Leadership Council

The Leadership Council is responsible for setting and overseeing implementation of APHSA’s policy and practice agenda per the Executive Governing Board’s strategic direction. The Leadership Council includes state CEO (Commissioners, Secretaries, Directors, etc.) representatives, county/city (local) CEO representatives, and affinity representatives from each APHSA affinity group. All members of the Leadership Council are members of APHSA.

Core responsibilities of the Leadership Council include coordinating transformation efforts across all APHSA affinity groups and peer councils while drawing on insights of volunteer leaders across the human services spectrum. Issues impacting multiple program areas go before the Leadership Council for approval.

State Representatives

Kelly Kennedy Garcia

Director, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Chair

Kim Johnson

Secretary, California Health and Human Services Agency

Vice Chair

Stephanie Muth

Commissioner, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Robert Anderson

Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Human Services

Andrea Barton Reeves

Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Social Services

Charlie Brereton

Director, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

Tikki Brown

Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Jeffrey Cartmell

Executive Director, Oklahoma Human Services

Gail Geohagen-Pratt

Deputy Commissioner, Division of Child Welfare and Community Services, NY State Office of Children and Family Services

Fariborz Pakseresht

Director, Oregon Department of Human Services

Kristi Putnam

Secretary, Arkansas Department of Human Services

Local Representatives

Debbie-Ann Anderson

Director, Union County (NJ) Department of Human Services

Michael Becketts

Director, Fairfax County (VA) Department of Family Services

Jackie Contreras

Director, Los Angeles County (CA) Department of Public Social Services

Christine Dowdell

Director Johnston County, NC Department of Social Services

Kate Garvey

Director, City of Alexandria (VA) Department of Community and Human Services

Melissa Huberty

Human Services Administrator, Stearns County (MN) Human Services Department

Dan Makelky

Director, Arapahoe County (CO) Department of Human Services

Katie McDougal

Director, Adams County (CO) Human Services Department

Courtney Thomas-Winterberg

Director, Allegany County (MD) Department of Social Services

Affinity Representatives

Mary Carpenter

Adoption Branch Manager, Kentucky Division of Protection and Permanency

NAPCWA Representative

Tracy Davis

Director, Academy for Workforce Development Connecticut Department of Social Services

NSDTA Representative

Deborah Doyle

Division of Program Integrity, Washington Department of Social and Health Services

NAPIPM Representative

Shannon Freeman

Deputy Compact Administrator, Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC), Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families

AAICPC Representative

Karen Godnick Barber

General Counsel, Vermont Department of Mental Health

PHSA Representative

Mike Byers

Director, Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center, University of Pittsburgh

NSDTA Representative

Belvie Herbert

Social Service Senior Administrator, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services

NASCCA Representative

Robert Hobbelman

Director, Innovation and System Support, North Dakota Health and Human Services

ISM Representative

Patara Horn

Director, Bureau of Working Families WI Department of Children and Families

NASTA Representative

Linda Schroeder

Benefits Support Team Administrator, Arizona Department of Economic Security

AASD Representative