Library: News Releases
OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Kathie Wright, a 21-year veteran of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, has been selected as Programs Manager for the Food Stamp and Low-Income Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAP). In her new duties, Wright will oversee policy and administration of the Food Stamp program, nutrition education and the LIHEAP program for the state.
"Kathie is well respected as a program expert by the staff in the field, her colleagues in State Office and by our federal partners," said Mary Stalnaker, director, OKDHS Family Support Services Division. "Her knowledge of the Food Stamp program will be an asset to us in implementing the changes in the Food Stamp Authorization Acts and in dealing with the challenges the agency faces as the Food Stamp population continues to grow."
Wright began her OKDHS career as a social worker in Creek County before serving as a social services supervisor. She later moved to Oklahoma County where she continued her duties until coming to the OKDHS state office where she worked as a programs field representative for the Food Stamp program.
"One of our concerns right now in the Food Stamp program is facilitating the implementation of the Food Stamp reauthorization as well as researching and assessing the benefits in implementing the federal options that are allowed," said Wright.
"We will take advantage of every opportunity the federal government affords us to make the Food Stamp program as simple to manage as possible. At the same time, we are working to balance budget concerns with our goal of reaching out to eligible applicants."
Wright graduated from Central Valley High School in Spokane, Washington. She earned her bachelor’s in Social Work from Oral Roberts University, Tulsa.
Wright’s husband of six years, Tom, works in the OKDHS Family Support Data Exchange section. She has two children, Jacob, 19, and Jade, 15. Tom has one son, Will, 23.
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