Oklahoma Human Services Director to Speak at Annual Social Work Conference

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Howard H. Hendrick, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, will be featured as one of the keynote speakers at the University of Oklahoma’s Annual Social Work Day workshops at 1:15 p.m., Oct. 23 at OU-Tulsa’s Schusterman Center, 4502 E. 41st Street, Tulsa.
Hendrick will discuss the future of developing strong families in Oklahoma. He will also discuss the structure of today’s families and how they affect Oklahoma’s children.

“With the demands on social services so great, this day is an excellent opportunity to gain understanding of the families we serve and the need to help build strong, healthy families who are able to become self sufficient,” said Mary Stalnaker, Director, OKDHS Family Support Services Division and graduate of OU’s Anne & Henry Zarrow School of Social Work.

Hendrick has been director of OKDHS since July 1, 1998.  With offices in all 77 counties, Hendrick leads a staff of nearly 8,200 employees and administers a $1.8 billion budget. Hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans are touched daily by more than 40 state and federal human services programs administered under his leadership. Hendrick is currently in his second term as Cabinet Secretary for Human Services for Gov. Brad Henry and served as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Human Services for former Gov. Frank Keating.

He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. He was recently elected President of the Board for the American Public Human Services Association. He is presently the longest tenured human services director in the nation. He serves on numerous other national and local boards and has received numerous awards.  In 2004, he was one of four Americans to receive the National Public Service Award for leadership in public administration from the American Society of Public Administration and National Academy of Public Administration.

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