OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 20, 2024) -- After more than two decades serving Oklahoma’s children and families, Dr. Deborah Shropshire is poised to begin a new chapter in her distinguished career. Dr. Shropshire has served as the Director of Oklahoma Human Services since Jan. 2023. Since joining Oklahoma Human Services in 2014, she has served in child welfare as director, deputy director of community partnerships, and medical director, serving children and youth in foster care. Through her thoughtful and compassionate leadership as Director, she has continued to maintain a keen focus on initiatives that further the agency's efforts to strengthen families. She will be available to assist the new director during the transition.
Major accomplishments during her tenure as Director include:
- Continued findings of Good Faith efforts in the Pinnacle Plan
- Furthering the agency’s efforts to make Oklahoma a national leader in providing developmental disabilities services
- Launching Aging Our Way, a plan to modernize services for older Oklahomans
- Modernizing the process for clients applying for public assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), child care subsidies, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Expanding support for agency employees through its Employee Assistance Program, weekly communications to all staff, and employee roundtable discussions throughout the state
These initiatives are what Oklahoma Human Services is all about and represent the work of Dr. Shropshire's more than two decades of state service - ensuring families have the resources and support they need to weather life's storms. As Dr. Shropshire reflects on her time in this role, she expressed immense gratitude to work alongside such dedicated public servants.
"I have spent the entirety of my career in service to Oklahomans, and it has been the greatest joy of my life to walk alongside our incredible team at Oklahoma Human Services as we strive today to improve our state's tomorrows. Whether in Child Welfare, where I first found my love for this agency, its employees and clients, or in services that support those facing poverty, our work has been about building bridges of hope. I will continue to stand by the agency and offer support to its next leader to ensure a seamless transition as the agency continues to focus its work on our mission to promote the safety, independence and wellbeing of Oklahomans."
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