DHS Director Ed Lake has named Millie Carpenter interim director of Child Welfare Services (CWS). Carpenter has served as a Deputy Director within the division since 2012 and has worked in numerous positions within child welfare services spanning her 24-year career with the agency.
As deputy director, Carpenter has been responsible for implementing key components of the Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan relating to permanency and child well-being programs, overseeing Child Abuse Prevention and Protection, Permanency Planning, and Specialized Placements and Partnerships programs, as well as the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, the OK-Trauma Assessment and Service Center Collaborative grant, and partnerships with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
“We are very grateful to Millie for her willingness to step into this leadership role in Child Welfare Services at this critical time,” said DHS Director Ed Lake. “Millie will provide a steady presence in guiding child welfare services during this transition period as we continue our work to meet Pinnacle Plan goals and implement the many other important child welfare initiatives underway.”
Carpenter assumes her new role beginning June 1, 2018
