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Welcome to the Pioneers in Health podcast. In this podcast, we share inspiring stories of pioneering leaders from our nation and from your backyard who are working to improve health.
In episode 57, we interview Secretary Laura Howard, who leads the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and Department for Children and Families.
Prior to being appointed as head of DCF and KDADS, her experience included more than 30 years of government and human service work. She previously worked as a special assistant, deputy secretary and chief of staff for the former Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. She also served as regional administrator for Region VII of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She also served as the director of the KU Public Management Center.
Secretary Howard holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Miami University and a law degree from the University of Kansas.
In this episode, Secretary Howard shares what initially sparked her interest in public service. When she was 9, her family moved to Washington, D.C., during the heart of the Watergate scandal. It intrigued her, and she would open the newspaper every day to read the latest news.
“It just kind of captured me,” she said. “… It got me to really think about, what does government do?”
She watched the hearings and the various public servants testifying, and it further sparked her interest in how government works. When she later went to college, she decided to pursue public administration.
In this episode, she also discusses:
- Her experience with legislative research and the role it plays
- What prompted her to work for Social Rehabilitation Services (SRS)
- The privatization of the child welfare system
- Accomplishments during her time at SRS
- Her work at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Her experience at the University of Kansas’ Public Management Center
- Taking on the secretary role over two state organizations
- Tackling some significant challenges early on in her secretary role
- Investments in mental health services and supports
- Focusing on aging
- Medicaid
- Impacts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or HR1, especially to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- What gives her hope
And much more! Listen now, and learn more about how Secretary Howard is an innovative leader in Kansas.
Please see the Pioneers in Health page on our website for more information on our podcast series and links to other episodes.
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