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Tags Posts tagged with "dhs staff changes"

dhs staff changes

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Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Human Services Teresa Miller announced the following three staffing changes within the Department of Human Services (DHS):

  • Executive Deputy Secretary. Leesa Allen, currently DHS’ Deputy Secretary for Medical Assistance Programs, will be moving into the Executive Deputy Secretary position. Ms. Allen has more than 23 years of experience in the Commonwealth in positions ranging from children and youth case worker to Chief of Staff for the Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP). She will continue to support OMAP until her replacement is found.
  • Chief of Staff. Johanna Fabian-Marks will serve as DHS Chief of Staff. Ms. Fabian-Marks is coming from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department where she serves as the Special Deputy and Director of Life, Accident, and Health Insurance Product Regulation. Prior to joining the Insurance Department, she worked on implementation of the Affordable Care Act at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
  • Deputy Secretary, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). Lynn Kovich will become the new OMHSAS Deputy Secretary on November 13. Ms. Kovich has 26 years of experience in direct services and administration in both the nonprofit and government sectors, working with individuals who have developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders, as well as those experiencing homelessness.

RCPA congratulates each of these individuals and commits to working with them in a constructive manner to advance the best interests of our shared constituencies.

Nancy Thaler will be the new Deputy Secretary of the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) beginning June 29. Thaler recently served as the executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, assisting 50 state agencies in policy and program development, where she was involved in strategic planning, managing the operating budget, and directing the association’s activities. She also previously served as the director of quality improvement for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and Deputy Secretary of ODP for both Republican and Democratic administrations.

H. Patrick “Pat” Clancy will be joining the Department of Human Services (DHS) as the special advisor to the secretary, focusing on employment issues and the federal Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act. Clancy has a strong background in developing and managing career and workforce development programs. He recently served as the director of workforce initiatives at Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County. He will join the department on July 13.

Steve Suroviec will become the special advisor to the secretary, focusing on employment issues for people with disabilities, where he will bring the impressive leadership skills he demonstrated as deputy secretary at ODP. Before joining DHS, Steve served admirably as the executive director of Pennsylvania’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. He will share his counsel and expertise in this crucial area beginning June 29.