Seasoned leader committed to advancing care for Oklahomans begins work June 30
OKLAHOMA CITY (June 30, 2025) - Sharon “Shel” Millington has been selected as the Chief Clinical Officer at Oklahoma Human Services. Millington is a licensed professional counselor and is currently serving as the Deputy Executive Director of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA). She officially joins the agency on June 30.
Millington first joined OJA as the Director of Behavioral Health in August 2020 and was promoted to Deputy Executive Director in August 2024. While at OJA, Millington led the implementation of Functional Family Therapy, a nationally recognized evidence-based, family-focused intervention, not previously available in Oklahoma. She also led the implementation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy at OJA’s secure treatment facility.
In addition to her leadership in implementing high-quality behavioral health services for youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system, Millington actively collaborates with child-serving agencies to drive positive change. She supports community and residential placement providers in adopting best practices for custody youth, oversees program-based reforms across all levels of Oklahoma’s juvenile justice system continuum, and delivers statewide training to enhance awareness and implementation of best practices.
Millington has also served as the co-director of Treatment Programs for Children and Adolescents with Problematic Sexual Behaviors at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She served as a supervisor and lead clinician in an assessment clinic for children with prenatal exposure. She is a Master Trainer in Problematic Sexual Behavior and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with the National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth.
“Shel brings exceptional expertise and dedication to advancing care and support for Oklahomans,” said Jeffrey Cartmell, Director of Oklahoma Human Services. “Her leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our clinical services and ensuring that families across the state receive the highest quality care. We look forward to the compassion she will bring to our team."
Millington is a certified therapist, formally trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She is a Level I trainer for Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and has presented at many professional conferences throughout her career.
“I look forward to collaborating with the dedicated team at Oklahoma Human Services as well as partners across the state to strengthen services and ensure that every individual and family receives the highest quality care and support," Millington said.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Central Oklahoma.
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