Kristi Putnam became the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services in January 2023. She has more than 20 years of policy and hands-on experience in human services, early childhood services, education, workforce development, and health policy, including implementation of Kentucky’s Medicaid transformation and several other innovative statewide policy and process initiatives.
• Contact: 501-682-8648
• Learn more about Secretary Putnam
• Follow @SecretaryPutnam on Facebook
Meet the Secretary’s Team
Deputy Secretary for Programs and State Medicaid Director
Janet Mann has over twenty years’ experience in healthcare and healthcare finance. She has worked in the public and private sector for multiple states and clients. Janet has served as the Division Director for DHS’s Division of Medical Services overseeing the Medicaid operations before and during the beginning of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency until April 2021.
• Contact: 501-682-8648
• Learn more about Deputy Secretary Mann
Deputy Secretary for Operations and Budget for the Department
Misty Eubanks serves as the Deputy Secretary for Operations and Budget for the Department. Misty has served in several other roles at DHS, including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Procurement Officer, DHS Privacy Officer, and supervising attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel specializing in child welfare, adult protective services, and agency administrative hearings.
• Contact: 501-682-8648
• Learn more about Deputy Secretary Eubanks
Director of Specialty Medicaid Services
Melissa Weatherton serves as the Director of Specialty Medicaid Services. In this role, she oversees specialty Medicaid programs with a specific focus on the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS), the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS), and the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (OSAMH).
• Contact: 501-682-8665
• Learn more about Director Weatherton
Chief of Staff
Lori McDonald has served as Chief of Staff for the Arkansas Department of Human Services since November 2024. In this role, McDonald acts as the primary point of contact for legislators, elected officials, and other state agencies, and develops and manages special projects across various programs that DHS oversees.
• Contact: 501-682-8648
• Learn More about Chief of Staff McDonald
Assistant to the Secretary
Courtney Brown has worked in the Secretary’s Office since 2017. As Assistant to the Secretary, she manages activities in the Secretary’s Office, coordinates schedules and meetings, and handles special projects.
• Contact: 501-682-8648
Division of Aging, Adult, & Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS)
Jay Hill serves as the Director of the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services, overseeing programs that promote the health, safety, and independence of older Arkansans and adults with disabilities.
• Contact: 501-686-9981
• Learn more about DAABHS
Division of Children & Family Services (DCFS)
Tiffany Wright serves as the Director of the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS). In this role, she is responsible for the safety of children and youth in Arkansas, child abuse and neglect prevention, foster care, and adoption programs.
• Contact: 501-682-8770
• Learn more about DCFS
Division of County Operations (DCO)
Mary Franklin serves as the Director of the Division of County Operations. In that role, she oversees eligibility for the Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Transitional Employment Assistance programs.
• Contact: 501-682-8377
• Learn more about DCO
Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS)
Jennifer Daniel Brezée serves as the Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS), a Medicaid division. In this role, she oversees services and supports for beneficiaries with intellectual/developmental disabilities and delays.
• Contact: 501-371-2958
• Learn more about DDS
Division of Medical Services (DMS)
Elizabeth Pitman serves as the Director of the Division of Medical Services for the Medicaid program. In this role, she manages the operations for Medicaid and administers the managed care programs, claims processing, contracts, and the fee-for-service program.
• Contact: 501-244-3944
• Learn more about DMS
Division of Provider Services & Quality Assurance (DPSQA)
Martina Smith serves as the Director of the Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance. In this role, Martina oversees the Office of Long Term Care, which regulates and surveys long-term care facilities; the Office of Community Services, which certifies, and licenses assisted living facilities and other providers; and the Office of Performance and Engagement, which is comprised of the complaint, FOIA, and quality assurance units.
• Contact: 501-396-6165
• Learn more about DPSQA
Division of Youth Services (DYS)
Michael Crump serves as the Director of the Division of Youth Services, which is responsible for the rehabilitation of delinquent juveniles throughout the State. Michael has worked in a variety of programs within the DHS, including as Director of the Office of Compliance and Integrity at DHS. In that role, he was responsible for investigating fraud and employee misconduct.
• Contact: 501-537-3430
• Learn more about DYS
Office of Chief Counsel
James E. “Jim” Brader serves as the Chief Counsel for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. In this role, he oversees legal operations in the Office of Chief Counsel, including agency litigation, regulatory and compliance, as well as county legal operations.
• Contact: 501-396-6168
• Learn more about the Office of Chief Counsel
Chief of Communications and Community Engagement
Gavin Lesnick serves as the Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer. In this role, he oversees the Department’s internal and external communication efforts, media relations, the Freedom of Information Act unit, the DHS website, and DHS social media accounts.
• Contact: 501-320-6228
• Learn more about the Office of Communications and Community Engagement
Office of Finance
Renee Ikard has been with DHS since April 2019, and was named CFO in April 2024. As CFO, Ikard manages the agency budget of more than $11 billion while working to ensure that key programs like Medicaid remain financially sustainable.
• Contact: 501-682-8985
• Learn more about the Office of Finance
Office of Human Resources
Damian Hicks is the Chief of Human Resources. In this role, Damian is responsible for overseeing all recruitment, personnel actions, position management, personnel requests, and Department new-hire packet processing.
• Contact: 501-320-6250
• Learn more about the Office of Human Resources
Office of Information Technology
Jeff Dean serves as the Chief Information Officer. Jeff has over 25 years of experience in the information technology industry and 17 years of experience within the State of Arkansas.
• Contact: 501-320-3993
• Learn more about the Office of Information Technology
Office of Procurement
Sarah Cunningham serves as the Chief Procurement Officer for the Office of Procurement, a shared services office within DHS. In this capacity, Sarah manages the administration of the Office of Procurement.
• Contact: 501-396-6298
• Learn more about the Office of Procurement
Office of Security & Compliance
Brett Hays serves as the Chief of Security and Compliance. He started his career with DHS in 2010 with the Division of Medical Services and returned in 2018 as the Director of Internal Controls.
• Contact: 501-396-6456
• Learn more about the Office of Security & Compliance
Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Paula Stone serves as the Director of the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health for DHS. In this role, she oversees the state’s public mental health system, the state’s forensic system, federal grant programs aimed at preventing and treating substance use disorder, and the team that leads the Arkansas State Hospital.
• Contact: 501-686-9489
• Learn more about the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
