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

Oklahoma Senate

The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....

, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on public health

Public health

Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population 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

Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986

The Executive Branch Reform Act of 1986 is an Oklahoma state law that requires the Governor of Oklahoma to organize the various departments, agencies, boards, commissions and other entities of the state's executive branch into a cabinet system.The Executive Branch Reform Act was signed into law by...

. 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

Brad Henry

Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...

 when he split the post into two separate positions: the Oklahoma Secretary of Health

Oklahoma Secretary of Health

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...

 concerned with public health protection and the Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services

Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services

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...

 concerned with providing public assistance programs.

The position was re-established by Governor Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....

 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

Public health

Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population 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

Medicaid

Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...

 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

2011 Oklahoma state budget

The Oklahoma State Budget for Fiscal Year 2011, is a spending request by Governor Brad Henry to fund government operations for July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011. Governor Henry and legislative leader approved the budget in May 2010...

, the Secretary of Health oversees 15,591 full time employess and is responsible for an annual budger over $8 billion.

Agencies Overseen

The Secretary of Health and Human Services oversees the following State entities:

• Department of Health
  Oklahoma State Department of Health
  The Oklahoma State Department of Health is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Health. The Department is responsible for protecting the health of all Oklahomans and providing other essential human services...
  
  
• Department of Human Services
  Oklahoma Department of Human Services
  The Oklahoma Department of Human Services 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...
  
  
• Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is an agency of the Government of Oklahoma responsible for providing public health services relating to mental illness and substance abuse...
  
  
• Department of Rehabilitation Services
  Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
  The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for providing people with physical, mental and visual disabilities with the opportunity to obtain employment and independent living through counseling, job training and other individualized...
  
  
• Health Care Authority
  Oklahoma Health Care Authority
  The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for purchasing health insurance benefits for Oklahoma's state employees and for the state's Medicaid recipients. The Authority is the state level counter-part to the national Centers for Medicare and Medicaid...
  
  
• Office of Juvenile Affairs
  Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs
  The Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs 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...
  
  

List of Secretaries

An incomplete list of Secretaries:

Secretaries of Health and Human Services (1986–2003)

Name	Took Office	Left Office	Governor Governor of Oklahoma The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...  served under
Ken Lackey Ken Lackey Kenneth "Ken" Lackey is an American businessman and politician from Oklahoma who formerly served as the President of the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa....	1995	1997	Frank Keating Frank Keating Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
Jerry Regier Jerry Regier Gerald P. "Jerry" Regier is an American businessman and politician from Oklahoma who is best known as first President of the Family Research Council....	1997	2002
Howard Hendrick Howard Hendrick Howard Hendrick is a Republican politician from the US state of Oklahoma. Hendrick was serving as the Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services, having been appointed by Democratic Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry in 2003....	2002	2003

Secretary of Health (2003–2011)

Name	Took Office	Left Office	Governor Governor of Oklahoma The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...  served under
Tom Adelson Tom Adelson Tom Adelson is an American politician from Oklahoma. He is currently an Oklahoma State Senator representing the 33 Senate District, located in Tulsa County. Adelson is a Democrat who was first elected in 2004...	2003	2004	Brad Henry Brad Henry Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
Terry Cline Terry Cline Dr. Terry L. Cline, Ph. D., is an American psychologist and public health policy specialist from Oklahoma. Cline is currently serving in the dual position of Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services and Commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health...	2004	2006
Michael Crutcher	2006	2009
Terri L. White	2009	2011

Secretary of Human Services (2003–2011)

Name	Took Office	Left Office	Governor Governor of Oklahoma The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...  served under
Howard Hendrick Howard Hendrick Howard Hendrick is a Republican politician from the US state of Oklahoma. Hendrick was serving as the Oklahoma Secretary of Human Services, having been appointed by Democratic Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry in 2003....	2003	2011	Brad Henry Brad Henry Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...

Secretaries of Health and Human Services (2011–present)

Name	Took Office	Left Office	Governor Governor of Oklahoma The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...  served under
Terry Cline Terry Cline Dr. Terry L. Cline, Ph. D., is an American psychologist and public health policy specialist from Oklahoma. Cline is currently serving in the dual position of Oklahoma Secretary of Health and Human Services and Commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health...	February 1, 2011	Present	Mary Fallin Mary Fallin Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....

External links