# Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services

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.

## History

The position of Secretary of Health and Human Services was established in 1986 by the Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986. The Act directed to the Secretary to oversee all agencies in the State relating to the public health and assistance programs. The position was dissolved on February 1, 2003, by Governor Brad Henry when he split the post into two separate positions: the Oklahoma Secretary of Health concerned with public health protection and the Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services concerned with providing public assistance programs.
The position was re-established by Governor Mary Fallin on January 27, 2011, when she dissolved the separate positions of Health Secretary and Human Services Secretary.

## Responsibilities

The Secretary of Health and Human Services is the chief public health officer of the State. The Secretary oversees vaccinations, disease prevention, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and emergency health responses. The Secretary also is responsible for regulation of the State health delivery system as well as overseeing the State's Medicaid program. The Secretary has jurisdiction over most public assistance programs offered by the State. Such programs include child care services, senior citizen assistance, child custody services, disability vocational services, and services to the blind and deaf. The Secretary also oversees services to juveniles, both treatment and corrections.
As of fiscal year 2011, the Secretary of Health oversees 15,591 full-time employees and is responsible for an annual budget over $8 billion.

## Agencies overseen

The Secretary of Health and Human Services oversees the following State agencies:
| Agency | Employees | Budget (in millions) | Function |
| Department of Health | 2368 | $373 | Protects the health of all Oklahomans by providing essential public health services |
| Department of Human Services | 7300 | $2,300 | Provides help to individuals and families in need through public assistance programs and managing services for seniors and people with disabilities |
| Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services | 2192 | $311 | Provides public health services relating to mental illness and substance abuse. |
| Department of Rehabilitation Services | 1079 | $136 | Provides people with physical, mental and visual disabilities with counseling and job training |
| Health Care Authority | 416 | $4,600 | Provides health insurance benefits for the state's "SoonerCare" (Oklahoma's Medicaid program) members |
| Office of Juvenile Affairs | 1056 | $127 | Responsible for planning and coordinating statewide juvenile justice and delinquency prevention services |
* All numbers represented Fiscal Year 2011 levels

## List of secretaries

An incomplete list of secretaries:
Secretaries of Health and Human Services (1986–2003)
| Name | Took office | Left office | Governor served under |
| Ken Lackey | 1995 | 1997 | Frank Keating |
| Jerry Regier | 1997 | 2002 | Frank Keating |
| Howard Hendrick | 2002 | 2003 | Frank Keating |
| Name | Took office | Left office | Governor served under |
| Tom Adelson | 2003 | 2004 | Brad Henry |
| Terry Cline | 2004 | 2006 | Brad Henry |
| Michael Crutcher | 2006 | 2009 | Brad Henry |
| Terri L. White | 2009 | 2011 | Brad Henry |
| Name | Took office | Left office | Governor served under |
| Howard Hendrick | 2003 | 2011 | Brad Henry |
Secretaries of Health and Human Services (2011–2019)
| Name | Took office | Left office | Governor served under |
| Terry Cline | February 1, 2011 | 2018 | Mary Fallin |
Secretaries of Health and Human Services (2019–Present)
| Name | Took office | Left office | Governor served under |
| Jerome Loughridge | 2019 | 2020 |
| Kevin Corbett | 2020 | Present | Kevin Stitt |