Governor-elect Laura Kelly has chosen one woman to lead two state agencies on an interim basis.
Laura Howard, the director of the University of Kansas’ Public Management Center in the School of Public Affairs and Administration, will lead the Department for Children and Families and the Department for Aging and Disability Services. This means the end of Gina Meier-Hummel’s tenure leading KDCF and Tim Keck’s time overseeing KDADS.
Kelly was critical of DCF, saying the agency was “dismantled by ideology and mismanagement” and was less than forthcoming with information as she tried to research the recently-approved foster care and family preservation grants. She also said the grants were actually no-bid deals that circumvented the state’s official procurement process. Meier-Hummel defended the grant selection process but agreed to put those grants on hold with further research coming.
KDADS, meanwhile, has been contending with patient and staff safety issues at state mental hospitals.
Howard’s first day is Jan. 14. Kelly says Howard may be picked to lead one of the agencies on a permanent basis.
