Who We Are
The Public Human Services Attorneys (PHSA) is a professional organization of attorneys who represent the state and local government agencies that administer human services programs. PHSA facilitates the exchange of information between attorneys and promotes innovation in the human services sector.
Our Purpose
To advocate for and enact policies and practices that enhance the delivery and quality of human services programs. PHSA encourages the discussion of legal matters and the cordial exchange of experience and knowledge, allowing for an acceleration of learning and the generation of practical solutions.
Contact
Donna Jarvis-Miller, CMP, CEM
Director, Membership and Events, APHSA
Leadership
The Executive Advisory Council is the volunteer leadership body of PHSA. It consists of four officers, six regional chairs, two representatives from each of the six regions, four at-large members, and the past presidents of PHSA.
Any member of the bar association of any district, state, territory, political subdivision, or tribal entity who is actively engaged as an employee of a public human services agency or an employee of an attorney general or equivalent officer is entitled to full membership. Any member who leaves public employment and any member of the Bar who is an employee of the federal government or an employee of a grantee of the Legal Services Corporation or similar organizations is entitled to membership but may not vote nor hold office.
PHSA OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES
CHAIR
Karen Godnick Barber, General Counsel
VT Department of Mental Health
VICE CHAIR
Carla Erickson, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Child Protection
State of Alaska Department of Law
SECRETARY
Stuart Schurr, General Counsel
VT Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living
MEMBERSHIP OFFICER
Nicole Fries, Deputy General Counsel
AZ Health Care Cost Containment System
OFFICERS-AT-LARGE
Ron Baze, General Counsel
OK Department of Human Services
Denise Pleska, Senior Staff Attorney
OH Department of Job and Family Services
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Stacie Kraly, Chief Assistant Attorney General
AK Department of Law
Regional Representatives
MIDWEST REGION: IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI
MIDWEST REGION CHAIR
Jocelyn Lowe, Chief Legal Counsel
OH Department of Job and Family Services
MIDWEST REGION REPRESENTATIVES
Patricia Llacsa, Assistant General Counsel
IL Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Leslie Asman, Bureau Director
MI Department of Health and Human Services
MIDWEST REGION ALTERNATES
Shari Vanderploeg, Assistant General Counsel
IN Department of Child Services
Mary Brennan, Manager and Regulatory Affairs Officer
MI Department of Health and Human Services
MOUNTAIN REGION: CO, KS, MT, NE, ND, SD, WY
MOUNTAIN REGION CHAIR
Jaime Hegr, Lead Attorney
NE Department of Health and Human Services
MOUNTAIN REGION REPRESENTATIVES
Jonathan Alm, Attorney
ND Department of Human Services
Ryan Patrick, Lead Attorney
NE Department of Health and Human Services
MOUNTAIN REGION ALTERNATES
Aaron Webb, Attorney
ND Department of Human Services
Neleigh Boyer, Lead Attorney
NE Department of Health and Human Services
NORTHEAST REGION: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NJ, NH, NY, PA, PR, RI, VT
NORTHEAST REGION CHAIR
Joshua Light, Assistant Counsel
PA Department of Human Services
NORTHEAST REGION REPRESENTATIVES
Alternate – VACANT
Second Alternate – VACANT
NORTHEAST REGION ALTERNATES
Alternate – VACANT
Second Alternate – VACANT
SOUTHEAST REGION: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN, WV, VA
SOUTHEAST REGION CHAIR
Alycia Blackwell, Deputy Director for Programs and Services
Fairfax County (VA) Department of Family Services
SOUTHEAST REGION REPRESENTATIVES
Azande Williams, Special Assistant Attorney General
MS Department of Human Services
Gail Carelli, Assistant Attorney General
NC Department of Justice
SOUTHEAST REGION ALTERNATES
Rajeev Premakumar, Deputy General Counsel
NC Department of Health and Human Services
Christopher Hempfling, Principal
CGH Consulting, LLC
SOUTHWEST REGION: AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
SOUTHWEST REGION CHAIR
Celia Williams-Alexander, Deputy General Counsel 2
LA Department of Children and Family Services
SOUTHWEST REGION REPRESENTATIVES
Sarah Linam, Chief Counsel
AR Department of Human Services
Ron Baze, General Counsel
OK Department of Human Services
SOUTHWEST REGION ALTERNATES
Kara Smith, General Counsel
OK Health Care Authority
Second Alternate – VACANT
WESTERN REGION: AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, UT, WA
WESTERN REGION CHAIR
Nicole Fries, Lead Deputy Attorney General
AZ Health Care Cost Containment System
WESTERN REGION REPRESENTATIVES
Madison Miles, Lead Deputy Attorney General
ID Office of the Attorney General
Annette Schuffenhauer, Chief Legal Officer
WA Health Care Authority
WESTERN REGION ALTERNATES
Kathryn Garrett, Deputy Attorney General
ID Office of the Attorney General, Health & Human Services
Second Alternate – VACANT
Latest Work
More to come soon!
