Terri L. White
Terri L. White | |
---|---|
Oklahoma Secretary of Health | |
In office 2009–2011 | |
Governor | Brad Henry |
Preceded by | Mike Crutcher |
Succeeded by | Terry Cline |
Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services | |
Assumed office 2007 | |
Governor |
Brad Henry Mary Fallin |
Preceded by | Terry Cline |
Personal details | |
Born |
October 4, 1973 Edmond, Oklahoma |
Residence | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
Website | Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services |
Terri L. White (born 1973) is an American social worker who is the current commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, a position she has held since May 13, 2007. White previously served Democratic Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry as a member of his Cabinet concurrent to her service as commissioner. White served as Henry's fourth Secretary of Health, becoming the first woman in State history to hold that post. Upon the election of Henry's successor, Republican Mary Fallin, White ceased being a member of the governor's Cabinet but retained her position as commissioner.
Education and early career
White is a graduate of Edmond Public Schools in Edmond, Oklahoma. She received her Bachelor of Arts in social work in 1997 and a master's degree in social work in 1998, both from the University of Oklahoma. After graduating from OU, White accepted a position with the Oklahoma Senate where she would remain until 2001. While working for the State Senate, she worked as a policy analyst and then as a fiscal analyst. As a fiscal analyst, White worked for both the Human Services (2000–01) and the General Government and Transportation (1999–2000) appropriations subcommittees, analyzing budget requests and evaluating agency performance for twenty-seven state agencies.
Oklahoma Public Health Department
White joined the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in 2001 and has served that department in multiple capacities. In her time with the department, she has served as deputy commissioner for Communications and Prevention, director of Communications and Public Policy, and a management analyst. She has also served as the executive director of two ODMHSAS field facilities – the Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health Co-Occurring Unit and the Central Oklahoma Community Mental Health Center. Concurrently with each of these positions, White served as the chief liaison to the Oklahoma Legislature for the department.[1]
In 2007, while White was serving as the department's director of Communications and Public Policy, then Commissioner Terry Cline resigned after being nominated by (then) President of the United States George W. Bush to become the administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Following Cline's resignation, on May 13, 2007, the State Board of Mental Health appointed White commissioner of the department as Cline's successor. As commissioner, White serves as the chief executive of the department.
Secretary of Health
In January 2009, Governor Brad Henry, following the resignation of Mike Crutcher, appointed White to serve has his fourth Secretary of Health. As Health Secretary, Secretary White is responsible for overseeing the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. White serves concurrently as both Secretary of Health and ODMHSAS commissioner.[2] Upon Republican Mary Fallin, Henry's successor as governor, assuming office, White ceased being a member of the governor's Cabinet but retained her position as commissioner.
Florida Arrest
Ms. White was arrested on July 21, 2007, on misdemeanor battery charges. According to the arrest report, White verbally confronted her brother, then threw water in his face before calling 911. [3] According to White, her brother then "shoved [her] into a wall." [4] The case was not be prosecuted and has since been closed. Walton County Sheriff Michael Atkinson, Jr. reported the dismissal was not based on merit, but that they were only misdemeanor charges and both parties live in Oklahoma, making cooperation difficult. [5]
External links
See also
References
- ↑ "Terri White named commissioner of Okla. Department of Mental Health." The Journal Record. Retrieved 12-22-09
- ↑ "Gov. Henry names Terri White Health Secretary." Archived 2012-02-25 at the Wayback Machine. Office of Governor Brad Henry. Retrieved 12-22-09
- ↑ Ellis, Danielle. "Walton County Sheriff's Office facing criticism from Oklahoma officials". Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ↑ World, Barbara Hoberock Tulsa. "Oklahoma mental health commissioner says tossed glass of water during family crisis led to arrest in Florida". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ↑ World, Barbara Hoberock Tulsa. "Florida sheriff rebuts Oklahoma mental health commissioner's remarks about her arrest". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Mike Crutcher |
Oklahoma Secretary of Health Under Governor Brad Henry 2009–11 |
Succeeded by Terry Cline As Secretary of Health and Human Services |
Preceded by Terry Cline |
Oklahoma Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Under Governors Brad Henry and Mary Fallin 2007 - present |
Incumbent |