor Stitt. “Her willingness to serve her state in this capacity is admirable. I am grateful that she has accepted this role and I look forward to having her as a member of my cabinet.”

Stitt appoints three agency heads to permanent positions

GOVERNOR STITT APPOINTS THREE STATE AGENCY LEADERS TO PERMANENT POSITIONS

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 15, 2020) — Governor Kevin Stitt announced today the appointment of Carrie Slatton-Hodges as Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Dr. Lance Frye as State Commissioner of Health and Rachel Holt as Executive Director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs.

Slatton-Hodges, Frye and Holt will continue serving in interim capacities pending Senate confirmation in the 2021 legislative session.

“These leaders have provided strong visions and steady leadership for our state agencies and the people they serve while operating in their current roles,” said Gov. Stitt. “I am proud of the work they have collectively accomplished throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and I look forward to seeing how they will continue to move the needle in the health and care of our people as we work to become Top 10 in these critical categories.”

$15M in COVID funds designated to launch 30 Community HOPE Centers to serve vulnerable children

Governor and First Lady Stitt, Secretary Brown announce CARES Act Investment, targeting 30 Community HOPE Centers by year end

$15 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to be dedicated to serving Oklahoma children and families

OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 3, 2020) – Governor Kevin Stitt and First Lady Sarah Stitt, along with Secretary of Human Services and Early Childhood Initiatives Justin Brown, today announced the launch of 30 Community HOPE Centers to be stood up by the end of 2020 that will serve approximately 4,200 children and their adult caregivers. Gov. Stitt and the CARES Forward Team have approved an initial $15 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to support this statewide effort.

“The First Lady and I have put a stake in the ground to address and reverse the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences in our state,” said Gov. Stitt. “This important, transformative work will develop pathways for children and families to overcome this difficult time. Strengthening Oklahoma’s families has generational impacts and will help us continue our forward momentum toward Top Ten status.”

Gov. Stitt announces $10M in funding to supply OK schools with PPE

GOVERNOR STITT, SEC. BROWN, EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS ANNOUNCE PPE ASSISTANCE FOR OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 30, 2020)— Governor Kevin Stitt announced today the State of Oklahoma is allocating $10 million in federal CARES Act funding to supply Oklahoma schools with PPE in order to open safely for in-person learning.

Joined by Secretary of Human Services and Early Childhood Initiatives Justin Brown and education stakeholders from across the state, Gov. Stitt stressed the importance of the health and safety of students and teachers while highlighting the need for schools to resume.

“Schools are an essential part of our society,” said Gov. Stitt. “It is critically important that they operate safely and effectively for all students. I am committed to providing our schools with the resources and support they need in order to welcome students back to the classroom while also prioritizing their health.”

Based on personnel data and requests from the State Department of Education, the State will be providing the following PPE to Oklahoma schools:

State Superintendent announces free online tool for schools to mitigate learning loss

Hofmeister invests in online tool to mitigate learning loss at no costs to schools

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 16, 2020) – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister announced today that an online tool is being offered to all Oklahoma school districts for free to help students catch up after potential learning loss because of COVID-19. Exact Path creates a personalized learning plan that aligns with the Oklahoma Academic Standards and features intuitive training for teachers.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is using a portion of the agency's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to provide the digital platform at no costs to districts. The ESSER funds are part of the federal Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

“As they plan for next school year, teachers are confronting a twofold learning loss – the familiar ‘summer slide’ and losses resulting from school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Hofmeister. “Exact Path will help teachers address learning gaps for each student on an individual basis.”

The online tool from Edmentum combines adaptive diagnostics with individualized instruction and learning paths for kindergarten through 12th-grade students. Once Exact Path determines a student’s level of knowledge, a personalized pathway is created to ensure the student reaches academic growth goals in English language arts, math and reading.

Jamie Candee, chief executive officer of Edmentum, said the company has worked for decades to support teaching and learning programs in Oklahoma. 

“It’s an honor to partner alongside the exceptional educational leadership at the Oklahoma State Department of Education to provide individualized learning tools for every student across the state,” she said. “As schools and districts navigate through traditional, distance and blended learning options that put student and educator safety first, we're focused on ensuring Oklahoma educators can efficiently mitigate learning gaps and accelerate growth for all, no matter which learning model they choose.”

Exact Path may be used in any learning environment, whether in the classroom, a blended learning scenario or during distance learning. Almost 60 Oklahoma districts already use Exact Path, including Bartlesville Public Schools.

“We originally intended to use Exact Path to help students fill in learning gaps, but we’ve discovered that it also works really well for students who are ahead of the curriculum,” said Jason Langham, executive director of secondary schools and special services for Bartlesville Public Schools. 

A district may begin implementation as soon as it decides to opt in, Hofmeister said.

“We hope educators will consider using Exact Path this summer to get a jump start on reclaiming lost ground,” she said. “It will provide an invaluable return to learning before schools open their doors in the fall.”

In addition, OSDE has also partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) to reach students with Exact Path. OKDHS will work with qualifying childcare providers through technology grants to implement Exact Path in facilities throughout the remaining months of summer and into the school year, ensuring that students don't fall behind in spite of the pandemic. 

“Partnering with OSDE on this initiative is a great example of teamwork on the state level that benefits Oklahoma children,” said OKDHS Director Justin Brown. “But what’s even more important is that kids continue to get the education they deserve, even when they are away from school due to unexpected circumstances. This platform will help lift up our state's children and give them an opportunity to thrive.”

Technology grant applications are available at ourOKDHS.org.

Exact Path is available to districts at no cost beginning now through June 2021. To learn more about Exact Path, visit edmentum.com/products/exact-path. Schools and districts can sign up for the 2020-21 school year by visiting info.edmentum.com/Oklahoma.html.

Gov. Stitt replaces Director of OKDHS

Photo credit: @NonDocMedia

GOVERNOR STITT APPOINTS NEW DIRECTOR OF OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Oklahoma City (June 4, 2019)—Governor Kevin Stitt today announced the appointment of Justin Brown as Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS).

“Justin is a fellow Oklahoman who has a strong record of helping healthcare and human-service oriented businesses become great success stories in their delivery of compassionate care,” said Gov. Stitt. “His time working at the Villagio Senior Living is just one example of this, where they have 7 communities in 3 states serving individuals with memory loss. Justin is a strong organizational leader and a proven problem solver. He has a passion and desire to help the state deliver better services to those who depend on DHS. Justin shares my administration’s vision to help strengthen Oklahoma’s families, provide customer-centered services, and improve the quality of life for all engaging with DHS. I look forward to working with him as we move our state forward.”

Justin B. Brown has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Choice Capital Partners since 2008. Brown joined Choice Capital Partners, the ownership entity for Villagio Senior Living, following an eight year career in healthcare finance. During his banking career, Brown was involved in financing a range of healthcare entities across all industry segments, including seniors housing. For Choice Capital Partners, Brown directly manages all capital needs, acquisition and development strategies, investor relations, and directs the company’s core business strategy. Additionally, Brown plays a role in programming and resident satisfaction, community design and development, and improved quality of life. Brown also serves on the Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association, the Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City. He and his wife, Kelly, have been married for 18 years and have two children, Hannah and Ford.

“I look forward to working with the amazing staff at the Department of Human Services and the communities they serve,” said Brown. “The work the staff does every day is vital to vulnerable Oklahomans and our state as a whole. It is a challenge, but I believe the staff and I are up to the challenge.”

Brown has stepped down from his role at Choice Capital Partners and will continue to serve in an advisory role on the Board of Directors. The assisted living and Alzheimer’s centers managed by Brown during his time as CEO neither currently receive nor have they ever received money from the state of Oklahoma or the federal government.

The Department of Human services is the largest state agency in Oklahoma. DHS provides a wide range of assistance programs to help Oklahomans in need including: food benefits (SNAP); temporary cash assistance (TANF); services for persons with developmental disabilities and persons who are aging; adult protective services; child welfare programs; child support services; and child care assistance, licensing and monitoring. DHS also handles applications and eligibility for Sooner Care, the state’s Medicaid program offering health care to families with low incomes.

Ed Lake announces departure as Governor appoints new DHS Director

Oklahoma City—Ed Lake, current director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, announces his departure from the agency June 14 following Governor Kevin Stitt's appointment of a new DHS Director.

"Serving at the will of the Governor, I have always understood the nature of this appointment.  I support a Governor's authority to select his or her own team and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have served in this vital role." said Lake.  "While I am disappointed about not being able to finish some important work, I am extremely proud of many accomplishments and the solid framework created at DHS which leaves the agency in excellent condition for the next administration. I will do all that I can to help ensure a smooth transition for the new director."

During Lake's leadership, he employed proven business process improvement methods to achieve more than $13 million in efficiencies and cost savings at the agency.  Despite the worst state budget crisis the agency has ever faced, Lake redirected more than $170 million internally to support Child Welfare Services and Pinnacle Plan goals, while avoiding service cuts to other core programs across the agency.

In the most recent progress report from monitors overseeing the agency's foster care reforms and the Pinnacle Plan, DHS achieved "good faith" ratings in 29 of 31 performance areas.  This was the most positive report to date since the agency began reform efforts in 2012.

Under Lake's leadership, DHS changed its operations dramatically by closing the two state-operated institutions for people with intellectual disabilities as well as the two large state-run emergency children's shelters, focusing resources on community-based services and home-like settings.

Lake highly valued community partnerships and was known for continually saying, "DHS cannot do this work alone."  He actively sought support from multiple community foundations to fund innovative service programs the agency could not otherwise afford to create.  Lake increased alliances with churches and faith organizations in support of foster care and adoption goals, privatized portions of foster care recruitment, and created a Tribal Affairs liaison position.  Internally, he implemented the first-ever, agency-wide supervisory and management training programs.

Lake was notably the last DHS director hired by the Commission for Human Services and the first director to be appointed by a governor.   The Commission hired Lake on November 1, 2012, following two nationwide searches and was the first DHS director to hold a Master's Degree in Social Work. Within days, Oklahomans voted to pass a state question which changed the state constitution and put the agency and the appointment of the director under the authority of the governor.  Governor Mary Fallin then reappointed Lake with Senate confirmation.